A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
Tony and Ashley Anderson, along with their son, Arlo, complete a purchase of a block of American-made Cutco knives from Mike Lau, who was selling Cutco cutlery at the Cloquet Area Home, Business and Sports Show at Black Bear Casino Resort. "Mike has been very helpful," Ashley said.
One of several entertainers at last weekend's home show, Chuck Perry of the Amazing Charles Magic Show explains that he is holding a magic coloring book and one young audience member shows him she, too, has a coloring book.
Burger Shoes owner Carmen LaPlant, right, listens intently to a vistor at her booth during last weekend's home show.
Some came for the entertainment, while others came to wander and shop locally. No matter why they came, thousands of people attended last weekend's Cloquet Area Home, Business and Sports Show at Black Bear Casino Resort.
The annual free event expanded this year, with more booths and a wider range of businesses featuring everything from pickup trucks, pontoons and docks to seamless gutters, shoes and kitchenware. A wide range of local services and businesses filled the Otter Creek event center. The hallways outside the event center were also crowded with crafters, bakers and other food sellers, plus people peddling beauty and health products.
"We like to give the community the opportunity to see as many businesses as possible under one roof," said Kelly Zink, Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. "We also do it for our members and businesses in the community. Hopefully they will see people they might not have. Some people use it to see and talk to their customers in an age when everything seems digital."
