Some Downtown Businesses Close Until RNC Party Is Over

On Sundays, is usually open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., but this Sunday, Aug. 26, the owners have decided to stay closed because of the RNC kickoff party at Tropicana Field. 

Starting Friday night through Monday morning, roads, parking and sidewalks around the Trop will be restricted for security reasons.

For Lisa Parsons, Vice President and owner of Ricky P's, said her restaurant cannot afford to stay open tat day.

"We figured it was going to be really difficult for our customers to find us and to park and to get here," Parsons told Patch. "To have people potentially twiddling their thumbs on our payroll, we can’t afford to do that."

Central Avenue between Martin Luther King Jr. St and 16th Street, while it will remains open, has almost no accessibility during this weekend. The only way to get to that portion of Central Avenue is to head west on Arlington Avenue, from 8th Street, and then head south on 11th Street to Central. 

Even if cars are able to get through, there is no parking allowed on Central this weekend. 

Parsons said that while the party hurts business, Ricky P's see this as an opportunity to have some fun with its employees by hosting a pool party. 

"We understand, it’s an opportunity for our community and we are a part of that community," Parsons said. "So what we decided to do ... have a little employee pool party/picnic."

Other Closures

For the last two months, has been open at 1000 Central Avenue every Wednesday and Sunday, offering organically grown fruits and vegetables and organic food products.

On Aug. 26, the market will shut down because organizers said the food trucks/vendors will be unable to get to or park at the market.