State Fair Cheese Curd Stand Closes After More Than 40 years

ST. PAUL (AP) -A popular cheese curds stand at the Minnesota State Fair is shutting down after more than 40 years because the couple running the shop is retiring.

Reports say that Dick and Donna Mueller, along with business partner Audrey Skarda, are retiring after running the Original Deep Fried Cheese Curds stand at the state fair since 1975.

Dick Mueller says the family was hoping that their son and daughter, Tom Mueller and Diane Pieper, could take over running the stand. He says they filled out the paperwork, but the fair didn't let them bid for the spot.

State Fair general manager Jerry Hammer says talks with the owners about their retirement and the fate of the stand have been ongoing and that Dick Mueller never mentioned transferring ownership.