SPRINGFIELD - Red Rose Pizzeria, the landmark Italian restaurant in the city’s South End by the MGM casino, will be closed for the next two weeks because of concerns about exposure to COVID-19.
In an announcement posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page, management announced that beginning Thursday the restaurant would be closed until Nov. 5.
The closing will allow the interior to undergo “an extensive sanitation" and will allow staff to self-quarantine.
The statement notes that despite taking all the precautions recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Springfield Board of Health, there was still apparently a positive COVID-19 test among someone on the staff.
“Covid-19 reached us,” the statement read.
In late June, when Gov. Charlie Baker relaxed his COVID-19 order to allow indoor dining, Red Rose resumed operations, albeit with precautions.
Co-owner Rita Caputo-Capua told Masslive in June that tables would be placed 6 feet apart and other precautions would be put in place for the safety of staff and patrons. Seating was reduced from 600 to 120 with tables spread out.
The restaurant closed for two months at the start of the pandemic with the state-ordered shutdown, but resumed takeout service in May.
The statement in its entirety read:
To our faithful customers,
The Corona Virus has impacted the entire world and unfortunately it has reached our beloved restaurant. Even though we have complied and even went beyond the recommendations of the CDC and Board of Health, COVID-19 has still reached us. We have chosen to close for two weeks holding the safety of our valued guests and that of the staff at Red Rose in the highest regard. We will be closing for 2 weeks starting Thursday October 22, 2020 and will be going through an extensive sanitation regiment as well as a quarantine for all staff members. We will be reopening as of November 5th 2020 and look forward to seeing you all again then. These are truly trying times however our belief is that through community and family we will one day soon be back to normal. Please stay safe until we can welcome you all back in again.
Sincerely, Red Rose Pizzeria and the Caputo Family