Business
BY TODD MAISEL
They feared the worst and
braced for it — but the
worst never came.
Most store owners in Manhattan
and Brooklyn who put up
plywood to protect windows from
damage during potential postelection
protests kept the barriers
in place even as the city calmed
down following Joe Biden’s victory
in last week’s presidential
race over President Trump.
Instead of unrest and vandalism,
most of the city celebrated
Biden’s apparent victory over
Trump, with many dancing in
the streets and popping bottles
of champagne.
However, some store owners
who spoke with amNewYork
Metro on Monday, most whom
Some Manhattan store owners begin taking down
wood barriers, but fear more Trump-related unrest
would not go on record, say they
are cautiously optimistic about
the city remaining calm, but
took a wait and see approach —
especially as Trump continues to
refuse conceding the election.
In Union Square, where many
stores had been attacked during
protests in the spring and summer,
some stores that boarded
up, remained that way. On 17th
Street and Fifth Avenue, workers
were removing boards from
Bonobos.
“Yes, we are taking it down,
but hey, we may be back here putting
it up again next week,” said
one supervisor. “You just never
know — maybe Trump will cause
Some merchants are slowly taking down the plywood on their windows including here on Fifth
Avenue, feeling better times are ahead, while others took a wait and see approached in Manhattan,
fearing more civili disturbances may force them to put them up again.
Saks Fifth Avenue
some issues, and we will be back
again.”
Stores along Fifth Avenue were
mostly still boarded up, most
PHOTOS BY TODD MAISEL
store owners didn’t want to even
talk about it.
“I don’t want to jinx it,” said
one store manager who said he
couldn’t be quoted. “The owners
are still afraid and don’t want
the store wrecked. I hope it just
stays quiet so we can get back to
normal.”
Saks Fifth Avenue was still
boarded up from one end of the
store to the other on Fifth Avenue
and 5oth Street. The store had
some of the highest security at the
height of the protests with numerous
security guards and guard
dogs. A lone security guard stood
outside the venerable retailer.
“I hope they will take the
boards down soon – I can’t wait
for them to decorate for Christmas,”
said Julie Anderson, a
shopper who had just come out
of the store. “I think things will
get better, the boards make it look
like we are still under siege.”
The NYPD has vowed to protect
commercial properties from
further vandalism and looting
– offi cers were more aggressive
last week protecting stores during
marches with only a few acts of
vandalism. Scores were arrested
last week for vandalism and other
offenses, with some activists saying
the department had acted
overly aggressive.
In some cases, non-credentialed
photographers acting as
media were also swept up by cops
and charged with misdemeanors
and given desk appearance tickets
– credentialed media were
allowed to do their jobs.
The Barnes & Noble in Union Square
10 November 12, 2020 Schneps Media