Business just fine under the dome

• Published October 20, 2008

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If you want to drift away from all the nasty political ads and depressing economic news, visit the Legislative Gift Center in the Capitol, a bright spot of nonprofit capitalism.

The Legislature ordered the shop in 2007, looking for a space where they and tourists could pick up something symbolic of the state (or some Tylenol – it's always in stock). It opened in January and just passed it’s first $100,000 in sales.

"I think it's doing better than we expected. I want to say we hoped for $75,000 in the first year. But to do $100,000 in the first ten months?" said Rep. Sam Hunt, who sponsored the enabling legislation. Any profits after it recoups start-up costs go to a couple historic preservation funds.

You can read all about shop manger Lexi Sandifer’s strategy here. She did note she's looking for smaller keepsakes now that airlines are charging for every checked bag.

Hunt said he got the idea after visiting a shop in Nevada's capitol. "I thought, gee, we've got the only one I've been in that doesn't have a gift store. It looked like a need, other states were using them and people liked them."