Designer brands, pharmacies, hotels, footwear stores and Starbucks are among the shops in the United States increasing security measures ahead of the election.
Americans are set to take to the voting booths on Wednesday to elect their next President: Democratic challenger Joe Biden or incumbent Republican Donald Trump.
But security experts have warned the election could spark renewed civil unrest, no matter the winner, just months after looters destroyed stores during Black Lives Matter protests.
The concern has been fanned by Trump's decision not to agree to a peaceful transfer of power and his allegations of voter fraud.
Jonathan Wood, a lead analyst at specialist risk consultancy Control Risks, wrote in a recent assessment obtained by Reuters that companies need to be aware "the risk of social unrest and political violence to remain elevated before, during and after the upcoming presidential election".
Bob Moraca, the principal at Rock Security Group, agreed: "You'd be foolish to think the worst is over".
"We all watch the news," he said.
In anticipation of potential violence, stores across the US are barricading their windows with plywood and adding more security guards.
Luxury jeweller Tiffany and Co told the New York Times "windows of select stores in key cities will be boarded in anticipation of potential election-related activity".
Saks Fifth Avenue said it was "implementing additional security measures at certain locations in the event of civil unrest due to the current election".
Target, which has around 1900 stores throughout the country, 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".
In Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the city is taking the proactive approach of closing Rodeo Drive and an extra SWAT team has been brought in, ABC7 reported.
"In response to the fact that others believe that our area is one that should be targeted in terms of coming to protest, we feel we have to be responsive and protect everybody," said Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman.
