Downtown business leaders hopeful that Spokane avoids election unrest

While many retailers nationwide were boarding up windows and hiring extra security prior to Tuesday’s election in case of civil unrest, local businesses were hopeful vandalism will not occur in the downtown core.

Seattle-based Nordstrom was boarding up about 350 stores nationwide, including its River Park Square store in downtown Spokane, which closed early Tuesday evening to give employees time off to vote, said Bryn West, River Park Square vice president.

West said other retailers in River Park Square considered boarding up windows, but some chose to forgo that decision with hopes that “citizens will remain respectful throughout the election process.”

Social media posts indicated that Lush Cosmetics, at 875 W. Main Ave., also had boarded up its windows.

Downtown Spokane Partnership is encouraging business owners and employees to be aware of their surroundings, but is not advising businesses to take specific action, such as boarding up windows, Mark Richard, president and CEO Downtown Spokane Partnership, said Tuesday.

Downtown Spokane Partnership has been in regular contact with the Spokane Police Department and they aren’t anticipating problems surrounding election unrest downtown, Richard said.

“From what I’m hearing, there is not any intel they are picking up that indicates there are groups with specific plans to cause damage,” Richard said.

“We are hopeful Spokane continues to rise above what we are seeing in other cities.”