A Burlington County restaurateur has gone ahead with his plans to open his new restaurant, despite the restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurants across the state are prohibited from having dine-in services and may only offer takeout or delivery options. Some closed completely, while others switched gears to adhere to the new rules.

“We kind of stuck to our schedule regardless and opened it up in the same timeframe that we were going to do anyway,” says Robert LaScala, owner of LaScala Restaurant Group. “We figured if we were just going to do it, we were going to do it.”

The new restaurant – LaScala’s Pronto – opened in Medford. LaScala says that despite the pandemic, he was not hesitant to open. He says that his loyal customer base backed the new restaurant within a week and a half of opening.

“I guess when we put the temporary sign up it traveled fast and we got a lot of people to come in and try us out,” LaScala says.

The owner says that one of the reasons why he was not worried about opening LaScala’s Pronto now is that it is meant to be more of a takeout and delivery restaurant, which fits right in during the pandemic.

“Where LaScala’s Fire is known for its dining, LaScala’s Pronto is known for its food delivered to your home. It’s a little stop above a pizza shop. Although, we are a pizza shop but the food’s there and we deliver it. So, honestly, we fit right in” LaScala says.

LaScala says that some of his other restaurants are hurting a bit due to the crisis. He says that he will try to keep them open as long as possible.

“That’s hard because your fixed expenses don’t go away. Your employees – you’re trying to take care of them as best you can and you just kind of want to get through this. So, it’s great for the local support,” he says.