SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Arizona Department of Health Services has ordered an Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Scottsdale to immediately close for allegedly violating the state's health and safety guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ADHS said enforcement officers found Il Capo Pizzeria, which is located near Scottsdale Road and Shea Blvd., to be in violation of the state's mitigation efforts on Nov. 13, according to the "Notice of Closure for Non-Compliance" that was sent to the restaurant.
According to ADHS documents, observers noted that Il Capo Pizzeria was limiting the number of people inside the restaurant, limited parties to no more than 10 people, and provided protection equipment for employees.
However, observers also noticed a number of issues: not implementing or enforcing six-foot distancing between parties, not implementing six-foot distancing between groups or tables, at least two people seated themselves (open seating is not allowed), no clear signage about social distancing, and requiring and enforcing customers and employees to wear masks.
ABC15 has reached out to Il Capo Pizzeria for comment.
Under the closure notice, the restaurant is required to remain closed until given permission to reopen from ADHS. Businesses that are ordered to close can request an informal settlement conference with ADHS to potentially come to an agreement to reopen.
A trio of restaurants in Scottsdale and Tempe that were ordered to close over the summer were allowed to reopen after agreeing to pay a civil fine, to continue to follow the safety guidelines, and to temporarily reduce their hours for a certain length of time.
Most recently, in October, ADHS ordered Skin Cabaret in Scottsdale and Dirty's Topless Sports Bar & Grill in Phoenix to close for violating the state's guidelines.
