AKRON, Ohio — DaVinci's Pizza in Downtown Akron is open, though the empty shelves and the empty pizza cartons tell us a different story.
Several business in the area are hurting. DaVinci's owner Wyatt Baer says he has lost 50% of his revenue, with roads closed and no foot traffic.
"They see all the boards up, and so they think we're closed," Baer said. "We try to keep our door open, we try to keep our little chalkboard sign up so people know we're open."
Many streets and city buildings have been restricted to the public since a grand jury declined to indicted eight Akron police officers connected to the shooting death of Jayland Walker. That was more than a week ago, and now, the city is resuming its business.
Akron Municipal Court resumed in-person hearings on Tuesday, and City Hall will be open to the public beginning Wednesday. Many downtown roads have also opened back up or are in the process of reopening.
Still, since the grand jury's decision, it's been a virtual ghost town here. Protests have occurred in other parts of the city, but downtown was not the same as 10 months ago following Walker's death when some demonstrations led to buildings being badly damaged.
Baer says DaVinci's has been here on South Main Street for 31 years, but he had owned the pizza shop for only three days when protests began last summer.
"My windows all got busted in, so it was like crazy," he recalled of those July days. "It took, like, three months to get the windows back, because, like, they're custom glass panels."
Baer said he's glad things are slowly opening up. He loves Akron, and when the community hurts he says everyone does.
"I hope things kind of return to normal," he added, "and we'll take the boards down and just keep on, I guess, keeping on."
Baer says building management boarded up his business, as well as several others in the area. It could take a few more days before they are taken down.