Photos: Venice Businesses Looted, Damaged During Protests

VENICE, CA — Several Venice businesses were damaged and remained closed early Monday, including the CVS store at Rose Avenue and Main Street in Venice. The alarm echoed from the empty store as two Los Angeles police officers used their patrol car to block the damaged entry.

From 3rd Street Promenade to Abbot Kinney in Venice, including businesses along Main and Second streets, shattered glass, graffiti and trash remained from overnight. Many businesses chose to board up their buildings or left signs saying they were local or black-owned businesses.

MedMen locations along Abbot Kinney and Lincoln Boulevard were damaged. Red container boxes from the Lincoln store were left in the street and surrounding neighborhood. The Adidas store was also broken into and a security guard sat outside damaged location.

National Guard troops are outside the mall and downtown Santa Monica area early Monday as the city recovers from looting and damage to buildings throughout the area.

The city of Santa Monica announced an extended curfew for residents Monday beginning at 1 p.m. for businesses and 4 p.m. citywide.

City officials in Santa Monica were expected to share more information about recovery efforts during a press conference Monday morning at Santa Monica Pier.
Santa Monica and Venice were hit hard with looting following demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Officials in Santa Monica have planned to impose another curfew Monday to try to stop violence and looting that raged over the weekend, as religious, community and labor leaders call for an end to the demonstrations.

Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown said it was time to begin rebuilding, not just damaged businesses, but trust in the community.

"Sunday was one of the most distressing days in Santa Monica history," McKeown said in a news release.

"We know better than to let the looters obscure the message of the protesters, who have indeed been heard," McKeown said. " What a small and selfish criminal element has done instead is to bring our community more closely together. We will support our local businesses to recover from this."

"Much was lost on Sunday, including property and innocence," he said. "As Mayor, I'm grateful that we did not lose any lives. Our public safety officers showed professional restraint and resolve under the most difficult of circumstances."

The I-10 and Pacific Coast Highway off-ramps into Santa Monica remain closed.
The city urges anyone who wants to help in recovery and clean up efforts to wait until 9 a.m. Monday.

"For your safety, please stay inside and wait until after 9 a.m. Monday, June 1 to begin clean up efforts to ensure that curfew orders are fully complete and so that businesses have an opportunity to assess damage," McKeown said.

"If you are supporting local clean up efforts, please bring your own face coverings, work gloves, brooms, dustpans and trash bags. Please stay six feet apart and work in small groups," he said.

- City News Service and Patch Staffer Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

See more:

• Stores Looted In Santa Monica As Looting Overtakes Protests
• Photos: George Floyd Protests Continue In Santa Monica
• Target Closes Calif. Stores As Protests Break Out Nationwide