Outside the RNC, small Milwaukee businesses and their regulars tried to salvage a sluggish week

(20 Jul 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4507323

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Milwaukee – 18 July 2024
1. Various outside convenient store
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2. SOUNDBITE (English) Samir Siddique, business owner:
“They started to go up around Tuesday and I think business started to dwindle around that time, but it didn't hit rock bottom until probably Friday or Saturday.
3. Various of the liquor store
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4. SOUNDBITE (English) Samir Siddique, business owner:
“The Liquor Store was practically nonexistent in terms of business. We didn’t have locals going there. Most of our clientele were the officers, who are sort of, you know, vetting people as they come in and out, and so I assume they're not allowed to drink or they're not drinking for the event.”
5. Various of officers inside convenient store
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6. SOUNDBITE (English) Samir Siddique, business owner:
“We expected large crowds of people, to be out and about shopping, visiting the stores. I never imagined that an overwhelming majority of our, customer base would just be the staff of the event essentially.”
7. Various of outside convenient store
8. Tight of products in store
9. Tight of people walking
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10. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Buker, barista at Canary Coffee:
“If we were right outside the perimeter, no one would come in. No one would want to leave the perimeter to get coffee. They'll be like, ‘Oh, whatever. I'll just get a hotel coffee. Like, it'll be fine.’ We're in such a good position right now.”
11. Various of Buker working
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12. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Buker, barista at Canary Coffee:
“If we sold anything other than coffee, I think we'd get a lot less. There have been a lot of people coming in looking for food and, like, ‘I don't have food. I'm a coffee shop,’ and they leave. But, you know, everyone needs coffee.”
13. Tight of Buker working
14. Wide of Canary Coffee sign
15. Medium of Buker speaking to costumer
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16. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Buker, barista at Canary Coffee:
“I put out a sign that was like right in the walkway that was like Canary Coffee this way, and then people have just been coming in because they on their walk there, they get coffee and it's been great.”
17. Various outside of convenient store
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18. SOUNDBITE (English) Samir Siddique, business owner:
“I hope that the RNC If not immediately at least over time has a positive impact on Milwaukee, obviously, because, you know, there are other ways that these types of events can benefit a city.”
19. Tight of sign
STORYLINE:
This week's Republican National Convention didn't deliver an overwhelming victory to some small businesses in downtown Milwaukee.

There had been earlier promises of an economic boost, but some bars, convenience stores and restaurants along the edge of the secure zone sat largely empty all week.

The owner of a liquor store near a checkpoint says foot traffic plummeted after metal fencing was installed outside his business about a week before the RNC's opening day.

He says his storefront had essentially become invisible behind the fencing, even on Thursday night when his regular customers tried to help by throwing a party outside the store.

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[arcie]

I wished local businesses actually benefited from this