A bomb threat at Gia Pronto Tuesday night was declared to be unfounded following an investigation that same night, Division of Public Safety spokeswoman Stef Cella confirmed.
Though the restaurant was evacuated by Gia Pronto manager Nick Rothstein, Marco Lentini — Chief Executive Officer of Avanti Food, which owns Gia Pronto — said Rothstein told a nearby officer it was merely a prank call.
Cella said a Gia Pronto staff member approached and informed a Penn Police officer of a prank bomb threat. When the officer offered police assistance, the staff member declined, Cella said.
Rothstein could not be reached for comment as of press time.
According to Gia Pronto employee Michelle Potter — who was not present at the time of the incident — Rothstein answered a phone call at 8:57 p.m. from a woman reporting a bomb threat who “sounded pretty hysterical.”
A customer sitting in Gia at the time, who wished to remain anonymous because of the current obscurity of the situation, reported that a male staff member hung up the phone “looking shocked” and then told customers “you all need to leave, some hysterical lady just called announcing a bomb threat.” At first, people were reluctant to disperse, but finally they all cleared out, according to the eyewitness. Another customer did not have the chance to pay for her salad, but was told to “just take it and leave,” the eyewitness said.
Under Pennsylvania law, a bomb threat that results in the evacuation of a building is considered a third-degree felony, and carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Lentini said the phone call was a “prank, but of very poor taste.” The identity of the caller is still unknown to police. Gia Pronto opened at normal time on Wednesday morning.
