Montgomery County, DC businesses begin boarding up for Election Day unrest

Businesses in Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County are starting to board up their storefronts ahead of possible civil unrest and violence on Election Day and afterward. Most are leaving their entrance doors open so they can continue to operate until it becomes necessary to close, which wouldn't likely be before the polls close nationwide Tuesday night. 

Among the businesses already boarding up are bluemercury at Bethesda Row (which also was the first to board up during the George Floyd riots last spring), and Mazza Gallerie. In Tenleytown, CVS Pharmacy and Tenley Liquor's windows are covered. And in Friendship Heights, New Balance, Everett Hall, and the AT&T Store are among the first to batten down the hatches.

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CVS Pharmacy reopens on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda

The CVS Pharmacy at 7809 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda has reopened. It closed last week in anticipation of rioting and looting, which never occurred. The boards remain over the windows, however.

Sweetgreen, Five Guys remove boards at Bethesda Row

Sweetgreen and Five Guys removed the boards from their storefronts Sunday on Bethesda Avenue. As of Sunday night, other businesses that had boarded up out of fear of looting were still sporting plywood at Bethesda Row, however. Boards remained on some businesses at Pike & Rose, as well Sunday night. Here is a look to capture this historic moment, as I've never seen stores boarded up for riots in this area in my lifetime.

Bethesda Row boarding up for looting

Bethesda Row businesses are beginning to board up their windows in expectation of potential looting. Nearby Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase was hit by looters Sunday. Late Sunday night, about 75 looters smashed windows and took merchandise on the D.C. side of the line in Chevy Chase, including Rodman's, CVS Pharmacy, and the new Tenleytown Target. 

These two Bethesda businesses are now not taking any chances. CityCenterDC, another high-end retail center, and Georgetown were among the other upscale shopping areas already raided by looters in the District. Flyers about protests have already been placed on some of the boards. 

Looters hit Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase

Saks Fifth Avenue

UPDATE 11:29 PM: About 75 looters have broken into several Chevy Chase D.C. businesses, including CVS Pharmacy, Rodman's and the Tenleytown Target; a cordon of police officers are lined up at the Maryland/D.C. line in an effort to stop them from entering Maryland.

Protests related to the death of George Floyd that have turned violent in the District and in other cities were mostly peaceful in upper Montgomery County today. But looters struck in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase early this afternoon.

Windows were smashed at Mazza Gallerie and Saks Fifth Avenue. Merchandise was taken. Montgomery County police responded to the scenes, but have not issued a public statement as of this writing.