WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — In anticipation of Election Day and the potential for unrest, there are many businesses in the District that have decided to board up.
The cost of this extra reinforcement is having a financial impact on some owners, including buildings along 1250 I St. in Northwest.
Tall wooden walls were put up to protect the office building and retail spaces on the ground floor.
“This is kind of depressing. People are missing where the restaurant is and, and it’s hard to make it really look personal too,” said Kaedence Jairl, a line cook at Pow Pow.
Until Monday night, the restaurant was hidden behind a boarded-up wall with only one sign on the sidewalk and one sign barely poking up above.
The building owner’s decision has impacted business.
“People are saying they can’t find where the restaurant is. They think that something’s going on where they can’t get inside. But, I mean, we’re open. If you see the signs that might help you, but if not, it’s just been dead,” Jairl said.
Late Monday night, crews removed part of the wall blocking Pow Pow. A construction worker told DC News Now that the owner of Pow Pow wanted it gone and the building owner agreed.
However, the construction worker relayed that the building owner told the owner of Pow Pow that if anything happened, the restaurant would have to foot the bill.
Seeing buildings boarded up has locals and tourists on edge.
“A little anxiety-inducing, I guess. It’s quite worrisome. I assume it’s because of the election tomorrow,” Robert Wilson said. “It seems like a lot of anger that’s building up depending on one way or the other. I don’t plan on being here tomorrow during the day.”
Joi Anderson who works downtown thinks it may be overcautious for election week but understands why businesses are taking these steps.
“My own personal opinion, I think January would be more the time to consider it. But if people think it’s better safe than sorry, then I say this week is fine,” Anderson said.
Jairl said the building owner wants to keep the wall up for at least a week after the election and it’ll go back up for the week of Jan. 6 when Congress certifies the election.
