Owner Of Italian Restaurant In Phila. Was Visiting Italian Hometown When Earthquake Struck
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One of the owners of an Italian restaurant in Philadelphia, known for its gelato, was visiting his hometown, just south of the epicenter, when the earthquake hit central Italy.
Stefano Biasini was visiting his family in the Abruzzo region of Italy, 30-miles south of the devastated villages, according to Gran Caffe L'Aquila partner Riccardo Longo.
"I know my partner, Stefano, actually slept outside, once they felt the tremors. He didn't want to go back inside the house, out of fear."
They are part of the team that runs Gran Caffe L'Aquila, near 17th and Chestnut.
It was opened after Biasini, who ran a cafe in the piazza of L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, was destroyed by a 2009 earthquake.
"It 2007, it was cafe of the year for entire country of Italy. In 2009 it was destroyed in that earthquake that destroyed the entire city."
Longo says L'Aquila's city center is only about 15 percent rebuilt from that previous earthquake.
"Everyone is in disbelief. It really brought the earthquake that happened just seven years ago back home. They're still rebuilding from the first earthquake."
That's why the original owners and Longo decided to reopen in Center City.
"They fell in love with Philadelphia, because Philadelphia is an Abruzzan city. There is a strong connection between Abruzzo and Philadelphia."
