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Superior Court, Phoenix Restaurants Closing Early Due To President Trump's Rally

Published: Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - 7:02am
Updated: Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - 4:10pm
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(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)
Santiago Quinteros has been selling hot dogs in downtown Phoenix since 1994.
(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)
Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams addresses security plans for President Trump's rally in downtown Phoenix.

Phoenix’s Police Chief said there have been no credible threats to suggest downtown businesses should close ahead of President Trump’s rally Tuesday night, but several restaurants and the county court system plan to shut their doors early.

In anticipation of big crowds and road closures, Maricopa County Superior Court officials announced their downtown facilities will close at 2 p.m. Tuesday. In addition to the facilities listed in the advisory, court’s operations at the Luhr’s Building Probation Center and its One West Madison offices will also be closing at 2 p.m.

That’s the same time at least three restaurants in the CityScape development at Central Avenue and Washington Street plan to close.

Employees at Chipotle, Five Guys and Starbucks said they would be closing early while other restaurants, including Jimmy John’s and Potbelly Sandwich Shop said they planned to maintain regular hours.

The largest electric utility in Arizona is sending workers at its downtown Phoenix headquarters home early.

An APS spokesman said essential employees will move from 4th and Van Buren streets to other facilities. Several businesses at the Collier Center, which is just across the street from the Phoenix Convention Center, are closing early or never even opened Tuesday.

While briefing reporters on Monday afternoon, Chief Jeri Williams said she had received no information that would lead her to advise businesses to close, “However, if businesses decide to and choose to close, that’s fine but we haven’t received any credible threats to dictate that.”

After 24 years of selling hot dogs from his cart downtown, Santiago Quiniteros said there’s really just one thing he can count on.

“Every day is different, you know. It’s not the same," said Quiniteros.

Quinteros isn’t stocking a lot of extra dogs or buns, but will bring more water.

“If I don’t sell it, I can always use it the next day,” he said.

When asked what he hopes President Trump’s rally will bring, Quinteros didn’t answer profits. Rather, he talked peace.

“I hope everybody is going to be show respect to each other,” he said. “I hope.”

Here’s the statement provided by the Maricopa County Superior Court:

“Access to downtown facilities will be difficult due to the anticipated assembly of people related to the President’s visit to Phoenix and the accompanying road closures in the downtown area. Facilities affected by this early closure include: The Old Courthouse, South Court Tower, the East Court Building, the Central Court Building, West Court Building and the Downtown Justice Center.

People seeking orders of protection, or any other form of emergency relief, are encouraged to go to municipal courts, justice courts or regional Superior Court locations instead of downtown facilities.

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