Trump-inspired MAGA store offering hats, shirts, pocket-sized Constitutions in West Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Hats, buttons, shirts, pins and more are for sale at a new store north of Grand Rapids, and the theme of the business is President Donald Trump and his famous campaign slogan.

Grand Rapids-area native Gary Middleton opened the MAGA Store earlier this month. MAGA is shorthand for President Trump’s well-known catchphrase, “Make America Great Again.”

“Business is awesome,” Middleton said. “I didn’t expect this sort of response so quickly.”

Middleton said the store, which is run by his friends’ family members while he works his day job at a local car dealership, has already run out of things like Trump-themed golf balls and playing cards. The store opened about two weeks before Christmas.

MAGA Store is located at 4492 Plainfield Ave. NE, next to Flo’s pizzeria in a strip mall. Business hours are a bit vague right now. On most days, the business opens about 11 a.m. or noon and remains open until about 7 or 8 p.m. Middleton said he expects to establish permanent hours soon.

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Walking inside the store Friday, Jessica Wodarski and Jack Bailey sat at an old dining room table to ring up customers’ orders and offer free pocket-sized U.S. Constitutions. On that day, dog bandannas, flags and beer koozies were among the items being purchased.

One of Trump’s rally speeches played on a flat screen television on one wall. That same wall is adorned with large flags, including one with an American flag, skull and two large assault-style rifles with the words “Liberty or Death."

Daniel Deblaay, a firefighter from Rockford, was shopping for additional holiday gifts with his wife, Ronnie.

“I wanted somebody different,” Daniel said, explaining why he voted for Trump and continues to support him. “I gotta tell ya, I like a man, or a lady, that speaks their mind.”

“One thing we did all agree on though was that we didn’t need another politician,” his wife said.

They left the store with about a half dozen hats, three pins, two yard signs and a free pocket-sized Constitution.

Cheryl and Ron Taylor, residents of Statham, Georgia, also visited the store Friday. They were in the area visiting family in Wyoming, Michigan. They voted for Trump in 2016. They stocked up on playing cards, bumper stickers and magnets. They said they tried to get a Trump sign at home, but they were all gone.

“It’s pretty neat,” Cheryl said. “Twenty years, you know, you’re going to be like ... wish I had that, you know what I mean?”

Middleton said he gets his merchandise from sellers across the United States.

“Wherever I can find it, I’m picking up what I can,” Middleton said.

Middleton has also made his own merchandise, including a black shirt with the phrase “All aboard the Trump Train 2020,” along with an eagle, a train and an American flag on it.

Although he’s expecting protests at some point, Middleton said his store hasn’t led to any as of Friday.

“First Amendment rights. I’m exercising mine, and they are more than welcome to exercise theirs,” Middleton said.

Earlier this month, a special Trump-theme holiday shop opened just for the Christmas season in Saginaw. The Trump Christmas Shoppe was operated by Michigan Trump Republicans and carried Christmas-themed buttons, scarves, ornaments and more.

When it comes to exactly how legal it is to sell merchandise with the president’s slogan on it, Middleton said he is unsure, but also unconcerned about any problems.

“I mean it’s available pretty much everywhere,” Middleton said. “So I would imagine that if there is, I’ll probably be part of a class action lawsuit against me, but I can’t imagine that President Trump would want to stop anybody from promoting him for this upcoming election.”

Trump applied for a copyright on “Make America Great Again” before running for president, and has held the trademark since July of 2015, according to CNN. And Trump hasn’t been afraid to send out cease and desist letters or threaten lawsuits against retailers peddling his brand, CNN reported.

However, retailers like Amazon and Etsy continue to sell “Make America Great Again” and other Trump merchandise.

Middleton said he has reached out to the president. He sent him a couple of his own copyrighted shirts.

“Hopefully in his size,” he said.

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