AKRON, Ohio — On Wednesday in Downtown Akron, it was mostly business as usual: Folks outside enjoying the sunshine, walking around, and trying to get back to some of the normalcy. The past few days were, at times, uncertain, when demonstrators marched the streets in protest of a grand jury's decision not to indict the eight Akron police officer's tied to Jayland Walker's fatal shooting.
Many businesses along South Main Street closed, boarding up their windows in preparation for hostility. As of Wednesday evening, most demonstrations had remained peaceful.
With that in mind, some businesses chose to remain open.
"We're definitely trying to continue moving forward while also, you know, being realistic about what's going on ... just trying to keep our ears open and our eyes open and just trying to be safe, but also, you know, be here for the people who still need the community of Tear-Ez," said Tear-Ez Lounge employee, Wesley Simmons.
Simmons says the business has taken a big financial hit this week, but that's not stopping them from keeping doors open.
"I mean, I'm not planning on making a whole lot of money today, but, you know, it's not really about that right now. If you don't move, then you stop. And then what do you do? You know, it's hard to get something going. If you learn anything from Covid, you have to be able to continue with respect as much as you can," Simmons said.
That's exactly what general manager Joanne Richards is trying to do at The Lockview restaurant down the street.
"We just keep going. This is a family owned business," Richards said.
The Lockview, known for its tasty grilled cheeses and friendly service, is on the rebound after having to close Tuesday.
"It's been affected badly. We closed yesterday due to the businesses around us closing, the courts were closed in different city buildings, and that's where we get most of our lunch crowd," Richards said.
It reopened Wednesday, with its dedicated workers and loyal customers in mind.
"Our employees, a lot of them are in school and count on their money here, their tips, and that type of thing. So we closed yesterday, but moving forward we'd like to stay open for our employees and the people that work in Akron," Richards told us.
And there's something else: Giving up isn't in their blood.
"This is a family owned business. My brother Danny's the owner. I have another brother that works here and we just we keep going. Our parents are gone. We lost them during COVID a few years ago, but we just wanna keep going to make them proud," Richards said.
At Tear-Ez, it's a similar sentiment. They want to remain a staple in the community, where everyone is accepted and understood.
"I think that the most that we can do, is just, like I said, listen and just be there for each other as much as possible, you know? Tear-Ez is open to everyone, and that's something that I'm really proud of. And ... that includes all kinds of people, all types of people, no matter, you know, where they're feeling, where they are, where they're standing on something," Simmons said.
Editor's Note: The following video is from a previous report.
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