I was obligated to cover the post-"unrest" decline in the "hospitality" trade (hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment) in downtown Baltimore for two publications. One became a cover story.

The disruption in business was, in too many cases, catastrophic. There were places that lost an entire week or more of business, and thousands of people that lost a week or two of paychecks. I had well-heeled bar owners saying, honestly and off the record to me, "I can't find a way to make payroll this week even making some of them take vacation against their will. I have to figure out which will cost me more long-term--stiffing the bank, the employees, or the suppliers." Some places simply shut down for a week and did rebuilding or renovation--the ones that had enough credit line or cash in the bank to do so, that is. Some restaurant suppliers refused to make deliveries into the city for two weeks, even to places nowhere near the rioting (think Central Park versus Bed-Stuy in NYC).

The past history (the aftermath of the much more devastating 1968 riots) has shown that certain demographics will quickly shake off the memory of the "uncivilness" and return to normal, going out and spending money--the hipsters, millennials, the "dinkies" (double income, no kids). The ones with long memories that don't come back for a decade or more? THOSE WITH CHILDREN. Especially to the mothers, the city border will become as psychologically impenetrable as the Berlin Wall was, save possibly for the stadia and Inner Harbor a minute's exit from I-95.

Now, consider: What demographic is the B&O Museum's target market? Especially with Thomas, Chuggington, etc.?