The 16th Street Mall will be a lot more crowded during the Democratic National Convention, and not just with delegates.

Denver's No. 1 tourist attraction will also be populated by up to 40 more vending carts beyond the 36 businesses now selling everything from snow cones to cosmetics.

"We have added 40 additional locations for convention week, and we've filled 27 of those spaces," said Malia Campbell, economic development and downtown environment coordinator for the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Campbell said none of the special events carts permitted so far will be selling food.

"The bulk of them are offering DNC paraphernalia - buttons and T-shirts, including items directly related to Barack Obama," she said.

It was only recently that all of the current mall vendors learned they were approved to be open during the convention.

"About a week ago the permitting people finally told me I was good to go for the convention," said Jim Pittenger, owner of Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs cart in Skyline Park at Arapahoe Avenue and the 16th Street Mall.

Pittenger hopes to sell oodles of his elk jalapeno cheddar brats, German veal brats, wild boar sausages and hot dogs, whether it's to locals, convention attendees or protesters using Skyline Park.

At the Philadelphia Filly cart at Cleveland Place, co-owners Sally Rock and Dale Goin haven't heard anything about security restrictions impacting vendors on the mall. "No news is good news so far," Rock said.

As for a potential flood of consumers, "We're not getting our hopes up yet," Rock said. "But we're looking forward to it. We're ready to extend hours if the business is there."

The couple works many festivals, including the recent Mile High Music Festival. The DNC is relatively simple, Goin said.

"Logistically, the biggest problem is them putting together the Taste of Colorado right on the heels of the convention."

The Taste opens in Civic Center on Aug. 29, one day after the DNC concludes with presumptive nominee Obama giving his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High.

lehndorffj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5103