Local businesses grasp aftermath of Eugene riots

Looting and vandalism resulted in a setback for many businesses, who were already struggling due to the pandemic.

As always -- we have team coverage on the riots last night.

We begin with kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy -- who is standing by live in front of some of the businesses that were looted last night.

Kennedy -- i know you spoke with some owners there -- how are they holding up tonight?

Jillian -- i've been speaking with business owners all day who are feeling a rollercoaster of emotions.

Many of them feel confused -- frustrated and worried about what's to come.

They're trying to make sense of how something that started so peaceful - could end up like this.

Some businesses were hit harder than others, from looting stores to broken windows to graffiti written all over walls.

Owner of "juiced up vapors" david nettles says his shop was looted but not during the peak of the riots.

He says it happened sometime after*4 o clock this morning before he went into work.

He tells me whoever got inside, had to have been cut badly, because there was blood*everywhere.

But he says the meaning behind this hits is deeper than most.

"there's not very many black businesses in eugene and if you're protesting for black people, then why come down here and hit my building.

That was my first thought, and it's still my thought."

The next step...is to get everything cleaned up and to replace the glass.

He says close to $2,500 worth of items were taken from the shop-- so he doesn't have much left right now.

But he's making the most of what he does have...to keep business going.

Coming up -- ill tell you how one store manager stood outside his store until the early morning...to protect it from any damage that could have been done.

Live in eugene, kennedy dendy kezi 9 news.