ALBERT LEA, Minn. (FOX 47) Minnesota businesses near the border with Iowa are nervous they’ll lose customers to the Hawkeye State.
On Friday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a public health proclamation removing the state mask mandate, and weakening gathering restriction statewide.
Albert Lea is about 10 to 15 minutes from the closest Iowa town.
“We worry about losing customers all the time especially being so close to the border,” said Jason Hoiseth, co-owner of Bleachers Sports Bar and Grill. “It’s just a matter of them going down there one time and finding somewhere that they really like. Not that I don’t want people to be everywhere and support all the businesses. But local is what we need and we want to keep the local businesses happy.”