Downtown Portland businesses reeling, again, after latest spate of vandalism
Updated May 14, 2021;
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John Helmer III covered the windows of his hat and apparel shop in downtown Portland with fabric every night last summer. By doing so, he hoped to prevent his shop from becoming a target for vandalism while avoiding the cost and eyesore of putting boards over his windows.
As protests died down in the fall, Helmer decided those measures were no longer necessary. And earlier in April he noticed an increase in sales and foot traffic around his store, giving him hope that normal conditions might be returning downtown.