Posted on 07/29/2026 10:16:52 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
MADISON — Restaurants and shops along Willy Street have had to adjust how they operate as customer traffic has gone down following protests that erupted after a police shooting on July 22.
The shooting death of Corey Ruiz sparked demonstrations that led to a vigil, encampment and blocked roads near Willy and Baldwin streets — just blocks away from some of the neighborhood's most established businesses.
Lazy Jane's Cafe, a locally owned restaurant known for its community focus, has experienced a noticeable decline in customers. Alex Gasper, manager at Lazy Jane's, described the neighborhood as "very community oriented" with "a lot of really amazing people that live and work and own businesses on the street."
However, that community support has not been enough to offset the impact of reduced foot traffic. "Business has been slower, which we expected," Gasper said. The restaurant is operating at roughly one-third to one-half of its normal customer volume.
The owner of Weary Traveler Jeff Schmidt said he had to make staffing cuts and often run the restaurant himself. Schmidt said this past weekend was among the slowest he has experienced in his 18 years operating the establishment.
"It's nerve wracking," Schmidt said. "You know the first of the month is next week. So we've got to come up with a rent payment. And you know we're still paying off the bank from when we bought the restaurant. So we've got to come up with that payment."
Business owners say if something doesn't change soon, they could be forced to make long-term decisions.
Gasper said Lazy Jane's is taking "things day by day," and Schmidt echoed that sentiment, saying "as of right now, we're all just kind of winging it."
The City of Madison was contacted for comment about the situation facing Willy Street businesses, but had not responded at the time of reporting.
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The business owners they interviewed don't seem TERRIBLY upset, but, you know, they VOTED for this kind of idiocy.
Every one of them.................
This is what you can expect in swing states ahead of elections these days.
The natives - and the imported paid agitators from Milwaukee and Minneapolis - are restless! ;)
They won’t dare block access to any pot shops
“a vigil, encampment and blocked roads near Willy and Baldwin streets”
The obvious solution - declare all this BS an unlawful assembly and have the police clear them out and keep them out - is of course the one the woke government of Madison will never employ, so goodbye thriving business district/tax base. Very Mamdami of them.
Well, you like these people stepping on your civil rights go ahead and change how you do business. MY GAWD STAND UP FOR A CHANGE.
Here’s a video and some photos of the mess they’re making. But, they’re planning an ‘art installation’ so it’s all cool.
*Rolleyes*
Why did they shoot Ruiz?
“Why did they shoot Ruiz?”
30-something nutcase with a rap sheet of 30+ convictions. If he was serving TIME for all of his FELONIES, he’d still be in prison and would be alive, today!
He racked up an astounding 200+ YEARS IN PRISON for his crimes...and Social Justice Warrior JUDGES kept letting him out!
These Madistan nuts, along with ‘influencers’ from Milwaukee and Minneapolis want him to get the Saint George Floyd treatment; a license to burn down the city again, as they did in 2020.
It’s insanity!
IMHO - we MUST start holding JUDGES accountable for the ADDITIONAL crimes committed when they set these miscreants FREE to do more damage to, ‘We The People.’
But - creating societal chaos IS a major part of the Socialist Master Plan. And our legal system is PACKED with these reprehensible bleeding-heart judges. :(
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