TAMPA, Fla. — A Hyde Park restaurant closed its doors on Mother's Day to serve some very honored guests a special lunch — single mothers.
With the help of WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil, Forbici Modern Italian closed its doors for the day to host a Mother's Day lunch just for moms doing it all, and doing it alone.
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O'Neil knows the incredible sacrifices single moms make every day.
"My mom was a single mother," he said.
"All over the world we have single moms," O'Neil said, while promoting the event. "Single mothers that are doing phenomenal things."
Forbici Modern Italian Co-founder Jeff Gigante said he is taking special precautions to ensure his staff and honored guests are safe. This comes just days after reopening under tight restrictions from the state of Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"Everybody touching food is wearing gloves and masks," Gigante said. "We're sanitizing every counter and surface every 15 minutes."
Under the Florida's reopening guidelines for Phase 1, restaurants can open with 25 percent capacity indoors and outdoor seating is OK as long as patrons are seated a minimum of six feet apart from others not in their party.
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Safety measures by Forbici Modern Italian also include taking patron's temperatures.
In the meantime, Gigante is grateful to hire all his laid-off workers back. Initially, the restaurant had to lay off several dozen, then were able to rehire some to support a booming take-out business.
But now, they are back at full strength and Gigante said following state guidelines remains a top priority.
"I think it just gives customers a sense of safety that they know what we're doing," Gigante said.
They're hoping moms dining here will feel appreciated and loved this Mother's Day.
