Restaurateur Billy Grant said Friday that Bricco will remain closed until Oct. 30 after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford restaurateur Billy Grant isn’t taking any chances, and he’s being open and honest with the public.

A sign posted on the door of Restaurant Bricco’s 78 LaSalle Rd. location Thursday noted that the restaurant will be closed for the next two weeks, and will reopen on Oct. 30.

“For the safety and health our patrons and staff, Restaurant Bricco in West Hartford will be closing for two weeks – reopening on Oct. 30,” Grant said in a statement Friday. “Two employees tested positive for COVID-19 this week, and we are closing to sanitize the entire West Hartford restaurant,” he said.

“We hope for a speedy recovery for our valued employees, and we can’t wait to have the team back together soon so we can welcome you all on Friday, Oct. 30. In the meantime, we invite you to come see us at Bricco Trattoria in Glastonbury,” Grant said.

Grant, who is committed to being transparent, also posted a video to Instagram (@restaurantbriccowh) Thursday, explaining the situation. Earlier this month, Bricco had two front-of-house employees test positive, and he also posted that information in an Instagram video. At that time, Bricco closed briefly for extra sanitizing and had any exposed employees quarantine, with employees from Bricco Trattoria able to step in and minimize downtime.

“As always, we will continue to follow all precautions to safeguard our customers and staff, who are the lifeblood of our restaurants,” Grant said Friday, urging everyone to stay safe and thanking them for their support, ending his statement with his signature message: “Eat and live well always.”

Last week, another longtime West Hartford restaurant also announced plans for a temporary closure.

Rizzuto’s, located at 111 Memorial Rd. in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, issued an official statement Monday, noting that while they felt they were able to safely operate with outdoor dining cabanas, they need to determine how to work out the safety and economics of the indoor space now that the weather is getting colder.

“So, 2020 and all of its unfathomable complications continues to affect our West Hartford business. Because of this, we are once again making that very difficult decision to temporarily stay closed. We are looking at our business model, and our interior space, and are working on a strategies that will allow us to reopen soon. We will continue to update the community as we all get through this difficult time,” Rizzuto’s said in their statement. They did not provide a timeframe for reopening.

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