Three days after rioters damaged several businesses and stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, the city says it’s stepping in to help.

Eighty-six local businesses have been affected, according to city officials. Broadway Outlet on North Goodman Street was one of the businesses hit hardest.

“Everything was gone. Nothing left. Everything!” said Abdul Shuaibi, son of the owner of Broadway Outlet.

Shuaibi says after looters broke into the store, they stole around $500,000 worth of merchandise, after just reopening two week prior due to the pandemic.

“We open for two weeks and this is what happened. They break everything. They took everything. They didn’t even leave one pair of shoes. Nothing!” said Shuaibi.

Cliff Manhertz, a property owner on North Clinton Avenue, says the damage to the cell phone business occupying his building has put him in a tough bind financially.

“It puts me back and it makes the process a little bit longer but we are going to persist and work through it,” said Manhertz.

The North Clinton Business Association has been assessing businesses in that area hit hardest by the rioters. North Clinton Business Liason Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons says some of them are minority-owned.

“These business owners are barely making past COVID. Now, they are making that tough decision if they want to stay open or if they can stay open past this point,” she said.

The city says it’s planning to offer grants on average of $2,000 to businesses through its Business Emergency Retention Grant Program which was originally established for businesses struggling during the pandemic. A loan deferment program is available, as well.

“We are just trying to assess each situation and see collectively between what we can offer them and what we might be able to connect them to. Trying to get them the assistance they need to reopen and establish the business,” said Gary Kirkmire, the city’s commissioner for the department of neighborhood and development.

Until the financial aid comes, Vazquez-Simmons says many businesses are still on the edge about future riots.

“Everyone is nervous. We can’t afford another thing like what happened on Saturday,” she said.

Shauibi from Broadway Outlet says the community has been a big help through these difficult times. He says he is also thankful for the support from his high school classmates who helped clean up the damage from his family’s business.

— 13 WHAM