Among the myths of the Minnesota State Fair is that commercial space is so tight that businesses shouldn't bother trying to get in.
John Clauson, who sells Rejuvenation massage products at 25 fairs across the country, lived that legend. He spent 30 years trying to get in before being accepted for a spot in the fair's Merchandise Mart last year.
"It's almost like someone has to die before the new guy can get in," he said.
But retailers usually have a far easier time than that. Nearly 40 new nonfood vendors were accepted to spaces on the fairgrounds this year, down from 50 last year. By contrast, turnover in food and beverage concessions is just one to three spots per year.
"Our annual turnover of nonfood vendors generally runs around 25 percent annually grounds-wide," said Jim Sinclair, deputy general manager at the fair.
One reason food vendors stay longer is the larger investment in the property, which can easily run into six figures.
Lauren VanScoy of Essence One, a new shop in the West End Market that sells handcrafted soaps, estimated her investment this year to be about $10,000 on booth rent, signage and staffing. She never considered applying to the fair because "each year a million people apply and you don't get in."
But when some fellow craft people who got into the fair quickly told her that the long wait was an urban myth, VanScoy applied in January and was accepted her first time at bat.