After Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and one woman was reportedly shot and later died on Wednesday, local retailers and businesses are taking precautionary steps to keep their businesses intact in case these events continue to progress dangerously.
Following the protests, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew, which started at at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and remained in effect until 6 a.m. this morning.
The precautionary moves are in response to President Donald Trump supporters swarming the Capitol, forcing the Senate chamber to be evacuated. Vice President Mike Pence was also taken to a secure location.
Prior to the event at the Capitol, thousands of protesters had gathered on the National Mall in an effort to rally against the outcome of the November presidential election.
Hours later, President-elect Joe Biden took it to Twitter to acknowledge the chaos:
“Our way is plain: It is the way of democracy — of lawfulness, and of respect — respect for each other, and for our nation.”
Following the tweet, Biden called on Trump to address the country and urge calmness via a televised speech. Biden concluded his speech by telling Trump to “step up.”
With the unlikelihood of President Trump addressing the nation to urge a sense of calm, many local retailers took it upon themselves to do what they can to save their storefronts from further chaos.
Prior to Wednesday’s events, the majority of retailers and businesses in the CityCenterDC area remained closed. The area has several upscale restaurants and storefronts, including Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Brunello Cucinelli, CH Carolina Herrera and Salvatore Ferragamo.
According to a CityCenterDC representative, most businesses made the decision to shutter their stores on Monday, but then also remained closed on Tuesday.
Two other shopping centers in the district, DC USA and Gallery Place, appeared to have closed early Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Chevy Chase Pavilion had made plans to close and “go under lockdown” as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to a spokesman for property owner Cushman & Wakefield.
