THE POWER OF MAUER
If local businesses didn't cringe when megastar Joe Mauer signed an eight-year deal to stay with the Twins on Monday, perhaps they should have. After all, the competition for local dollars soon might be getting a lot fiercer.
Mauer Chevrolet, which opened last month in Inver Grove Heights-- and, by the way, almost certainly would have been forced to change its name had Mauer bolted for the New York Yankees -- could be just the beginning.
Along with potential products such as Catcher in the Rye Bread, finger-pickin' ban-Joes and the sports drink Mauer-ade, we foresee these franchises opening soon in a neighborhood near you:
Mauer Kraut Diner: Sauerkraut with sausages, schnitzels and other German staples. Takeout specials include hero sandwiches and helmets filled with 'kraut balls.
Catcher Matcher: A dating service for sports fans.
Mauer Steering: A job-placement service and temp agency.
Tower of Mauer Construction: Specializing in skyscrapers.
A Cup o' Joe: No, it's a coffee shop, smarty pants, not a place selling baseball players' protective gear. The latter, however, might be available at:
