ShareThisIt's been more than three years since he was forced to resign from the U.S. Congress, but former Rep. Mark Foley is still meeting and greeting people.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Instead of looking for votes, the former Republican lawmaker is now looking for customers.
He's opened a consignment shop and hopes to help renovate a historic part of West Palm Beach at the same time.
"Celebrity Consignment" has been open a little more than a month now on Dixie Highway. From furniture to chandeliers to paintings, much of the shop is filled with Foley's belongings from his former home in the nation's capitol. He also sells items from his friends.
Foley said he's over caring what people think and simply following his passion.
"People are looking to downsize and they're looking for cash," Foley said. "That's the new reality."
A five-term congressman, Foley was forced to leave the House in 2006 in the wake of a scandal involving teenaged male congressional pages.
Foley's new reality is all part of his reinvention back in his hometown and back to his roots.
"I see out there everybody's anxiety over the economy," Foley said. "Yet we are optimistic, which is intrinsically American."
Foley bought the property in the heart of what he hopes will soon be the center of an art and design district of West Palm Beach.
"I suggest when the real estate bounces back again this will be the ground zero of excitement," Foley said.
Inside Foley's shop you'll find lots of historical pieces, like a document from one of Washington D.C's original architects.
"It really is a part of the history of America," Foley said.
And there's no doubt from walking around which political party is near and dear to his heart. Elephant statues and paintings are in the shop.
Pointing to one painting of a pachyderm he said, "A woman asked me to sell this painting and I said I'll be glad to put this on my wall."
He says even with his past, he remains in love with his country and investing in his community is his way of showing it.
"My name attracts attention, I'll give it that," Foley said as his voice began to crack. "For good and bad people have all kinds of things to say. But I will tell you this experience of coming home has been wonderful."
Foley, who now has a radio talk show on WSVU 960AM in North Palm Beach, resigned from office about a month before the November 2006 election.
He said he hasn't put it totally out of his mind to run for office again.
(Angela Sachitano is a reporter for WPTV NewsChannel 5 in West Palm Beach, Fla.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
