Presidential Inaugural Store Starts 2nd Term

WASHINGTON — Stocked with hundreds of commemorative items and decorated with red, white and blue bunting and balloons, the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s inaugural store opened Friday.

The store, just a few blocks from the White House, offers everything from T-shirts to silver serving trays to commemorate President Clinton’s Jan. 20 swearing-in.

“It’s neat,” said Myra Norman, one of the handful of shoppers browsing in the store shortly after it opened. “I was looking for a campaign button, and I’ve seen some other things I want.”

Norman, who was visiting from Atlanta, decided to come back over the weekend and pick out her souvenirs.

Inaugural committee co-chairs Ann Jordan and Terence McAuliffe cut the red ribbon stretched across the store to officially open it.

The committee hopes to raise about $500,000 through the sale of merchandise, said Debbie Willhite, the committee’s co-executive director. The store will be open until mid-February.