This Local Business Leader Will Be Bringing People (Back) Together!

by Bob Blaisse, Publisher, Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors

Delaware County has moved further towards reopening from the coronavirus shutdown. The most severe restrictions have gone away, including the stay-at-home order we all endured. But our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors Sponsors sacrificed even more for the health and safety of our community, by closing their businesses. As more of the economy begins to reopen, restrictions are being adjusted as necessary, based on public health indicators. Many businesses have been allowed to reopen, while others still not. At the time of this writing, hair salons are yet to open as are gyms. And restaurants still remain limited to takeout and delivery only, but restaurants can open for outdoor dining.

I’m looking forward to going out for dinner at local restaurants again, and so this month I thought I’d ask a well-known and loved restaurateur in our community, someone who has been Bringing People Together for years and who is also a Sponsor of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors magazine, for his insights into these times, which no doubt have affected his local restaurant businesses we have all come love and rely for gathering, good food and good times.

I asked Pete Crisanti, owner of Casey’s Public House and The Porch at The Lamb Tavern, to share some of his thoughts about these times. Pete has allowed me to share his thoughts with our readers.

How have these past months been for you as an owner of restaurants forced to be closed or open only for takeout?

Pete: Very trying, to say the least! We have multiple locations, and business had never been better in our 30+ years than before the March 15 “punch in the gut.” For two weeks, we did takeout at two of our locations, to use some inventory we had. Then, while we were closed completely for a month, we did a lot of renovations and expensive preparations to be COVID-ready when we reopen. We started takeout again in early May, but we and all our friends and neighbors want us to get back open!

Do you have a date for when Casey’s and The Porch at The Lamb Tavern will be reopening?

Pete: That’s up to Governor Wolf. I’m cautiously optimistic that our two Casey’s will have been reopened for two weeks by the time Readers receive this magazine, and The Porch around July 8th. A few weeks ago, we started outdoor dining at Casey’s in Berwyn, and that’s going very well.

Have you heard from customers who also look to return to your restaurants?

Pete: Oh yes, from countless customers! We’ve developed many loyal patrons over the past 30 years. Some of them have been enjoying BYOB happy hour at Casey’s Newtown Square behind the restaurant, in the back parking lot, because they want to feel close to the building!

Will things be different when the restaurants reopen?

Pete: Absolutely! We will follow all the state and CDC guidelines, of course. All employees will wear a mask. All around each restaurant, we have hand-sanitizing stations. All day long every day, we’ll be cleaning and wiping down all door handles and all active touch surfaces. We’ve put up partitions for social distancing, and will also follow maximum occupancy guidelines, currently at 50%. We’re doing everything necessary to ensure our staff and guests are safe and protected, and to make this new way of doing business possible.

Is there anything you’d like to share with our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors Readers?

Pete: We know everyone is eager to get back out again. We sure are, and we’re looking forward to seeing all our old friends again! I’m hoping and praying that all local businesses big and small will all rebound and recover from this, and we can get back to where we were. Or to the new normal, which will be better than what we’ve all just lived through.

Pete Crisanti is the co-owner of Casey’s Public House in Newtown Square and Berwyn, and The Porch at The Lamb Tavern. Pete is also an inaugural Sponsor of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors. As the Publisher, I cannot imagine anyone in our community who has served more Newtown Square residents than Pete, nor anyone more deserving of our loyalty and local business when we feel we can go out to share good times and a good meal with friends and family at a local hometown restaurant, especially one that has been such a faithful Sponsor of our hometown by making our hometown magazine possible.

THE PORCH AT THE LAMB

865 W. Springfield Road, Springfield

www.ThePorchPA.com

610-544-3300

Open for dining on July 8th! Call for reservations.

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CASEY'S

3529 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square

www.CaseysNS.com

610-353-1212

Now open for inside dining. Call for reservations.