'It's a ghost town:' Curfew lifted, but downtown Raleigh businesses empty, boarded up

Many downtown Raleigh businesses took a hit from COVID-19 shutdowns. Then, damage from riots caused expensive repair bills.

In fact, Vic's Ristorante & Pizzeria said the seven-day curfew hurt their business more than the pandemic has over the past several months.

Now, with boarded up windows and tattered interiors, downtown Raleigh business owners said they are worried about when customers will return.

Raleigh curfew lifted after a week of peaceful protests

Shortly after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, riots caused Raleigh to be put under a curfew. Now, although the curfew has been lifted, some businesses say their boarded up windows and damaged interiors are deterring customers from coming downtown.

However, artists are using the boards as a way to turn a negative into a positive.

Artists create murals, messages on boarded up windows on Durham buildings

“Destruction happened, but things that are good can come out of it," said Harris.

Mia Longo of Vic's Ristorante & Pizzeria said she had to turn customers away during the nights that the curfew was in effect. Closing early meant the staff had to start cleaning early so they could leave and be home on time.

She said the curfew forced Vic's to close three hours early every day for seven days, costing them thousands of dollars.

"I'm all for the protests," said Longo. "Fight for your right. We're all for that. It's just, these businesses worked so hard to get what they were and just to have it torn out in, like, an hour."

The effects could be long-lasting.

"It's still a ghost town. People are scared to come downtown," said Longo. "They don't want to see it boarded up."

Around town, some question whether the curfew was even necessary.

Jarquelia Holloman, who was opposed to curfew, said, "I just feel like people are going to do whatever they want to do anyway. I don’t think it was needed."

Black-owned business in historically black-owned building damaged by riots

Gloria Arizpe, however, said, "The curfew helped minimize the violence aspect of the movement and really shined a light on the reason people are really doing this."

Harris said she thinks the bigger message of equality is resonating in the community.

“I think it’s being heard. I think it’s being felt. I’m just excited. All of us are here today because we feel it and we’re in it," she said.

With restrictions lifted Monday for the first time in a week, it’s possible protesters could march even later.

Business owners, meanwhile, try to clean up after being hit by a pandemic, a riot and a curfew.