As a nationwide economic blackout protesting federal immigration policy rippled across the country on Friday, small businesses in Iowa City responded by closing their doors, limiting hours, remaining open while donating proceeds, or turning their storefronts into spaces for community gathering — all while grappling with the economic realities of running a local business.
The blackout was organized as a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions and federal immigration policies, following heightened attention on immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis, Minnesota due to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Originally established by John Schwarz, and his organization The People’s Union USA, the economic boycott was created to protest corporate power and systematic change. Similarly, activist organizations in Minneapolis organized “ICE Out” to encourage participants to withhold spending and labor for the day as a way to apply economic pressure and demonstrate solidarity with immigrant communities.
The economic blackout follows outrage surrounding ICE’s actions and a demand for an end to violence. The deaths of Good and Pretti have intensified public scrutiny and added calls for accountability toward the government.
Calls to “shut it down” economically gained traction online, spreading rapidly through social media and prompting solidarity actions in cities, including Iowa City.
Supporters of the blackout argue withholding money — even for a single day — sends a powerful message to corporations and governments alike.
Beadology turns retail off, community on
Beadology, a local Iowa City bead store, took an alternative route by closing retail sales while keeping their physical space open for conversation and civic engagement.
The store’s owner Karen Kubby said she decided to close for purchases while keeping the space open as an intentional act of solidarity.
“There’s not much about the situation that I, as a small business person, can control,” Kubby said. “But I can control whether our till is open or not today as an act of solidarity.”
Kubby said Beadology followed the lead of activists in Minneapolis, where she said immigration enforcement actions had crossed constitutional lines.
“We need to take the lead of people in the Minneapolis area in taking a stand against our government allowing ICE to circumvent constitutional procedures and to perpetrate violence upon our residents,” she said.
Kubby said throughout the day, community members gathered inside the store to discuss the issue and take concrete political action. The store provided people who attended the store’s event with the phone numbers of state and national representatives for people to make calls to.
Kubby said the decision sparked mixed reactions online, with some customers on social media questioning why a bead store was “being political.”
“If you knew the owners, you wouldn’t need to ask that question,” Kubby said. “Almost everything we do, even at the bead store, affects politics and the economy. Our philosophy of business is all political.”
Local businesses weigh closure costs
In Iowa City, Java House Coffee Roasters announced Thursday night all locations would remain open Friday. In a Facebook post, the company emphasized transparency and community support while distancing itself from ICE.
“This decision in no way reflects support for ICE or its actions,” the post said. “We firmly believe that no one is illegal, and we respect and understand the voices of those participating in the Economic Black Out.”
The post said staying open allowed the locally owned business to support its employees and meet operating costs, while continuing to serve as a community space.
“As a locally owned business, staying open allows us to support our team members and cover basic operating costs,” the coffee shop wrote in a Facebook post. “It also allows us to continue being a space where people can gather, talk, and find comfort in something familiar — a cup of coffee and a welcoming environment.”
Other businesses made similar decisions while framing them as acts of care rather than political neutrality.
Press Coffee, which has committed to operating every day since opening in 2021, said it would remain open while standing in solidarity with the community.
“We are open today, Friday, January 30th, but please know we stand with our community and the safety of its people,” Press Coffee wrote in a Facebook post. “We fully support everyone’s choice to join the economic shutdown but we will be open regular hours today.”
The post acknowledged the tension between activism and economic survival, noting “as a small business, a day without sales isn’t just fewer profits, it could be catastrophic to our existence.”
“The boycott is aimed at the people at the top who are more concerned with their bottom line than the humans — workers and consumers — that make it happen,” the post read. “Shop local. Support the humans in your community.”
Staying open and giving back
Yotopia, one of Iowa City’s frozen yogurt shops, took a hybrid approach: remaining open while pledging to donate all profits from the day to the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County.
“We spent time considering whether to close the shop today in observance of the economic blackout,” the business said on Facebook. “Ultimately, we decided we’ll remain open because our staff rely on their scheduled hours. Rent is due, bills still need to be paid, and missing a day of work isn’t an option for everyone.”
Yotopia emphasized the interconnected nature of small businesses, workers, and local supply chains, noting that its froyo is made locally and delivered on Fridays.
“These systems are interconnected, and there isn’t always a simple or perfect choice,” the post read.
The business framed its decision as one version of solidarity rather than a rejection of the protest.
“Solidarity looks different for different people,” Yotopia wrote. “For some, it means withholding spending or labor. For others, it means keeping workers paid and community spaces open.”
Closing in solidarity
Other Iowa City businesses chose to close entirely for the day.
RSVP, a local stationary store, simply posted they were standing in solidarity and would be closed on Friday, reopening on Saturday, posted alongside a photo of a handwritten sign that read, “We all do better when we all do better.”
Luna’s Tacos of Iowa City opted for a partial closure, announcing it would close during lunch and supper hours before reopening late Friday night.
“In support of the people of Minnesota and out of respect for Renée Good and Alex Pretti — we will be closed during our lunch and supper hours today January 30th,” the business wrote. “We will be open for our late-night hours of operation from 8:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m..”