Downtown D.C. businesses remain boarded up following election

The results are in sooner than expected, but the uncertainty for businesses in downtown D.C. continues as they tell The Wash they will remain barricaded until after the inauguration. 

One of the businesses is Potbelly, located opposite the White House. Assistant Manager Danna Kelly said some of her colleagues feel uneasy with the barricades; “it’s a little nerve-wracking not to know what’s going on outside.”

It’s affecting business. Sitting in an empty shop at lunchtime, Kelly said, “it’s pretty dark and isolated.” 

Kelly thought the security measures were precautionary, telling The Wash, “If nothing’s happened now or thus far, I don’t think we have too much more to worry about.” 

But Ray Copper, an employee at T-Mobile’s nearby location, said, “I anticipate something going on.” He said, “You never know people get a little riled up at this time,” referring to previous vandalism. 

Copper said he supported the safety measures D.C. was implementing, considering Nordstrom Rack– located down the street – had been vandalized and looted in 2020 during a protest over the death of George Floyd.

Devonte Williams, a resident of DC for over 30 years, said he had never seen election safety precautions like this year. He also said as someone who experienced the anxiety of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack near his home, he was thankful for the preventive actions taking place around the District.

How long will barriers last?

Mayor Muriel Bowser responded to questions about boarded-up businesses in a press conference on Nov. 4. The mayor said the Metropolitan Police Department  “is out in all eight wards and is very focused on commercial districts.” She said they will share information with so-called business improvement districts “so they know what we know and we trust that they will make the right decisions.”

Bowser said the city expects to request National Guard help between now and Inauguration Day. 

Golden Triangle business district, home to more than 550 shops, bars and restaurants, including on Pennsylvania Avenue, has encouraged businesses to be “ready with a plan for if a threat does emerge,” according to an emailed statement.

In the meantime, the U.S. Secret Service spokesperson, Alexi Worley, wrote in an email that fencing and other physical public safety measures put in place for Election Day are expected to be removed this weekend.

Other businesses are more focused on getting customers over the emotional barriers of the election, particularly in heavily Democratic D.C.

Crumbs and Whiskers, a cat cafe in Georgetown, has in the last day noticed an increased police presence, but they’ve decided not to board up their windows, a manager said. 

Sydney Floyd, shift manager at the facility, said customers have come in this morning “definitely bummed over the results.” The customers are coming in for some animal therapy. Floyd noticed less foot traffic, too. 

“I would assume that people are, I don’t know, either staying clear out of D.C. for the most part or are celebrating elsewhere,” she said.