Photos show boarded-up windows in top shopping districts as retailers brace for Election Day fallout

03.11.2020 23:58

The retail apocalypse continues as shops beef up defenses to protect themselves on Election Day fearing civil unrest and violent protests.

Boarded up stores Election Day — Retail stores boarded up in advance of Election Day.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty

The 2020 presidential election between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has retailers preparing for the worst.
Shop windows across major cities have been largely boarded up to protect against violent protests and looting, while shopping districts stand ready to implement defensive measures to counter any violence.
Retailers lost between $1 billion and $2 billion in the last wave of civil unrest, which occurred after the police killing of George Floyd and the civil unrest that followed.
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While President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have been crisscrossing the US on the campaign trail, construction crews have been getting to work installing fortifications for stores across the country.

Fearing civil unrest stemming from the contentious contest between Trump and Biden, retailers have begun boarding up their shops in preparation for violent encounters, civil unrest, and looting that could result in billions' worth of property damage. Plywood and metallic covers now shield many store fronts.

Shopping districts electing to stay open have implemented emergency plans in case the day turns violent, using heavy-duty trucks to control protests. With the election results not likely to be known on election night, because of an influx of mail-in and absentee ballots, the unrest could spread to later in the week.

Retailers are hoping to avoid a repeat of the looting and vandalism that took place after the police killing of George Floyd, unrest that resulted in between $1 billion and $2 billion in damage, insurance claims show. Protests have resumed more recently in Philadelphia, where a Walmart was looted following the killing of Walter Wallace Jr. at the hands of police on October 26.

Take a look at the scene across America as retailers hunker down and hope for the best (but are preparing for the worst).

Retailers are expecting Election Day to be the catalyst for civil unrest as a turbulent campaign season amid a pandemic comes to a close.

Violent protests in recent months have encouraged retailers to be prepared for anything to avoid the billions in losses that were suffered over the summer.

The past few weeks in Philadelphia have seen looting in response to the killing of Wallace, prompting the deployment of around 1,000 National Guardsmen.

Source: ABC 6 Action News

In Los Angeles, stores lining the famed Rodeo Drive will be closed and access to the street itself completely restricted.

Known for its high-end shopping experience, retailers there include Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Cartier, and Hermes. Their windows are hidden by plywood.

Police began restricting access to the street on Monday just before midnight.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

The street will remain closed until it's deemed safe to reopen, which might not be anytime soon as ballots will be counted in the days and weeks following Election Day.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Unbreakable window glass is also in high demand but short supply, leading one supplier, Riot Glass, to turn away new clients to service existing ones.

ServiceChannel, a broker for construction work, has seen $20 million in invoices placed through its platform for work stemming from potential civil unrest concerns.

Source: Forbes

Elsewhere, snowplows and salt-spreader trucks will limit access to popular shopping areas.

Source: Bloomberg

It can cost upwards of $30,000 to fortify a storefront, depending on its size — a price not all shops can afford.

Source: Forbes

That's why some retailers are just focusing on flagship stores, like the Saks Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

To the south in SoHo, Business Insider's Steven Tweedie discovered that Louis Vuitton stores were taking to metal sheets for protection.

And unlike some of its competitors, Louis Vuitton opted for metal plates painted in its signature color.

Here's what the retailer's Michigan Avenue store in Chicago store looks like where police are trying to spread the message "Don't loot in Chicago" as "officers will take action against anyone intent on spreading chaos," USA Today reported.

Source: USA Today

The phenomenon has even spread into the outer boroughs of New York as just across the river in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Tweedie also noticed the Levi's Store boarded up.

Brand-name retailers aren't the only stores affected as small businesses are also doing their best to protect themselves.

Small business owners in New York City, for example, are debating whether to stay open or close early; to fortify or take their chances; to hide their merchandise or to leave it as is.