Downtown businesses puzzled after local store boards up windows, then takes them down

When boards went up overnight at the Downtown Columbus Dollar General – also referred to as DGX – along South High Street, nearby restaurants, bars and retailers certainly couldn’t help but notice. The plywood appeared Oct. 27, a move the store manager initially told the community was directed by Dollar General as a precaution against potential theft if federal SNAP benefits lapse Nov. 1 as a result of the government shutdown.

614Now drove by the next day, Oct. 28, and the boards were gone. But for area businesses that rely on open doors and steady foot traffic, the image lingered (as did the media coverage, suddenly casting Columbus in a national flashpoint over unease about food insecurity). One moment, a national chain was reinforcing its windows; the next, it was business as usual – leaving neighbors wondering whether they’d missed something.

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Nothing was missed, according to city and law enforcement leaders. The police have said that they have no information about potential protests or unrest tied to the SNAP deadline.

No other area businesses were found to have boarded up this week, and city leaders – including Mayor Andrew Ginther – urged calm and compassion.

“In times of need, Columbus doesn’t put up walls – or boards – we rally to support one another,” Ginther said in a statement.

For residents worried about food access if SNAP benefits lapse, local resources are ready. Mid-Ohio Food Collective (mofc.org) operates several free grocery “Markets,” including locations on Norton Road (614-782-5514) and Gantz Road (614-317-9487). Additional community pantries and distribution events can be found through the organization’s “Find Food” tool online.

614Now reached out to Dollar General, Columbus City Council and Columbus Commons for statements via email. As of the publication of this article, we had not heard back.

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