By Evan Ramsta
The Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Tom McDonough and Sean Moriarty opened 911 Marketplace in May, hoping their store would be successful with shoppers searching for fire, police and emergency-themed gifts. But the veteran firefighters have been overwhelmed since Sept. 11.
The pair, who work in the training unit of the St. Paul Fire Department, say they are stunned by the shop’s rapid growth.
“There are a lot more stresses than I had ever expected,” Moriarty said.
Demand soared in mid-September for shirts, hats and items associated with the New York fire and police departments, which lost hundreds of employees in the World Trade Center attacks.
Shoppers constantly ask whether the team opened the store in the Mall of America because of the terrorist acts.
“I assumed it might be something that grew out of September (11),” said Phil Goff, a Kansas City police officer.
McDonough dreamed up the idea for the store after a trip three years ago to Disney World, where his wife and children bought birthday presents for him at the park’s fire station-themed gift shop. He was impressed by the variety of items.
He and his wife sat down last year with more than 200 wholesale and retail catalogs and chose their stock. McDonough and Moriarty have invested $70,000 in the 800-square-foot store and a Web site.
The store is packed with toys, clothing and collectibles alongside antique fire gear, old badges, call boxes and even fire hydrants.
But the owners draw the line at products making fun of emergency services and personnel. Until Sept. 11, one of their top-sellers was a sweat shirt that said “If you think being a firefighter is tough, try being a firefighter’s wife.”