La Dolce Casa has been in the community of Tamaqua for 32 years.
"We started a little tiny pizza shop with six tables, a pizza oven and a sandwich table, says Owner Alfonso Picone.”
That little tiny pizza shop now seats 500, including dining and banquet rooms that have been empty since shutdown orders went into effect in March. The Italian restaurant has been offering delivery and pickup during the pandemic, but it temporarily closed its' doors last week after learning an employee was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Picone says he didn’t have to close but felt it was the right thing to do.
"I made the decision which it wasn't easy to make." Picone says money isn't equal to somebody's life being at risk.
Picone runs the business with his family, originally from Sicily. He says all of his employees have been tested, and so far, all results are negative.
La Dolce Casa is not opening its' doors again until the local doctor says it's OK. Picone says he will be post on Facebook once the doctor gives him the green light to get back to business.
Watch the full story below for more.