Bad for business? The DNC’s tight security around McCormick Place caused problems for businesses

While delegates were excited and motivated by the Democratic National Convention, restaurants and retailers near McCormick Place were looking forward to its end after a slow week due to tight security nearby.

Elizabeth Lucas, owner of MJ2 Hair and Nail Salon, had to close her shop at 2015 S. Indiana Ave. for more than a week because of the DNC. The streets near her salon have been closed since Saturday.

“For us as business owners, this was very, very bad. We hate it,” Lucas said on Thursday. Ten stylists and nail technicians were unable to come to work.

“You can’t make any money. Nobody was here. Nobody is scheduled to take clients,” she said. “You might as well have been in a cornfield having your damn conference.”

The street closures around McCormick Place – one of the DNC’s two official venues, which also included the United Center – began on Aug. 17, the weekend before the four-day convention that concluded Thursday. Blocked roads, barricades and miles of chain-link fencing prevented customers and employees from parking or entering the multi-layered security perimeter, where the Chicago Police Department, U.S. Secret Service and other security forces patrolled the area.

Businesses near McCormick said they are used to hosting conventions at the facility, which can attract more than 100,000 attendees.

The DNC was expected to attract 50,000 delegates, media and other attendees, but the disruptions it caused were unusual, Lucas said. “At other conventions, it’s not as bad. There’s always free parking,” she said.

Although she had received leaflets about the planned safety measures, Lucas said she “didn’t know how severe they would be. I didn’t know we were going to close.”

Organizers estimated the DNC would bring in $150 million to $200 million for Chicago. A final economic impact report has not yet been released, but many Chicago businesses saw an increase in DNC-related revenue by hosting watch parties or catering events.

But near McCormick, businesses that serve the local community, such as dry cleaners, hair salons and cell phone stores, likely saw a drop in sales, and even restaurants said they struggled to attract visitors to the DNC.

Ald. Pat Dowell’s (3rd) office received calls from some businesses complaining that the security presence was “negatively impacting their business operations,” according to an emailed statement. They did not know if the DNC committee or the city would offer help to the affected businesses, but her office said, “We expect city officials to be looking into it.”

The DNC committee said in an emailed statement: “Democratic conventions have brought economic development and benefits to past host cities over the past decades. Philadelphia saw an economic boost of $230.9 million, Charlotte saw an influx of $163 million into the regional economy, and Denver reported an economic boost of $266 million. The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago will be no exception.”

Il Culaccino, at 2134 S. Indiana Ave., was nearly empty around noon Thursday. The restaurant was located diagonally across from the eyesore of the silver fence surrounding McCormick.

“It’s a ghost town,” said Bobby Faraci, a waiter who also lives two blocks from the restaurant. “I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s nothing on the street.”

Il Culaccino was built for McCormick convention and event patrons, Faraci said. In contrast, business during the DNC was “a struggle.”

Haidilao Hot Pot, near the corner of Michigan Avenue and East Cermak Road, has also been busy. The regulars are families who drive to the restaurant and park nearby. Closed roads and heavy security keep them from coming, Haidilao manager Vivan Wu said. And all the DNC attendees are likely looking for quick meals – not sit-down hot pots, she said.

“We’ve been thinking about closing all week,” Wu said. But the restaurant stayed open so as not to disappoint regulars.

She said weekends are the busiest time in Haidilao, so she hopes everything will return to normal this weekend.

However, neither she nor other business owners like Lucas are clear when the barricades will be removed and the streets reopened.

The city announced in an email late Thursday that it would begin dismantling the security perimeter around McCormick that night. It said the area around the convention center would be reopened by Sunday morning and all security structures would be removed by Monday morning.

According to the city, the dismantling of the security perimeter around the United Center should begin on Friday morning and be completed by midnight Monday.

At Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta, manager Rich Siemienkowicz said business at the restaurant on South Indiana Avenue near McCormick is slower than expected.

“I expected business to be better,” Siemienkowicz said. “Normally, conventions are crowded, but this time was different. I think the people leaving McCormick are rushing to the United Center” to hear the evening speeches, he said.

McCormick hosted 33 Democratic Party caucus and council meetings, as well as training sessions, panel discussions, and a vendor fair called “DemPalooza” that was open to the public, while the United Center hosted the televised evening events.

“I’ve been here since Monday and it’s been so slow,” said Gael Duarte, host at Pizano’s. “People can’t drive in and it’s hard to find parking. So we’ve mostly had walk-ins.”

Jose Magaña, an employee at South Loop Market, 2135 S. Michigan Ave., said sales were down during the DNC. “Business was bad,” he said. “A few regular customers came up to me and said they wished the neighborhood was always this quiet.”

This week, the company published a call on Facebook for customers to stop by during the trade fair in order to boost sluggish business.

Not all hair salons around McCormick fared poorly during the DNC. Omar Syouri, owner of Urban Hair, said business was slow at the salon, but “it was OK. We’re still cutting hair.”

The shop at 2008 S. Prairie Ave. even saw some walk-in customers attending the DNC, but regulars postponed their haircuts until after the convention, he said.

However, the concrete barricades put up during the DNC are new, he said. Parking was also difficult; his three staffers parked in Chinatown and then walked more than a mile to get to Urban Hair.

“Luckily it was nice outside,” Syouri said of the mild weather this week. Like other business owners, he was unsure how long the containment perimeter would remain in place. “I hope Monday is the last day.”

Contributors: Cindy Hernandez