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Curfew Is Affecting Baltimore Businesses

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The curfew and fears of more violence are taking its toll on businesses across the region.

Meghan McCorkell has the economic impact we're already seeing.

With that 10 p.m. curfew, bars and restaurants are being forced to close down early as many tourists cancel their trips to Baltimore.

Boards cover the windows at Bartender's Pub in southeast Baltimore as a precaution.

"Small business like ours, even a busted window puts us back a little bit," said Dave Spence, Bartenders Pub.

Fears of property damage and closing the doors by the 10 p.m. curfew is taking its toll on bars and restaurants across Baltimore.

"We've got Kentucky Derby weekend, right? It's a huge sports weekend. We're a sports bar, a corner sports bar," Spence said. "It could affect us a lot."

"It hurts. It hurts a lot," said Rob Frisch.

At Mount Washington Tavern, the tables have been cleared out early the past few days.

"Last night, we were very busy. Then, all of a sudden, the brakes just came screeching on because people knew they had to get up and leave," Frisch said.

And it's not just the bars feeling the businesses burn.

The Orioles' weekend homestand against Tampa has been moved to Florida.

Workers at one downtown hotel tell WJZ they were fully booked but now occupancy has fallen below 40% and the cancellations keep coming.

At the Convention Center, two major conferences that would have brought thousands of visitors to downtown Baltimore in the next few weeks have canceled.

Tom Noonan at Visit Baltimore says while the impact is being felt now, he is hoping it's a short term issue.

"Business will get back to normal. Is it this week? Probably not. Is it next week? I hope so. If it's not, it will be the week after that. We're going to get there," he said.

The question is, how long will it take?

Many events scheduled for this weekend are also being rescheduled, including Flowermart and the Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Several small businesses say they have seen crowds coming in early for dinner and drinks to try and be supportive during the curfew.

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