The Struggling Small Businesses of Milwaukee
As the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) rolled into Milwaukee, small businesses in the city's downtown area eagerly anticipated an economic boost. However, their hopes were quickly dashed as the convention's tight security perimeter effectively cut off access to their establishments, leading to a sluggish week of sales and dwindling customer traffic.
Navigating the Convention's Impact
The RNC's sprawling footprint in downtown Milwaukee saw the installation of tall metal fencing that sealed off numerous small businesses, including the Downtown Market & Smoke Shop and Avenue Liquor, owned by Samir Saddique. The store manager, Jay Nelson, recalls one of his regular customers lamenting the situation, pleading with people to "come and buy even just a bottle of wine" to help the struggling businesses. Despite the mayor's promises of an economic windfall, the convention's impact proved to be the opposite for many local entrepreneurs.
Saddique, the owner of the Downtown Market and Avenue Liquor, reported a drastic decline in traffic and sales soon after the fencing went up. By the RNC's final day, his liquor store had made just 10% of its usual sales. "We're barricaded away from the rest of the world," Saddique said, echoing the sentiment of many small business owners in the area.
The impact was not limited to Saddique's businesses. Across the Milwaukee River, which marked the eastern edge of the RNC's secure zone, Elwood's Liquor & Tap, a bar near the convention's main stage, saw just one seat taken during their usually bustling Wednesday happy hour. "Everybody was promised that this was going to be a giant moneymaker for businesses," said Sam Chung, the bar manager, "So it's strange seeing how much it's actually killed business for a lot of people outside the perimeter."
The challenges faced by small businesses were not limited to those within the immediate vicinity of the convention. Adam Buker, a barista at Canary Coffee Bar, located outside the secure zone, noted that their location still played a significant role in their struggles. "It 100% has to do with our location," Buker said, explaining that RNC attendees did not have to cross the river to reach the coffee shop, unlike the businesses on the other side.
The frustrations of small business owners were further compounded by the realization that the much-anticipated economic boost had not materialized. Claire Koenig, a spokesperson for Visit Milwaukee, the city's tourism agency, acknowledged that economic impact reports would likely take three months to compile, leaving many business owners in limbo as they grappled with the convention's aftermath.
A Community Comes Together
As the RNC's final day drew to a close, a last-minute party outside Samir Saddique's convenience store became a celebration of the local community's resilience. Saddique and his store manager, Jay Nelson, hoped that catered tacos and cold green tea would draw in customers to their businesses, which had been open for over 20 years and weathered a recession and a global pandemic.
Debra Lampe-Revolinski, a resident living adjacent to Saddique's stores, had pitched the idea for the party earlier in the week, recognizing the need to support her friends and neighbors whose businesses were struggling. She had seen the store owners work tirelessly for weeks, remodeling parts of their establishments in preparation for the convention, only to be met with the "deflation" of being "blocked out by those tall metal fences."
A Newfound Appreciation for Local Businesses
By the time former President Trump took the stage to accept the GOP nomination, the party had transformed from a last-ditch effort to boost sales into a celebration of the community's resilience. "If anything, this week strengthened our little community on this block to support its local businesses," Lampe-Revolinski remarked.
The challenges faced by small businesses during the RNC highlighted the importance of community support and solidarity. While the convention's economic promise failed to materialize, the experience brought the local community closer together, as residents like Lampe-Revolinski rallied behind their neighborhood businesses.
Adam Buker, the barista at Canary Coffee Bar, exemplified this spirit of camaraderie. After closing for the week, he spent his cash tips at the struggling bars around the convention's perimeter, stating, "From one service worker to another, spread the love."
The RNC's impact on Milwaukee's small businesses may have been a disappointment, but it also served to reinforce the value of local community support. In the face of adversity, the city's residents banded together to ensure the survival of the small enterprises that have been the backbone of their neighborhoods for decades.
Lessons Learned and the Path Forward
The RNC's aftermath in Milwaukee has raised important questions about the true impact of hosting such high-profile events. While the city's mayor, Cavalier Johnson, touted the convention as a success, highlighting Milwaukee's capacity to host "a major and a massive event," the reality on the ground painted a more complex picture.
The economic benefits promised to small businesses failed to materialize, with many reporting a significant decline in sales and customer traffic. This has prompted a re-evaluation of the trade-offs involved in hosting large-scale events, particularly when it comes to the impact on local communities and their small enterprises.
As Milwaukee and other cities consider bids to host future conventions or events, the lessons learned from the RNC experience should be carefully considered. Policymakers and event organizers would do well to prioritize the needs and concerns of small businesses, ensuring that any potential economic boost is equitably distributed and does not come at the expense of the very communities they seek to serve.
The resilience and community spirit displayed by Milwaukee's small business owners and residents during the RNC's difficult week offer a glimmer of hope. With the right support and strategic planning, future events could strike a better balance between the needs of the host city and the interests of its small business community.
Additional Resources
For more information on the impact of major events on local businesses, check out these resources:
Outside the RNC, small Milwaukee businesses and their regulars tried to salvage a sluggish week
With GOP convention over, Milwaukee weighs the benefits of hosting political rivals
The biggest of stories came to the small city of Butler
Downtown Milwaukee restaurants see sluggish sales during RNC
These articles provide additional insights and perspectives on the challenges faced by small businesses during major events, as well as the broader implications for host communities. By understanding these experiences, we can work towards more equitable and sustainable models for hosting such events in the future.