Businesses in Glenwood South are preparing for another busy summer weekend after shootings and fights broke out on the street on the Fourth of July.
The violence forced businesses like DeMo's Pizzeria & Deli to close early. Owner Mohamed Sharaf is concerned about staying open late this weekend.
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"We're not feeling comfortable at all because we got affected really bad last weekend," Sharaf said. "We were forced to shut down, and, honestly, I've been in downtown for two-and-a-half years now. It was never like this."
Raleigh Police said thousands of teens took over July Fourth celebrations at Brier Creek and Glenwood South Saturday night. There were multiple shootings in Glenwood South, and, according to court documents, at least 29 adults are facing charges stemming from that situation in the district.
Carey Kidd, co-owner of The Dirty V and Element Gastropub, said he was at his restaurant on Glenwood Avenue Saturday night when he said the environment shifted outside.
"We noticed a giant influx of people in a short amount of time, and it just kind of shifted into more of like a mob from like 11 on," Kidd said in an interview WRAL News.
Looking ahead
Kidd said The Dirty V will be open as normal this weekend. As a small business owner in Raleigh, he wants people to continue supporting the local spots on the street.
"We're hopeful that you know people want to come down and enjoy Glenwood Avenue," he said. "It's just been such a negative view lately, and so we're hoping people realize, like it's not always like that."
Kidd said his and other businesses in the district have been slower this week following last weekend's chaos.
"We're here to provide services and hospitality for people coming downtown, tourists coming in, and we just want people to understand, like you know, it is slower," he said. "This news, it does hurt us, and we're hoping we can all come out of this as a team and start supporting Glenwood more."
Kidd said they were considering staying open later for a food, drinks and dessert spot, but he said they are now holding off on that due to the recent incidents.
Sharaf with DeMo's Pizzeria and Deli said he hopes to see more support as well. He said half of their profits come from keeping doors open late weekend nights, but he is looking at changing that.
"For the safety of my people, I have to reconsider it," Sharaf told WRAL News.
Tin Roof Raleigh responded to WRAL News with a statement.
"We're prepared to make some small changes to our weekend procedures."
The Raleigh Police Department told WRAL in part, "(W)e will be appropriately staffed and will have additional officers available if needed. In addition, our Real Time Crime Center will be actively monitoring and gathering intelligence before, during, and after the event." RPD is encouraging businesses to share information with officer in real time.