Vendors look to cash in during inauguration

by AP
MSNBC.MSN.com

Washington, DC - President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in could be a boon for Said Rangbar, among hundreds of people hoping to cash in on Inauguration Day.

The Washington street hot dog stand vendor plans to stock up his cart with food and drinks for the throngs of people expected to pack the nation's capital for Obama's swearing-in.

He's among dozens who have applied for a limited number of vending spaces in a D.C. government lottery and some are already grumbling about the scheduling of the lottery. Each space is only 10 feet by 10 feet, but carries the promise of a big payback.

"I hope the lottery gives me a good spot," said Rangbar, who's been vending in downtown D.C. for several years.

There will be 700 vending sites near the inaugural parade route and another 1,000 around the city. That's up from about 100 spaces the government gave out for the 2005 inauguration.

"It's much much larger than anything we've had before," said Shana Kemp, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.

Vendors hope that heightened interest in witnessing the country's first black president will translate into dollars. (Don't be surprised if they double prices.)

Cornelius Williams already sells Obama T-shirts, watches, calendars, pens, hats and tote bags at his stall near the commuter-heavy Metro Center station. He plans to order more products from a D.C. wholesaler in time for the inauguration.

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