No, it’s not business as usual

COEUR d’ALENE — Several downtown businesses boarded up their windows on Monday amid rumors that groups of out-of-state rioters planned to descend on the Lake City.

Home decor and gift store Mix It Up, on Sherman Avenue, wasn’t one of them.

“There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to give someone the satisfaction of knowing they made me scared enough to board up my windows,” said owner Beth Brown.

Still, before locking up for the night, Brown said a prayer. Then she took a video of the inside of her store, just in case.

After, she stopped to buy a gift at Riverstone, where she’d heard vans full of rioters would gather, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary. As she drove past WinCo, she saw “a bunch of local Idaho people,” rather than the violent protest that had been rumored.

Later, driving down Sherman Avenue, she saw hundreds of armed citizens who said they’d gathered to protect businesses from potential damage.

“It was a lot of guns — that’s the surreal part,” she said. “The vision of it was a little overwhelming.”

The sight also moved her.

“It was heartwarming to think that there are people who do not know me, and yet they’re standing on the street in a community I love and am involved in because they don’t want somebody to vandalize my store,” she said.

Brown didn’t think rumors of potential riots impacted traffic to her business on Monday, though she noted that Tuesday was a little slow. By Wednesday, she was back in the swing of things.

Mix It Up made it through the shutdown due to a combination of ingenuity, hard work and community support. Brown filed for and received an economic injury disaster loan, which enabled her to purchase the inventory she knew her customers would want to buy.

As soon as she reopened on May 1, her regular customers were there.

“We love the people who visit from outside this area, but it’s our loyal customer base who are the heart and soul of this business,” Brown said. “It’s been a wonderful homecoming.”

One business owner, who did not wish to be identified for fear of retribution, described the armed citizens who patrolled downtown on Monday as “a major disruption.”

“We lost business because of it,” the owner said.

With rumors spreading like wildfire on social media, nobody knew quite what was going to happen. The store closed early because customers were uncomfortable in the presence of so many weapons.

“On one hand, I appreciate them and their intent to protect downtown,” the owner said. “But at the same time, I didn’t see the threat they were saying they wanted to protect us from.”

Andy Morsell — who owns Mountain Madness Soaps with his wife, Jennifer — said they made it through the shutdown by adapting to online sales. As Idaho reopens, they’re transitioning back to business as usual.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Morsells chose to reopen Mountain Madness Soaps two weeks later than they could have.

“We really, really appreciate the local and community support we received,” he said. “We really just want customers to be respectful of social distancing and the guidelines that have been put in place, and respect that some people prefer to wear masks.”

Since reopening, foot traffic has been high.

“We’re not sure what to expect for the rest of the summer, but we’re gearing up for the busy season,” he said.

Blair Williams, owner of The Art Spirit Gallery, said she felt like she was just getting her feet under her again after coronavirus-related shutdowns when a new challenge appeared in the form of protests and the uncertainty surrounding them.

“I’m feeling pretty exhausted,” she said.

Still, spirits are high as Williams and her staff navigate a new normal.

“Our patrons have been wonderful and are continuing to support us,” she said.

Work conversations include all the usual subjects, as well as new and unexpected ones: Should they purchase plywood, just in case? If so, should they board up the windows as a precaution? How long should any plywood stay up?

Williams never imagined having to answer these questions. But like many business owners, she watched with concern as chaos followed in the wake of peaceful protests in Spokane.

“We were heartened to see people trying to protect businesses, but we couldn’t help but cautiously prepare for what might come our way,” she said.

She heard rumors of an event that might occur mid-week and spent Monday preparing, only to be surprised by news of a protest at WinCo in Coeur d’Alene on Monday evening — and doubly surprised when armed citizens poured into downtown Coeur d’Alene with the stated intent of protecting businesses from rumored rioters.

“I feel blessed and honored that my hometown is one that not only comes together during the times, but we look for ways to negotiate them together,” Williams said.

At the same time, she said she feels conflicted, because the current climate is so far outside her experience.

“It’s not the norm to step outside my business and see hundreds of people with guns,” she said. “It’s not the norm for me to wonder if I should stay and protect my business or stay home with my daughter and protect her.”

Williams said demonstrations on Monday night greatly diminished foot traffic to the gallery.

“I understand,” she said. “The unknown frightens them enough not to come down.”

No demonstrators communicated with her prior to the gathering, she said.

Williams said she’s considering how this week’s events, as well as possible similar events in the future, might impact tourism — which impacts her business, in turn.

She recalled two visitors from out of town who came to the gallery on Tuesday. The couple was in Coeur d’Alene during Monday night’s demonstration. They told Williams they were eating dinner at a downtown restaurant when three armed men walked through the door.

Not knowing what was happening, the husband said he grabbed his wife’s arm and prepared to pull her under the table, because he thought a mass shooting was about to begin.

The armed trio left and all appeared well. When the couple stepped outside after their meal, they saw hundreds of armed people in the streets.

“He looked at me and asked, ‘Is this normal?’” Williams said. “And I took a deep sigh and said, ‘No — that’s not normal.’”