Hours before Election Day, some Twin Cities businesses boarded up their buildings or announced plans to hire additional security.
For weeks, business groups and local and state government leaders have been planning for the possibility that unrest could break out again after the presidential election. This week, they'll find out whether their precautions were needed.
After a turbulent summer and fall, stores and offices in Chicago, New York and other cities are taking similar security measures.
On Monday afternoon, workers in downtown Minneapolis were putting up protective barriers on the windows and doors of some buildings. Others remained bare, with few signs of change.
In the early afternoon, precautions seemed most extensive on Nicollet Mall, where many businesses were damaged in August after false reports spread that police had killed a man who had actually killed himself.
While some of the security measures were newly installed, some businesses on the street, including Target, have had windows covered with boards since the summer riots.
A Target spokeswoman said the Twin Cities-based company is monitoring the evolving climate across the country and will determine any precautions on a case-by-case basis.
"Target's top priority is the safety of our team members and guests," the company said, in a statement. "Like many businesses, we're taking precautionary steps to ensure safety at our stores, including giving our store leaders guidance on how to take care of their teams. We'll continue to monitor our communities closely and make decisions accordingly."