Bailey White,
13, stood patiently in line with her little brother Keaton at the gift store
inside the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, each clutching a
stuffed terrier named Charlie that cost $35 per item.
The beagle,
with a Trump monogram on its white bandana, was modeled on the pet dog of Eric
Trump, the son of President-elect Donald Trump. It was one of the few items
left on the shelves of the store, which had sold out of that morning's fresh
batch of red "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" t-shirts by noon.
Bailey and
Keaton, 10, however, were happy with their score. The children, who had
traveled to New York from Florida originally for the Thanksgiving Day Parade,
told Reuters they were huge fans of Donald Trump, listing at the top of their
reasons his commitment to reduce illegal immigration. Or, as the younger
brother puts it, "To stop bad guys from getting in our country."
As businesses
around the president-elect's glitzy New York home have had to deal with extra
security and crowds reducing foot traffic sales in the lead up to Fifth
Avenue’s busiest shopping weekend, Trump souvenirs have been flying off the
shelves at the billionaire's gift store.
Trump
supporters like the White siblings and their mom Laura have proven to be a boon
for at least one of the his businesses in the immediate aftermath of the U.S.
presidential election.
In just one
hour, a Reuters reporter counted at least 100 people crowding the shop located
on the lower level of the Tower to buy hats, pins and more. Many were
disappointed to find the $30 dollar red "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN"
hat and all campaign t-shirts out of stock.
Just one door
over, a single salesman sat in dim lighting in the middle of the day at a New
York City souvenir store, also in Trump Tower, greeting visitors with,
"Looking for Trump merchandise?" before redirecting them.
When asked if
the number of visitors inside the Trump Tower had increased since the
presidential results, a security guard in the building replied: "One
hundred percent."
Outside, where
some of the world's most well-known retailers spend more on rent than in just
about any other city, shoppers had to fight through security, crowds and media
packs to enter the Gucci store or tony jeweler Tiffany's.
Rosalia
Betancourt, 69, first trekked to Trump Tower two days after Trump was elected
in search for the eponymous red hat. They were sold out.
When
Betancourt, who moved to New York from Venezuela more than four decades ago,
braved holiday crowds a week later on Wednesday, she had to leave empty-handed
once again.
"It's all
right" she said. "I guess I'll go online. It just has to be
red."
Sari Nielsen,
71, was waiting at the Trump Cafe next door to the shop for the crowds to die
down.
"I want
to buy my nephew Pete a Trump golf hat for Thanksgiving," said Nielsen,
who moved to New York in 1975 from Argentina.
Shoppers also
had the option of buying Trump cufflinks, blankets, bags, perfume, candy, books
authored by members of the family and more.
The line
shortened somewhat during lunchtime when visitors turned their attention to the
Trump Grill, which does not offer reservations but a $25 dollar fixed-price
meal.
Trisha
Williams, 50, of San Jose, California also made the trip to New York for the
parade with her son Cayden, 8, who stayed up and watched the election. The two
stood outside the Trump Tower with their gold Trump store bags.
"We
wanted to experience it all and buy some merchandise," Trisha said.
But many of
the items she wanted to buy were not available.
"They
didn't really have very much," Trisha said noting that a saleswoman at the
store gave her a card outlining how she can make purchases online and that
she's already followed her advice.
"I wanted
a jacket with a Trump logo and a t-shirt, but they didn't really have anything
left."
Reuters
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