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Obama T-shirts, hot sauce, buttons jam store shelves

By Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 21, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Nezzie Shabazz, of Plano,Texas, tries on Democratic National Convention clothing at Where the Buffalo Roam on the 16th Street Mall. "I'm trying to get as flashy as possible," Shabazz said.

Photo by Joshua Duplechian © Special To The Rocky

Nezzie Shabazz, of Plano,Texas, tries on Democratic National Convention clothing at Where the Buffalo Roam on the 16th Street Mall. "I'm trying to get as flashy as possible," Shabazz said.

A cardboard cutout of Barack Obama sits in the front window of Where the Buffalo Roam on the 16th Street Mall. The store plans to stay open later during the DNC.

Photo by Joshua Duplechian © Special To The Rocky

A cardboard cutout of Barack Obama sits in the front window of Where the Buffalo Roam on the 16th Street Mall. The store plans to stay open later during the DNC.

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The Denver National Convention doesn't kick off for another three days, but Barack Obama T-shirts - not to mention air fresheners, flip-flops and hot sauce - already abound along the 16th Street Mall.

Best of Denver at Denver Pavilions even sells jars of "Democrat Donkey Poop" (actually, blue chocolate-covered sunflower seeds) for $7.99. In a bipartisan gesture, the store also sells red "Republican Elephant Poop."

The longtime Denver souvenir store also sells an array of candidate-bedecked playing cards, shot glasses and the aforementioned Obama hot sauce - alongside Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain versions. Best of Denver started stocking its first DNC memorabilia in June and has seen brisk sales from visitors and Denver residents alike, said store manager Karen McGinnis.

Across Glenarm Place in the former home of the Original Soup Man is the official DNC store, which opened two weeks ago. The temporary store features dozens of $3 buttons, $5 donkey cookie cutters, $20 T-shirts and the game "Wreck the Nation: The Game of Political Misbehavior." A store employee helpfully described the objective of the $10 board game as "whoever wastes all of the nation's money first wins."

Even stores that don't typically traffic in regional memorabilia are jumping in on the action. Virgin Megastore offers Obama Air Freshener cards for $3.99 (which promise to "help eliminate stinky Republican smell") and $5.99 can cozies with Obama's likeness. Rite-Aid and Walgreens both stock DNC water bottles and coffee mugs, and Walgreens even sports a $14.99 "Hillary Clinton Boogie Diva Doll."

Sportsfan, typically an emporium for Broncos and Rockies memorabilia, for the past several weeks has featured "Obama Mama" and "Barack the Vote" T-shirts and DNC mouse pads along with its usual fare.

"It catches some people off guard when they walk in" to see the DNC merchandise, said store manager Patrick Williams, who noted the souvenirs are selling briskly.

Where the Buffalo Roam, which usually offers novelty T-shirts alongside Colorado and University of Colorado merchandise, has displayed dozens of Obama and Democratic-themed T-shirts since early July. On Thursday, the store was adding more political paraphernalia.

The store plans to stay open at least an extra three hours next week and is also opening an outpost tent near the convention center.

"It's really a historic moment," said owner Bahman Shafa. "A lot of these items will be collectibles in 20 years."

For Best of Denver, DNC week is going to be bittersweet. The 10-year-old store is closing in September, a decision made by the company's headquarters in Boston. Any unsold McCain, Obama or Clinton merchandise will be shipped to a sister store in Washington, D.C., while all Denver-themed items will be donated to charity, McGinnis said.

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