ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI - FOX2now.com) -
Major League Baseball has forced a local vendor to move his souvenir stand out of his spot just north of Busch Stadium. M.L.B. officials have moved Mike Burch more than a mile away from Busch Stadium. Burch is now left trying to sell the $50,000 worth of All-Star merchandise, in an area with significantly less shopper traffic.
While most businesses will experience a boom during All-Star week in St. Louis, Mike Burch's souvenir business could crash and burn from it. Major League Baseball has kicked Burch out of his normal spot for all star week. "The Cardinals had called and expressed concern over us being in what M.L.B. classified as their "Clean Zone". And that's an area around the ballpark where other vendors like myself aren't allowed to sell Cardinal merchandise, especially All-Star apparel, during the All-Star event."
Had Burch known M.L.B. was going to enforce this, he would not have bought $50,000 worth of merchandise before the season in anticipation of this weekend. "I just wish they wouldn't squeeze the small guys out, that are here every day supporting the Cardinals, as opposed to the people coming in from out of town, grabbing the money, and then leaving right back out of town."
Folks at Burch's previous location, on the block north of Busch Stadium, helped set mike up in a lot at 1301 Washington Avenue. But it's more than a mile away from the stadium. But Mike is not sure the move will help him much.
"We're definitely not gonna make money. We're gonna lose money. We're gonna have a lot of inventory left over after the All-Star game of course."
The odd twist of this story is that Mike Burch is allowed to sell All-Star merchandise every home game leading up to this week, and every month after it's over. Mike promises anyone that visits his relocated shop, he'll make it worth your wallet's while.
While most businesses will experience a boom during All-Star week in St. Louis, Mike Burch's souvenir business could crash and burn from it. Major League Baseball has kicked Burch out of his normal spot for all star week. "The Cardinals had called and expressed concern over us being in what M.L.B. classified as their "Clean Zone". And that's an area around the ballpark where other vendors like myself aren't allowed to sell Cardinal merchandise, especially All-Star apparel, during the All-Star event."
Had Burch known M.L.B. was going to enforce this, he would not have bought $50,000 worth of merchandise before the season in anticipation of this weekend. "I just wish they wouldn't squeeze the small guys out, that are here every day supporting the Cardinals, as opposed to the people coming in from out of town, grabbing the money, and then leaving right back out of town."
Folks at Burch's previous location, on the block north of Busch Stadium, helped set mike up in a lot at 1301 Washington Avenue. But it's more than a mile away from the stadium. But Mike is not sure the move will help him much.
"We're definitely not gonna make money. We're gonna lose money. We're gonna have a lot of inventory left over after the All-Star game of course."
The odd twist of this story is that Mike Burch is allowed to sell All-Star merchandise every home game leading up to this week, and every month after it's over. Mike promises anyone that visits his relocated shop, he'll make it worth your wallet's while.
