Aurelio's Pizza Suspends Indoor Dining To Keep Customers Safe

PLAINFIELD, IL — As restaurants opened indoor dining last weekend, this popular pizzeria in the village decided to close its doors once again, respecting the concerns its customers expressed over returning to closed dining rooms.

"We decided to shut down our dining room because quite a few of our regular customers said they weren’t ready to eat indoors," said Mike Pascale, owner of Aurelio's Pizza Plainfield. "We are trying to keep in the mind the health and well-being of our customers and employees. We also need to do what is fiscally responsible for our business and our employees."

Several eateries resumed indoor dining services as the state moved to Phase 4 of the governor's Restore Illinois plan on Friday amid the coronavirus pandemic. Pascale said they had also followed suit and the customers who did come in to eat, "were happy we were open and felt comfortable with the precautions we took to keep everyone safe."

They installed barriers between the booths, moved tables 6 feet apart, opened the party room for additional seating and shut down the buffet. The restaurant also supplied hand sanitizer, disposable menus for customers and all employees were equipped with state mandated Personal Protective Equipment.

Pascale said the COVID-19 affected all businesses but "we are lucky to be here in Plainfield." He had to lay off staff members and have their hours reduced, and the community played a monumental role in keeping them afloat.

"The community has rallied around us and all our local businesses," he said. "The Plainfield Chamber has created a Facebook page that is solely dedicated to letting the community know about our place and our fellow restaurants. They have allowed us to post our daily takeout and delivery specials. It gave us another opportunity to reach our existing customers and hopefully gain new customers."

Unlike several other area restaurants, the family pizzeria did not open outdoor dining when Illinois moved to Phase 3 a few weeks ago. However, it utilized the drive-thru window for pickups and continued delivery services, which became its sole source of revenue after indoor dining was suspended in March.

Pascale said they have not set a reopening date for the dining room yet.

"We will monitor the situation, listen to our customers and employees and do what is safe and fiscally responsible for our establishment," he said. For now, diners can avail their pickup and delivery services and enjoy delectable, pocket-friendly family deals.

"It is more important now than ever to support our eateries, not only for the restaurant owners but for the people we employ," Pascale said. "Our employees are local families who live here in Plainfield and depend on a job to care for their families."

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