Downtown Restaurants Damaged After a Night of Unrest in Minneapolis

Another night of unrest in Minneapolis has left several businesses in downtown damaged, including restaurants and bars already struggling from the coronavirus pandemic.

Tensions erupted after Minneapolis police confronted a murder suspect near the intersection of Eighth Street and Nicollet Mall last night. Video released by the Minneapolis Police Department shows the suspect turning the gun on himself and dying by suicide. The incident sparked simmering tensions in recent days in response to incidents in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake was shot in the back by police, and a teenager armed with an assault rifle shot three protestors. This adds to the citywide pain over the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, in South Minneapolis. It appears after this gunfire in downtown Minneapolis, misinformation spread implicating the police in the suspect’s death, triggering the unrest.

Brit’s Pub, the restaurant and bar on Nicollet Mall known for summers spent lawn bowling on the upper deck and watching soccer matches, sustained fire damage. WCCO news footage shows the front windows smashed as well as lower-level fire damage. Lotus, the beloved Vietnamese restaurant on West Grant, near Loring Park, was damaged, its front windows smashed and the interior damaged. Haskell’s Liquor’s just off Nicollet on 9th Street was looted before boarding up its front windows. Other downtown restaurants reportedly affected include Devil’s Advocate, Barrio, the Local, the News Room, Hen House Eatery, and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Sushi Train, and Zelo.

Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry has declared a curfew that has been extended to Wednesday night, beginning at 8 p.m. Gov. Tim Walz activated the National Guard, which are now on site in downtown Minneapolis.

Correction Friday August 28, 8:55 a.m. An earlier version of this article stated the armed teenager in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Kyle Rittenhouse shot two protestors. Three were shot, two have died. An earlier version also indicated Jacob Blake was unarmed. Details now confirm a knife was found on the scene, though not on Mr. Blake’s person. News out of Kenosha, Wisconsin continues to develop.

• Looting Along Nicollet Mall Leaves Minneapolis Shattered [WCCO]
• List of Businesses Damaged or Looted in Minneapolis Overnight [WCCO]
• National Guard Activated, Curfew Ordered After Downtown Minneapolis Looting Follows False Rumors of Police Killing [PiPress]
• Curfew Expires, Daylight Exposes Overnight Rioting’s Scars in Downtown Minneapolis [STRIB]