"Don't let's close the shops, let's close the grounds," said Norman Fairbanks, a Leyton Rotary Club officer and High Road sub-postmaster.
The outburst came after thousands of Manchester United fans had invaded the area for the first Orient home game this season.
"Let's face it we don't like these crowds-- they kill trade. You imagine people are afraid to go out shopping," he said.
Mr Fairbanks said some of the fans had told him: "You've got some guts opening up with us down here."
Others bragged about the shoplifting and the violence.
"We are being forced to close our shops, " he continued, "but why should we? The Orient bring crowds down not us."
But although many of the traders suffered in one
One manager said: " It's like a war. Wars come and go but they don't last for ever."
Waltham Forest Chamber of Commerce President Laurie Dorling-- who describes himself as a football fan with a soft spot for Orient- said "It's a very desperate situation and very bad for sport.
"There must be some more precautions taken and we are going to speak to the police about this."
A spokesman for Orient said: "This is ridiculous. This is one match out of many. It has never really happened before and it's not likely to happen again."
Jonathan Brind