Chicago business owners slam 'nightmare' caused by DNC

Chicago businesses already suffering from a crime wave are now dealing with a 'nightmare' of DNC-caused closures, protests and security checkpoints causing critical customers to flee the city. The four-day Democratic rally at the United Center is expected to draw over 50,000 people to the city. And it has already brought highly-protected politicians like President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Barrack and Michelle Obama and many others to the Windy City. Pro-Hamas protestors swarmed the Israeli consulate in Chicago Tuesday evening wearing black riot gear before burning an American flag making the second consecutive day of chaos.

Motorcades, security details, elaborate fencing and more have all been common sights in the area since the convention's start on Monday, and many business owners have had enough. 'It's caused a commotion because people can't get down the streets where all the little shops are,' Sarah, a small boutique manager and Chicago resident told DailyMail.com. 'It's a nightmare.' 'They have closed all the streets ... so you can't even walk back into this area. If you're on one side of the street and you want to come back into [this] area, they ask for ID.'

The barricades are most pronounced in the heart of Chicago's economic district dubbed the 'Magnificent Mile' for all of its beautiful luxury shops, Sarah said. 'All up and down Michigan Avenue, they've closed off streets with big fencing. So that's an issue. And fencing that would have been nice to keep out the illegal migrants!' She was irate that the city was seemingly putting on a facade of health for the wave of incoming Democrats.

'The other thing they do for the DNC is clean up the entire city for the week while these politicians come in and then after that, it won't matter.' 'They can burn it down. They won't even care. Honestly, it's the truth. I mean, crime in this area, every other week some store gets broken into it's a joke,' she said exasperated over the issue. 'I don't, honestly, I don't even know if they even thought about businesses, really,' Sarah said about the city's preparations. 'I don't think they put any thought into how it was going to affect the businesses.'

Victor, a manager of a luxury store adjacent to the fenced-off hotel where senior party leadership is staying, was less worried over the DNC's impact on shops. 'None of the barricades are really bothering our business,' he said. But the expected protests, congestion and Democratic fever were enough to send his high-end clients packing for more exclusive, relaxing pastures, he said.

'Our regular clients, if stuff like this happens in the city, they just vacate, and then they come back right after,' he told DailyMail.com. 'We've been having Palestinian protests for a while. I mean, they even go as far as stopping traffic in the middle of the highway.' And crime, well it's normal compared to the rest of Chicago, saying his location suffers 'regular hits here and there, but that's pretty normal.'

Down the street another clothing store employee, Jessica, told DailyMail.com, 'There's so many closures, and we're anticipating more closures today.' She also brought up how the convention had slowed the flow of shoppers to the area, citing the barricades lining city streets near where Democrat party leaders are staying.

Multiple security guards lining up outside of high-end retail stores also disclosed to DailyMail.com that the stores had seen slowed traffic during the DNC. Residents even have some frustrations with the Democratic convention's impact on the town. Ronald said he saw the increased police presence throughout the city as 'unsurprising' given the amount of people that have come to town, adding that crime has been a major problem for the city.

'It's out of control, and it's always been out of control in certain areas,' the lifelong Chicago resident told DailyMail.com. Ken, another longtime resident said the impact has not been so bad: 'Traffic's a little bit crazy in places, and there are roadblocks popping up in different places, but I don't know. I don't think it's that bad.'

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.