RNC events, security, and road closures create uncertainty for daily routines

TAMPA - Just a couple weeks away, signs of the Republican National Convention's swift approach are hard to miss.

Information is readily available online for the more obvious questions, like new locations for county services, convention news, closed roads, and detours -- answers for the drive to work, but what about the "work"-out?

"We have lots of traffic coming in here everyday," said Powerhouse Gym Co-Owner Matthew Midyett. "We do upwards of about 800 workouts a day and we are a little bit concerned about people that week saying, 'You know what, we're not going to go down to the gym that week, let's just work out around the area of our house."

The gym estimates a loss of some $30,000 in revenue. Still, their main access road, Kennedy Boulevard, will remain open. Another major thoroughfare, however, the Crosstown Expressway, will close in some parts.

That also cuts off access to Cash -- "Cash," the dog.

"You can hear the fear in people's voices of not being able to get back to their loved one, their dog," said Lucky Dog Daycare & Resort General Manager Chelsea Smith. "We're a little bit nervous that maybe our business might be hurt."

Lucky Dog will stay open 24 hours as usual, but employees plan to buy a bike to get to work where they expect to handle larger packs of dogs as owners high-tail it out of town.

The daycare has even contacted area shelters in case a security threat forces an evacuation.

"But it's really difficult to evacuate 160 dogs into an evacuation shelter," Smith said.

Both Lucky Dog and Powerhouse hope customers will brave the uncertainty, like gym-goer Katina Tramble, whose daily workout routine is more important than avoiding the crowds.

"It's a part of life. It's an election year," Tramble said. "So, these are part of the events that have to take place."