Royals pop-up stores see steady sales; check out these KC canvas shoes

It was the biggest walk-up sale of Geoff Porter’s 40-year career.

Porter, a Kansas City stand manager for Event Merchandising Inc., set up shop in the lobby of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown this week.

Wednesday afternoon, a tourist from Mexico whipped out a long shopping list. He wasn’t a wholesaler planning on reselling the items; he was going to give them to friends and family and had carefully listed names and sizes. He spent about $2,000.

“There will be a World Series village in Mexico,” Porter said.

A steady stream of customers gathered around the pop-up shop at 200 W. 12th St. to buy such items as Kansas City Royals-themed lapel pins, mugs, key chains, fountain pens shaped like baseball bats, shot glasses, pennants, programs and blankets, but mostly apparel — from long-sleeve thermal shirts for women to T-shirts for the family.

Rich Davis, T-shirt salesman with N&D Sports in Hamden, Conn., set up a temporary store in the Commerce Arcade, 1000 Walnut St. A few items have logos for both the Royals and the New York Mets, but most are Royals only — flags, hats, T-shirts, toy baseball bats and key chains.

“We’ll be here through the World Series and then disappear into the night,” Davis said.

The two companies said they also are setting up pop-ups across the metro area, but locations weren’t available Wednesday.

Two weeks ago, Bob Jones Shoes stocked up on 35 pairs of Eastland’s Men’s Adventure MLB Kansas City Royals canvas boat shoes with the KC logo on the back of the shoe.

The store, at 1914 Grand Blvd., has already sold 33 pairs at $69.90. But you also can order them online at Eastland’s. And, well, there’s a pair of bright blue, size-11 men’s Los Angeles Dodgers shoes that was tossed in the order by mistake.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Royals pop-up stores see steady sales; check out these KC canvas shoes."