Simple question, but the decision can’t be easy to make. I’ve gone back and forth on this one. As a former business owner I would feel a responsibility to my employees. But I would also feel anger towards the people that felt I was a deserving target of their wrath over something I had nothing to do with.
What are the odds it will happen again? Pretty slim. Unless there are other reasons to move, I’d rebuild.
Well, actually I’d take the opportunity and get the hell out of Missouri and move to CA, but I’m assuming you’re asking us to pretend we like living there…
It’s very unlikely that it was actually your customers, or even people in your community, who destroyed your business. And if it was, it was just a few assholes, not the whole community. I would stay if there was still a chance to have a successful business.
Count me as moving out.
At best, it’s going to take time - possibly years - for the community to rebuild. If it does rebuild., And if it does, there may well be ongoing unpleasant tensions and likely growing poverty. It’s going to be a while before you can really see that a working place, and there will for a long while be some open questions about what might set off another riot.
Also, to be blunt about John Mace’s flippant comment, small business owners are flocking o get out of California. Granted that Ferguson is unlikely to be their prime destination, but there’s plenty of other areas. And you wouldn’t have to go far from Ferguson to find an economically solid community which might like another bakery, drycleaners, computer repair shop, or whatever.
As a poll, rather than a debate, I am moving this to IMHO.
[ /Moderating ]
That said, the OP appears to be based on the demonstrably incorrect conclusion that the rioting in Ferguson was the work of citizens of Ferguson. The evidence has so far indicated that the rioting was primarily carried out by people who came into Ferguson for the purpose of rioting.
Does this change the question posed in the OP?
Other than bitter cold and damp winters, and swelteringly humid summers, and being perennial contenders for “Meth Capitol of the U.S.A.,” I’m perfectly fine with the cultural and political “climate” of Missouri.
IOW, “whaddaya mean ‘we,’ bub?” 
To this point, Ferguson is but a small slice of the immediate and greater St. Louis Metro. Outer St. Louis County (North, and esp. South and West), as well as St. Charles and Jefferson Counties, are “all quiet on the Western Front” throughout this entire goat-fuck. Bakeries, dry cleaners, computer repair shops, and whatever, aren’t being looted and burnt to the ground, and are in no immediate threat of being so.
I thought insurance companies usually didn’t pay claims for riot-induced damages.
It’s time to relook the business plan. Maybe things changed even before the riots. Another location might not have been worth the cost of moving while things were fine. Since you are looking to start over anyway.
Moving somewhere else might offer the advantage of getting back in operation sooner. You aren’t helping yourself or your employees by staying closed to restart on the same ground… unless the current smoking location is just that important to the business plan.
In a perfect world I’d go elsewhere, but I’m sure most of those people are settled in and don’t want to move. They’d probably be best off waiting for it to blow over. Also, unless their entire buildings are destroyed, they’re only getting money for what’s ruined above and beyond their deductible. So if rioters come in and steal $25,000 worth of stuff and your deductible is $5000, that’s $20K you’re getting. That’s not exactly “let’s move to Omaha” on a whim money.
Also, if the entire store is destroyed, some policies will only pay out if you rebuild. I don’t know how that plays out in a case like this, but I’ve seen buildings that burned down in fires and the owners never saw a nickel because they chose to walk away rather that stay in the business. I’m not sure if it makes a difference, but (even though it was never ruled as such) it was likely the case that they burned down their own restaurant.
In a case like this I could see the insurance company preferring that the business not reopen and restock their shelves in a place that’s likely to have another claim a few months later for the same thing. But then they might just say ‘here’s your money, we’re cancelling your policy unless you relocate’.
It’s not just the looters and arsonists. Even the ones that aren’t attacking your store are still siding with an asshole who commits strong-arm robberies and attacks cops. I wouldn’t trust any of those protestors not to come after me if I was the one who had to shoot a robber.
OP, you forgot to mention a very important factor: what race are you? If you are black it is fine to stay; if you are white or Asian you should leave.
Triggered a memory from my childhood. My neighbors were the classic immigrant stereotype in some ways. Eldest son came over, raised some money and opened a convenience store. To not compete with chains like 7-11 or face high real estate costs it was in a poor neighborhood with high crime. Over time he used profits to bring the rest of the family and open another convenience store. Same type of location. Those stores were the family business.
Getting vandalized and robbed was not uncommon. Eventually they lost their insurance. Moving to a nice neighborhood wasn’t economically sound. They raised prices to cover the losses and kept on going. They could get away with it because no competition wanted to move in.
It will be interesting to see if those who do stay pass on higher costs for insurance (or to cover uninsure losses.)
Take the money and blow town, baby. Blow town.
I don’t have it in front of me, but I thought my insurance policy had language exempting coverage during acts of “civil unrest”. I’ll have to find the actual printout, but I remember reading something like it (along with something about nuclear explosion damage too). So I wonder how much of the damage in Ferguson isn’t covered at all?
Much of what I’ve read about “life in Ferguson” paints it as a place I’d rather not live, even forgetting recent events.
Yes, I believe you are right. One of the tragedies of this situation is that a lot of these small business owners have been seriously harmed and will NOT be compensated for it.
Not for me; I’m still staying. But remember that I live in a tougher/less desired area by choice as it is. You don’t make a bad place or situation better by having the more community-minded people leave. I would be (and have nearly been) one of those to stay until broke
It depends on the type of business. The looted convenience store and McDonalds will probably reopen. They had a stream of customers from the near by apartment complexes.
The burned out Title Company will probably relocate. Theres really no need for them to stay in such a run down part of town.
I’m not sure about the pizza places. Little Caesars burned and the franchise may decide its not worth reopening. I guess it depends on how successful the location had been. If they were selling a lot of pizza then maybe its worth reopening in that location.
Yes. I have a friend who stuck it out in Lawrenceville through the bad times and the area is having a resurgence. Then again, I knew someone with a home in the North Side’s Mexican War Streets area who stuck it out only to have gentrification force him to sell.