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A giant mouse mascot stands at the storefront of the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus, 545 S. Main Street, Frankenmuth, Michigan. The local tourism site gives its height as 8 feet 4 inches and says it was "born" in 1970; a 2020 contest named it Klaus.
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Frankenmuth Cheese Haus mouse
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Site-level location · 43.3294° N, 83.7391° W
FIELD GUIDE
The story
One of the most photographed landmarks in Frankenmuth, according to the Cheese Haus's owner, is a giant mouse. The mascot has greeted visitors at the storefront of the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus on South Main Street since 1970, two years after the shop opened, as reported by WCRZ and Michigan State University's Broad College of Business. The Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce's directory gives its height as 8 feet 4 inches.
For its first 50 years it had no name. In early 2020 the Cheese Haus ran a month-long contest on social media and in the store that drew more than 5,400 suggested names. Four finalists, Klaus, Frankie, Charlie and Hans, went to a public vote of more than 10,600 votes, and Klaus won. The shop marked the mouse's 50th birthday on 6 April 2020 with half-price cheese for several days.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
A mascot photo stop at the storefront of the Cheese Haus, 545 S. Main St. The store's website lists hours of Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
ACCESS
Outside the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus, a shop at 545 S. Main Street (commercial property on the town's main street). The mouse is at the storefront, so visiting hours follow the store's hours.
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