NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- The MLB and Nike have reached a deal that will allow Yankees merchandise to continue to be sold at existing sports shops near Yankee Stadium.
Nike and the MLB had previously signed a deal that would have only allowed "premium distribution points" to sell official merchandise.
This would have affected long-time staples of River Avenue like Pinstripe Collectibles, Stadium Souvenirs and Stan's Sports World.
At Ballpark Sports Shop, sales of jerseys make up about 80 percent of their business, according to the shop's manager, Yousef Abbadi.
"So, if the agreement wouldn't have happened, all of those eight stores would've closed down and this town would've been a ghost town," Abaddi said.
Local politicians like Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. stepped up to defend the mom-and-pop stores.
"They are now going to be able to continue selling their merchandise here in the Bronx," said Gibson. "Small businesses matter. Bronx businesses matter."