As D.C. gears up for an Election Day that could spark civil unrest, local businesses are assessing how and whether to prepare.

The day, and perhaps the week, is filled with uncertainty: Election results may be delayed; planned and impromptu demonstrations will likely take place throughout the city; and the president may question the legitimacy of election results or prematurely declare victory. Fearing the worst, some businesses are taking precautionary measures — from reducing hours, to boarding up their windows, to closing altogether.

GCDC Grilled Cheese Bar, a block from the White House, will remain open for to-go orders but has taken several steps to try to keep staff and patrons safe. The company’s landlord boarded up the restaurant exterior over the weekend, and the restaurant has removed patio tables and closed its indoor dining room.

“There’s no bravery here; if there’s any sign at all that there’s any unhappiness or any type of hostility, at the first blush of that, we’re just going to close,” says co-founder and co-owner Bruce Klores. “If there is going to be unrest, the nucleus of that will be right here,” he says, adding that he doesn’t disagree with his landlord’s decision to board up the restaurant. “I really don’t like it from the message that it sends to this country, but I see it as more of a reaction to the current situation. I don’t think anybody’s happy about it.”

The restaurant was also boarded up periodically during the summer’s Black Lives Matter protests.

The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID), whose boundaries encompass GCDC and some 400 other businesses northwest of the White House, has been in contact with both D.C. police and the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) about safety precautions. While HSEMA did not advise boarding up, some of the BID’s businesses have still chosen to do so.

“We have a mix of things going on; some buildings have boarded up, and some buildings and restaurants are offering Election Day specials,” says BID executive director Leona Agouridis.

While many businesses in the Golden Triangle BID were not prepared for the unrest of the summer’s protests, which occasionally involved property damage, Agouridis says gearing up for this week has been different.

“People have been following news reports for a really long time and have been making their own decisions,” she says. “We do stress with businesses the importance of having an emergency plan for a whole variety of different incidents … I think what people are doing is making decisions to exercise portions of their plan based on their own best knowledge and judgment.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Thursday that the city government has not recommended businesses board up. Bowser also said last week that D.C. had not made additional requests of the National Guard but noted “they are on alert should we need to change that posture.” A spokesperson from the mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Monday, the National Park Service put up additional fencing surrounding the White House and Lafayette Square at the request of the Secret Service, which cited “unique security requirements with the upcoming Presidential election.”

NPS says the “anti-scale” fencing along 15th and 17th Sts. and Constitution Ave will remain in place until Nov. 8.

Crews put up fencing around the #WhiteHouse perimeter in preparation for tomorrow’s election. This is on the 17th Street side near Pennsylvania Avenue. @DCist @wamu885 @NPR #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/zecF4EuZHD

— Tyrone Turner (@tyronefoto) November 2, 2020

Capital Bikeshare is also taking Election Day precautions and suspending its services at stations near the White House, including 18th to K to 12th to Constitution Ave, starting at noon on Nov. 3.

In an email to DCist, the Downtown D.C. BID, which serves businesses east of the White House, says that while it is not requiring any businesses to board up, about 50 to 60 have. The organization is encouraging businesses to secure outdoor furniture and signage that could be used as projectiles, and its workers are securing bike racks, newsstands, and anything else that could be used to cause damage.

The Capitol Hill BID tells DCist via email that it has “not gotten any indication” from D.C. government that unrest is anticipated within their boundaries.

“Usually it happens, from what I’ve seen, on the other side of the Capitol, but if people are unhappy you never know where they’re gonna go,” says Tony Mangialardo, owner of Mangialardo’s in Capitol Hill.

After watching the news and considering the uncertainty surrounding the election, Mangialardo says he decided to take precautions for the week. The shop will remain open during usual business hours and doesn’t have plans to board up, but Mangialardo has plywood on hand — just in case.

“I thought about this a while ago, so I have everything ready on hand so I can do it at any time,” he says.

Several businesses on Connecticut Avenue have also boarded up in recent days. A spokesperson for the Hay-Adams Hotel, which overlooks the White House, Lafayette Square, and Black Lives Matter Plaza, says the hotel will remain open.

Grassroots groups and activists have planned a number of demonstrations and events on and around Election Day, including at BLM Plaza.

Others, such as the civil rights and racial justice group Occupy D.C., are planning to bring snacks, water, and personal protective equipment for voters at local polling places. The group is also raising funds for helmets, respirators, gas masks, and other items and costs, as well as collecting donated items.

Organizer Mahadi Lawal declined to say how much the group had raised but told DCist last week, “We have gotten a lot of support, though, which is really good.” He characterized the steps as precautions in case of clashes with police.

“What we’re doing is making sure we’re prepared for any possible outcomes,” Lawal says. “I don’t know how crazy it might get, and I’m hoping that things don’t boil over at all.”

After a summer of largely peaceful protests against racial injustice and police brutality, the city has seen a new wave of demonstrations in the past week following the death of Karon Hylton-Brown.

Hylton-Brown, who was 20 years old, died after an attempted traffic stop by Metropolitan Police Department officers on Oct. 23. The department’s policy prohibits officers from chasing vehicles for traffic violations in most cases. The demonstrations have, at times, resulted in tense interactions between police and protesters.

In connection with the election-related demonstrations, police will implement a number of parking restrictions in downtown D.C. from midnight on Tuesday until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, with the possibility of street closures, according to a traffic advisory.

Police Chief Peter Newsham said on Thursday that the city has had no credible threats of violence related to Election Day. Representatives for MPD and the HSEMA confirmed to DCist on Monday that that is still the case.

This story has been updated with additional information.