In defiance of Governor Tom Wolf’s order temporarily suspending indoor dining, the owner of Angelo’s Restaurant in North Franklin Township opened his doors to indoor dining on Friday morning at eleven o’clock. Owner Michael Passalacqua posted a YouTube video earlier in the week in which he said that he could no longer sit on his hands, but instead, would have to risk whatever needs to be risked. In the video, he questioned the ability of diners to contract the coronavirus while eating inside a restaurant. Passalacqua claimed that restaurants are not responsible for COVID because of they were, all of the employees would be sick, home and in bed. WJPA News was there when the restaurant opened and spoke with Passalacqua who told us that he is grateful for the support of the community over his decision. He said he has some four-hundred reservations over the course of the next two days. He did say, however, that he has already suffered some backlash. A food service contract with Advanced Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, which is directly behind his restaurant has been canceled. He says the business was notified Thursday evening by officials that he was no longer allowed to be their food vendor. As for any legal repercussions, Passalacqua says he expects to be paid a visit by the state.
**Update: Angelo’s owner Michael Passalacqua told WJPA News Friday afternoon that an inspector from the state visited the restaurant and presented him with paperwork saying he is being ordered to close. Passalacqua tells WJPA that he refused to do so and was told that the refusal would be noted and sent on to Harrisburg where, he believes, it will eventually make its way into the courts, where he believes the legality of Governor Tom Wolf’s order will be tested.