The Cheese Corner celebrates forty-years with founder at Grand Reopening event

May 23, 2026

The Cheese Corner celebrated a major milestone on May 21 as the Viroqua community gathered for a grand reopening that honored the four decades of history at the beloved deli. The event highlighted the return of founder Judy Dresen who originally opened the restaurant 40 years ago.

Brothers Steve and Nate Campbell recently purchased the deli and intentionally scheduled their grand reopening to honor Dresen and the original launch date. The brothers wanted to celebrate the deep roots of the business and the legacy that the founder built.

“That is May 21 this year,” said Steve Campbell. “We are going to do our grand opening which is the 40th anniversary of the cheese corner having their original grand opening.”

Dresen reflected on the humble beginnings of the shop which she initially opened because she was bored at home after her children were older. She remembered the small space and the slow start on her very first night.

“We invited the business people for champagne and cheese the first night we opened,” said Judy Dresen. “My first sales were 23 dollars.”

Having the business turned out to be a saving grace for her family when her husband Wes died suddenly at age 59 leaving her with five kids to support. Dresen noted that the deli provided crucial stability during a tragic time.

“My husband passed away really young,” said Judy Dresen. “It is a good thing I had it because I had the business.”

Dresen owned and operated the restaurant from 1986 until 1999 when she passed it on to her daughter Tina Tryggestad. Tryggestad ran the popular sandwich shop until 2021 when it briefly shut down before the Vernon Area Rehabilitation Center took over operations. The organization ran the deli until this year when the Campbell brothers bought it to keep the local tradition alive.

Now 87 years old Dresen explained that the physical toll of running a deli including developing a condition called slicers shoulder means she can no longer do the work. However she still cherishes the social aspect of the restaurant and the community she built.

“I miss the people,” said Judy Dresen. “I like the people.”

The Campbell brothers plan to maintain the high quality sandwiches and community focus that Dresen established 40 years ago. Dresen expressed her amazement that the small shop she started out of boredom has endured for so long.

“It is hard to believe that it is 40 years,” said Judy Dresen. “It is hard to believe.”