'Bit of a surprise:' Businesses hurt by COVID-19 hoped to bounce back during DNC, now essentially virtual

DNC developments impact area businesses, service workers

With Joe Biden no longer coming to Milwaukee for the Democratic National Convention and questions looming about what the DNC will be, a ripple effect is being felt by workers and businesses in the city.

MILWAUKEE - Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus, party officials said Wednesday, Aug. 5, signaling a move to a convention that essentially has become entirely virtual.

With the DNC expected to have an economic impact of more than $200 million, a virtual convention deals a big blow to the local economy. Wednesday's announcement marked a heartbreaking end to what was supposed to be a major economic boost for bars, restaurants and hotels that have been struggling financially due to the pandemic. Even a scaled back convention would have helped boost bottom lines and provide a chance for the world to see what Milwaukee has to offer.

Carnevor

After closing for more than four months amid the pandemic, upscale Milwaukee restaurant Carnevor was hoping to make its comeback with help from the Democratic National Convention.

"We're doing a really deep clean right now, and we're going to get it open that week," said Omar Shaikh, owner.

That was the plan until Wednesday when Shaikh learned that Biden would no longer be coming to Wisconsin to accept the nomination.

"We weren't sure, but I still felt that something was happening, but it was a little bit of a surprise," said Shaikh.

A new beer garden was the first of many steps that Mader's restaurant rolled out to welcome DNC guests. Its big plan is being scaled back.

"It was devastating. We had so much planned in advance for it," said Auben Mader. "The whole parking lot would be tented."

Service, hospitality industry hurt by decision to make DNC nearly entirely virtual

The announcement that Joe Biden will not accept the Democratic nomination for president in Milwaukee marks a heartbreaking end to what was supposed to be a major economic boost for local businesses.

Similarly, the doors at Cambria Hotel reopened July 1 in anticipation of the convention. Sales and Marketing Director Tara Wurtz said nearly all 132 rooms were booked for the event -- reservations she fears will likely be canceled.

"How do you backfill that in such a short amount of time? So it is concerning because we brought employees back for this," said Wurtz. "This is a city that is very near and dear to my heart. Pre-COVID, we were rounding the bend to an amazing, memorable type of year. It was our opportunity, and I don't know when we're going to get this opportunity for the world to see us again."

The economic impact stretches beyond Milwaukee, too. The DNC had booked hundreds of rooms across southeastern Wisconsin.

"That is significantly a difference we are going to see from having that all reserved to having that all freed up," said Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow.

Joe Biden

Peggy Williams-Smith, the president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, said she is sad that the convention will not be the event that the city expected it to be. The group will, however, continue to work the DNC officials to garner any Milwaukee-centric coverage it can out of the event.

Neither the Biden campaign nor DNC officials offered details about how Biden might accept the nomination, which even in the pandemic could be a made-for-screen event that reaches tens of millions of voters via television and online.

A DNC official said all speakers and presenters for the Aug. 17-24 convention are now expected to speak from remote locations.