Milwaukee small business owners reveal whether Trump or Biden is 'better for business' as MAGA world descends on their city

Milwaukee business owners say they are leaning toward backing former President Donald Trump over Joe Biden this election as the MAGA frenzy descends upon their city.

A number of business owners and managers with locations closely situated to the Republican National Convention exclusively talked to DailyMail.com.

From fine art appraisers to fine beer distributors, the entrepreneurs say that the crowds flocking to the four-day event at Fiserv Forum have been good for business, but others closer to the security perimeter have not been so lucky.

Some of these business owners have yet to make a decision about who they will support in November, but very few plan to back President Joe Biden.

'I'll be voting, voting Republican,' Erik, a beer and spirits distributor, told DailyMail.com outside the back of his truck while making a shipment Tuesday morning. 

Erik, a beer and liquor distributor, said the RNC has been good for business and that he is backing Donald Trump for president in 2024

'I deliver beer to local restaurants and bars and grocery stores, liquor stores around around town, and we've seen a lot of extra volume come from the traffic that's made their way into Milwaukee for the event, and it's good for business.' 

'I think we've erased a lot of progress that it's made, been made over the last eight years with this last administration, and it's not been good,' Erik said. 

Called Trump's presidency 'very strong' and said he liked Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, as a running mate for the former president.

Down the street a man who has worked for 50 years in the fine art industry, Bill, told DailyMail.com that he too is supporting Trump. 

'I'm a long time conservative, long time Republican, and been a supporter of Donald J. Trump, so that's easy for me,' he said. 

Bill, an owner of a Milwaukee fine art appraisal business, told DailyMail.com he will vote for Donald Trump in November

President Donald Trump, with a bandaged ear from nearly being assassinated, celebrates after announcing JD Vance as his running mate 

He said he had been watching the RNC festivities, adding 'it was so emotional last night to watch him come out on the floor.' 

'After watching his near death experience, to see him up about - I'm getting choked up even thinking about it - the man is a strong, he's fighter, and I'm not sure many people could do what he did, having had a near fatal bullet pass inches from your brain.' 

Some stores have notably put up anti-Republican messages near the convention. 

One business blocks away from the Fiserv Forum posted a sign in their window reading 'Welcome Future FAKE Electors :).' 

Bill said that move was 'pretty stupid.' 

'Any business that doesn't support both points of view is cutting off half their business, that's pretty stupid.' 

But when he reflected on how the RNC has impacted his shop, he said its been slow, but expressed optimism about traffic might improve later this week.

Security fences surround the Pfister Hotel where Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is staying in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 14, 2024,

'In some respects, it's slowed, but in some respects, we've enjoyed a lot of curious people looking in,' Bill said. 'So you never can tell what develops from that.' 

Like the art purveyor, those close to the eight-foot fences surrounding the former president's hotel say they are still hopeful more customers will roll in as the barricades make it difficult. 

Allison, the manager of a breakfast joint called Brunch It Up, said the tsunami of customers expected by local businesses has actually been a smaller wave than anticipated. 

'We expected an initial rush from the amount of people coming to town. However, with all of the roads blocked off by us, so we're right next door to the Pfister [Hotel], where Donald Trump is staying, so all the roads are blocked off.'

She continued saying the business 'has taken a massive hit.'

'We had like half the sales last week, and this week is not looking much better, but we're hopeful that we start to bring in some of the crowds as RNC starts.' 

When pressed on who she is backing in November, she said she has yet to make up her mind.   

'I am still undecided, just waiting to see, kind of what comes up with the conventions coming up. I think the Democratic one is in August, so kind of seeing what comes out of both of those.'

Allison said that the RNC has not brought in as many customers as she thoughts, adding she hopes traffic will ramp up as the event continues

Connor, a 20-year-old Milwaukee gift shop manager said he too is still up in the air on who he will vote for in his first election. 

'I don't really have much of a political party that I affiliate with. You know, I'm 20, so I've never voted in a presidential election.'

'This will be my first one, so I still have some stuff to consider before the election comes up.'

He also said he has not seen Trump yet despite running a shop a block away from where he is staying. 

'He hasn't walked in here,' he said. 'I think they're being pretty private with him. Obviously, he got shot recently, so I don't think he'll probably stop by.'

Around the corner from Connor's gift shop, Emerald, the owner of a restaurant called Diverse Dining Market, also said business has been slow. 

Emerald declined to share who she plans on voting for in November, but confirmed that she has made up her mind on which candidate she likes

'So surprisingly, I haven't seen a lot of people,' she told DailyMail.com. 'We have gotten occasional reporters in. We've gotten some of the security for Trump at the Pfister, but just not a lot of people.'  

'We kind of average about 20 customers a day since we've been open, but here, just yesterday, it was significantly less than that, hoping for a better day to day. But like I said, haven't seen a lot of people so far.'

She said despite some other businesses turning their noses up at Republicans, she is happy to host them at her restaurant, saying every dollar counts/

'We are all the way for green,' she said with a smile. 'In fact, our whole focus of our business is inclusivity. So we want customers to come in and do business. We hope they enjoy what they have when they come in, and so we hope to see more people before the week is out.'

When asked if she is throwing her support behind Trump or Biden - she declined to share which candidate she is supporting, though she did reveal 'My mind is definitely made up as to so what I'm gonna who I'm gonna vote for.'