10/09/2026
This is a bit of a longer post today, but I just wanted to share some thoughts with you. I don’t always get the chance to talk with everyone at the restaurant, so I thought I’d share them here. If you have a little time, thank you for reading. And if you’re just scrolling by, I hope you have a great day and a wonderful weekend!
Last night, we had the opportunity to host an important community conversation at LeResto.
First, I want to sincerely thank Mayor Mark Elisco, State Representative Marla Brown, Senator Michele Brooks, the PennDOT representatives, the construction team and managers, Your Podcast Studio, and all the business owners, property owners, and community members who made this evening possible.
Thank you for bringing us together to better understand the bridge project, the delays, and what our downtown is going through.
For me, one of the most meaningful parts of the evening was realizing that we are not alone.
Listening to our neighbors, I heard the same pain we have been carrying. So many people are investing their time, money, energy, and heart into their businesses, yet still struggling to stay afloat. I would never wish these difficulties on anyone, but knowing we understand each other made me feel less alone.
Since opening LeResto, I have mostly stayed quiet about our struggles. My parents raised me to be respectful, humble, grateful, and hardworking. As a young business owner and someone new to this community, I have always tried to carry those values with me. Last night reminded me that I can be grateful and still speak honestly about what hurts.
I shared only a small part of our experience. There have been long days, sleepless nights, and many personal sacrifices. We have simplified our own lives and cut back wherever possible to put the business and our employees first. Making sure our team gets paid on time remains a priority, even when money is tight. Yet sometimes, despite everything we do, there simply aren’t enough customers.
The bridge closure has also come at an already difficult time for us financially. Food, cooking oil, energy, and the everyday costs of running our restaurant leave us very little room to work with. I understand that eating out is an expense for our customers, too, and that our prices may sometimes feel high. I hear those concerns, and I take them seriously.
We have looked for savings wherever we can, but I do not want to lower the quality of the food we serve you and your families just to make things cheaper. What you put into your body matters, and the trust you place in our kitchen matters to me. We are doing everything we can to keep our prices as affordable as possible while serving food we can be proud of and keeping our doors open. Finding that balance is difficult, but we keep working at it because you deserve quality, care, and good value when you visit us.
Now, as a father of two beautiful children, this weighs on me differently. They are a blessing, and I want them to see their father building something with love and contributing to his community. But seeing my wife and children carry the strain alongside me is the hardest part. We do not have a financial safety net behind us. When things get difficult, we have to find a way through ourselves.
Another painful part has been finding and keeping talented people. We have lost good team members who could no longer continue with us through the uncertainty. It hurts, but I understand, and I sincerely wish them success wherever they go.
We have also had promising interviews followed by people not showing up. It is hard to attract people when a quiet downtown makes them question what opportunities are here. Employees want a busy workplace where they can earn a living, grow, and see a future. As an owner who believes in this business, it is painful to struggle to give them that confidence.
At the same time, I want to be clear: I respect the people working on the bridge.
I have done construction work myself, and I understand that it is difficult, with rules, requirements, and challenges that are not always visible from the outside. Being so close to the bridge, I have seen crews starting early in the morning and working hard. Their effort deserves recognition, too.
My intention is not to blame anyone. I appreciate the officials and project team taking the time to explain what happened and why there have been delays. Having that conversation matters. My hope is that everyone involved can find solutions and move the project forward as quickly and safely as possible. I wish the crews strength and energy as they do this demanding work.
And to our customers: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. ( for real, for real).
Thank you for taking the detours, making the extra turns, and spending the extra time to reach us. Thank you for your patience when a wait was longer than expected. Whether you have supported us since day one or only recently walked through our doors, your presence matters.
Whether we gave you a wonderful experience or fell short, I appreciate the chance you gave us. We always try our best. Mistakes happen, and we want to keep listening, learning, and improving.
Your support gives us the energy to open our doors each day and keep moving forward.
I truly wish the best for our neighbors, fellow business owners, employees, customers, and everyone working on this project -> in your health, your families, your careers, and your financial wellbeing. I want all of us to have the chance to succeed and feel proud of what we are building here in downtown New Castle.
I still believe there is sunshine after the storm. Hehe
Please stay safe, have a wonderful weekend, and we hope to see you soon.
With gratitude,
An & the LeResto family ❤️
