You're thirsty. It's a scorcher at the Minnesota State Fair this weekend. You've had your water from the WCCO Radio booth at the fair (right?). Now you need something else. Something like a cold, crisp, refreshing beer.
Where to go? There are literally thousands of beers at the state fair. How do you find the best, the most unique, and maybe even the cheapest option?
There are a few scattered spots, but there is this one spot where you can get a pretty reasonably priced beer and burger. Best part? It's going to a good cause.
Marty Marrone of the Midway Men's Club talked to WCCO's Vineeta Sawkar Friday about the club.
"We are the cheapest beer at the fair," said Marrone. "You can get a small for $5 a large for $8. We haven't really raised the prices a lot. We do that on purpose because we want to draw people to the stand."
Then there is the burger.
"The burgers are very inexpensive," Marrone explains. "I go and eat there several times and I get a double cheeseburger for $4.50. Where can you get a double cheeseburger at the fair for $4.50? So that means the regular burgers are even cheaper. Or a cheeseburger, whatever you prefer. Fried onions, raw onions, pickles, mustard, the works, ketchup.
The building is operated by volunteers who are helping raise money helping raise money for community athletic associations and organizations.
"It takes approximately 440 volunteers to work all of the shifts that we have for the stand," Marrone tells WCCO. "It's a nonprofit organization. So all the proceeds that we make of the fair goes to youth activities, groups, whether it's sports, whether it's skills building, neighborhood goodwill, we have organizations coming to us in Ramsey County looking for some assistance for whatever they need. A sports team might need new uniforms for the year. Football teams, they can't keep helmets for multiple years per regulations. They have to get new helmets. So they'll come to us and say, 'hey, can you help us with funding for helmets?'"
A few of the organizations they support include the Johnson Football Club, St. Paul Football Club, Edgcumbe Hockey Association, Urban Boat Builders, the Midway YMCA and many more.
The Midway Men's Club is located across from the Butterfly House on the east side of Underwood St. between Wright & Dan Patch avenues.
The club was formed in 1960 but last year was their 50th year at the fair. The beer is cold. The burgers are hot. And the prices are just right.