With the exciting news of this weekend’s Trump rally at Eastern Kentucky University, there seems to be some entrepreneurial spirit taking place ahead of the event. No doubt if you have driven around town today, you would have seen one of four tents selling Trump merchandise. Although it is not immediately known if these are patented products with all proceeds going to the President himself, there still exists the issue of business licenses.
Marisa Hempel spoke to City Manager Rob Minerich, who says the codes department has been closely paying attention to these bright businessmen and women who are popping up with the colorful tents and red, white, and blue shirts about town.
Minerich says one of these, however, was not legal as they had no tax ID or business license to sell within the city limits.
City ordinance enforcement officer Jason Rawlins said he personally visited the location on main street, which for a time had children waving large ‘TRUMP’ flags outside the old PNC bank building. However, the owner was unable to produce his papers, and was shut down according to Rawlins.
If you do want to purchase Trump attire ahead of the rally which will no doubt cause a standstill in Richmond Saturday, the other three locations are legal: On Killarney by Hooters, at the University Shell on the Bypass, and across from Sonny’s on Berea Road.
There may be more of these out there, as the excitement of the first sitting president visiting Richmond has no doubt spurned some business interest.
Rawlins adds that it is $500.00 for out of town residents to file their business licenses, but for those that live in-county, it is only $50. Also, both Minerich and Rawlins add that so long as they are not obstructing traffic or purveying obscene material, all is well.
