CHICAGO (Michigan News Source) – The Magnificent Mile earned a reputation as the Mecca of shopping in the Midwest. In its heyday, it marked an entire mile of retail shopping contained by the beaches of Lake Michigan to the north and Millennium Park and museums to the south.

Now, the Magnificent Mile has numerous vacant buildings scattered all around the strip, perhaps a sign that it has not recovered from the riots of August 2020 in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

MORE NEWS: Hillsdale College and White House Team Up to Tell “The Story of America”

Fox News reported the 2020 riots caused $60 million of damage, with more than 100 people arrested after widespread looting and storefront windows were shattered.

“I don’t care if someone decides to loot a Gucci or a Macy’s or a Nike store, because that makes sure that person eats,” said Ariel Atkins, a Black Lives Matter organizer, in 2020 according to NBC Chicago. “That makes sure that person has clothes.”

This past weekend, the shopping strip that has been a destination place for decades to Michigan shoppers showed signs of abandonment. There were more than a dozen prime shopping locations that were vacant and advertising space was available to lease.