Downtown Tulsa Businesses Enact Precautions For President’s Visit

While some businesses near downtown Tulsa are prepared to close their doors during the presidential rally this weekend, others are staying open in hopes that the additional people in town will bring in some much-needed business. 

"We've been here since 1986 and we've never had any issues or anything," said Mexicali Owner, Marshall Kottler. He said business has started to pick up again since the pandemic which is why he didn't want to close the restaurant for the entire weekend. "We're going to stay open till four or five o'clock and then we're going to close. The employees are a little bit concerned about issues this weekend so for the concern of the employees, we're just going to play it safe and shut it down," said Kottler. 

The owners of Mrs. DeHaven's Floral Shop near Boston and 15th Street are planning to close their shop Friday afternoon. "Mrs. DeHaven's has been in this location since 1932. She's been in existence since 1905," said Owners, Terrie and Mark Burton. 

Because the business has been in its current location for so long, the Burtons want to make sure nothing happens to their store. They are close to where the Veteran's Park protest is scheduled for the weekend and just down the street from one of the temporarily closed QuikTrip locations. "We felt like, okay if this is happening, then what do we need to do," said Terrie Burton.

Terrie and Mark Burton said they hope things don't turn violent over the weekend, but they're boarding up windows just in case. "I don't think anybody is going to break a window to steal a scented candle or a rose, but it's going to cause damage and cost us money," said Terrie Burton.