As deadline approaches, restaurants vary on defying Wolf's capacity order, other restrictions
Push has come to shove, and some restaurant and bar owners in the region are ready to shove a little harder than others.
“To make a blanket ruling for everybody just doesn’t make sense,” said Joseph Tambellini, owner of the eponymous restaurant in Highland Park. “We’re cornered. Tell me what you do when you’re cornered.”
Tambellini is the vice president of the newly-formed Southwestern Pennsylvania Restaurant and Tavern Association. For weeks, the association has pleaded with the governor to work with them to come to an agreement that eases up on restrictions.
On July 15, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an order that allows outdoor seating but limits Pennsylvania eateries to 25% of indoor capacity.
The association’s president Rod Ambrogi, who owns Al’s Café in Bethel Park, said last week that restaurants will be forced to go back to full capacity if the governor doesn’t respond. A couple of days later, he shied away from the threat during a rally in his restaurant’s parking lot – but he still hoped the governor would hear their cries and pleaded for a face-to-face meeting.
The association has made three requests:
• Allow for as much indoor capacity that spacing tables six feet apart provides.
• Operate bar services with a 6-foot distancing rule and barriers.
• Eliminate the rule requiring food to be ordered before alcohol is served.
Wolf has not directly responded to the association or has agreed to meet them.
So now, beginning tomorrow, SPRTA left it up to its members and supporters: continue to follow the governor’s orders or adopt the above suggestions.
One decision means defying Wolf and risk fines or the loss of liquor licenses, said Gary Scoulos, the association’s attorney.
The other decision – following Wolf’s orders – could mean financial ruin, he said.
“Let’s be realistic here,” Scolous said. “These gentlemen are educated and smart people who know the risks about violating health and safety regulations and liquor control regulations. So they know that violating the governor’s covid-19 order might lead to problems.”
But to John Piacquadio, those consequences are far less severe than closing his lifelong business down for good.
“We’re all gonna do what we need to do to survive and take care of our families,” he said. “And this is not about owners being greedy. It’s more about making sure we have a place to keep running and providing for our families.”
Piacquadio, 59, owns Piacquadio’s Italian Restaurant & Lounge in Castle Shannon. He is also one of the association’s board members. He said his restaurant can hold 114 people, counting the bar seats. When he spaces everyone apart, he can fit 74.
“Now that’s over 50% (capacity),” he said. “But that’s still putting everyone six feet apart.”
Bob Steffl, 62, owns Napoli’s Restaurant and Lounge and is a member of SPRTA. He has two locations in Bridgeville and Washington, Pa. He said he hasn’t decided if he will open his places up to full capacity with tables spread 6 feet apart. And he knows he will continue to keep his bar closed.
But he seemed to contradict himself when he said: “But I won’t turn people down.”
Tambellini said Aug. 14 won’t change anything for his restaurant.
“My guests probably wouldn’t approve anyway. So I want to keep everything the same as what I’ve been doing,” he said. The new norm for him means no bar service, limiting indoor capacity to 25%, depending on takeout, wearing masks and cleaning every surface spotless between uses.
Tambellini said his involvement with the group is based on principle: “This fight is for the entire community. It’s for the survival of the ecosystem of the food industry.”
Wolf’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Allegheny County Health Department Director Debra Bogen on Wednesday praised businesses and the general public for following guidelines and wearing masks, attributing the conformity to achieving a 3.9% test positivity rate – the lowest the rate has been since the third week in June. She also said the mitigation efforts have led the county to staying out of the triple digits in new cases for six consecutive days. Cases did, however, reach triple digits Thursday as the county reported 114 coronavirus cases.
But to those who haven’t contributed to the mitigation efforts, Bogen had this message: “We really, really need you to get on board. The virus is not a hoax. It is not a rumor.”
Nevertheless, SPRTA’s website states: “As August 14th approaches, we encourage all restaurants, bars, and taverns to open safely and responsibly. Follow the six foot rule, wear masks when needed and abide by the six foot guidelines. It is time to take our businesses back. Good luck to all and do what you need to survive. Be safe, have fun, and support small business!”
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