Trump Store in Bensalem selling out since rally shooting. What supporters are buying
Since the assassination attempt on former President Trump on July 13, the Trump Store in Bensalem has been hopping.
"Sunday was insane. I mean crazy busy all day long," said Lisa von Deylen, store manager. "This morning when I got here, I had five people waiting."
Then a news crew from Finland arrived to interview customers at the store on Street Road.
"They showed up today and they're supposed to be back later," said von Deylen, during the first lull of a busy Tuesday morning, which was also the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The store is jammed to the ceiling with everything Trump and MAGA.
"This is currently our biggest seller. It's flying off the shelf," von Deylen said, setting down a coffee mug on the glass checkout counter. It's emblazoned with Evan Pucci's Associated Press photo of Trump pumping his fist in the air as Secret Service agents try to rush him from the stage at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pa. after a sniper nearly killed him with with a high-powered shot.
Another best seller is Same for "Trump 2024" and the former president's famous red baseball cap with "Make America Great Again" in white letters.
How it began Trump store in Bucks County busy on its opening day
The store, jammed with Trump gear, opened in the Bensalem Plaza Shopping Center on Street Road in February 2020. At the time, owner Mike Domanico, a custom T-shirt maker, couldn't say how long his pop-up shop would stay open.
Four years later, it's going strong. He even has a portable Trump store which he takes to rallies and other events.
On Tuesday, he was off-site, making Trump shirts with the fist-pump image.
"At least 100 customers have asked for this in the last two days. We just finished printing them" he said in a text.
Von Deylen was busy setting things in order behind the counter when she said, "Oh, yes, I can't forget this."
She pulled out paper work from beneath the counter.
"We're trying to make it so the election is too big to rig," she said. "We've been registering voters who come in. Some have just moved here, some want to change their party affiliation. So far in last couple of weeks, I've personally registered at least 15 people.
"It's simple. When they come in, I ask if they're registered. I used up my last form today when a man came in with his son who just turned 18. He was saying 'New voter here! New voter here!'
"The other amazing thing is I've been able to help several men get their voice back when it comes to voting," she said. "They've had a felony conviction. People who've been convicted of a felony are under the mistaken belief that they can never vote again in Pennsylvania. Not true. As long as you've served your time and parole/probation, you're eligible to vote."
So far, she's registered five such people.
Ironically, one of the top best selling items is a red white and blue yard sign that says, "This home is voting for FELON 2024," a dig at Trump critics, who point out that the former president was recently convicted of felonies in New York in a hush money case.
"That one in the window is our last one left," von Deylen said, "It's not gonna last."
JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Trump Store stocked, selling items fast since rally shooting, fist pump