The owner of a Queens restaurant that drew widespread attention last year for hosting a large indoor party during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is now constructing a sizable shrine dedicated to Padre Pio. The owner says the decision stems from a personal experience following a plane crash, during which he claims to have seen the saint while under the influence of morphine.
The restaurant became known in 2021 for an event that was widely criticized for ignoring public health restrictions. Video footage of a so-called “COVID conga line” circulated online, drawing rebukes from officials and health experts. The party highlighted tensions around compliance with pandemic guidelines in New York City.
The new shrine is intended as a permanent installation outside the restaurant. Padre Pio, a 20th-century Italian friar and mystic, is revered by many for his piety and reported miracles. The owner has spoken publicly about the significance of the figure in his life, linking the shrine to a near-death experience after a small plane crash years ago.
The construction of the shrine is underway, though the exact timeline for completion has not been announced. This development marks a notable shift in focus for the restaurant, which has remained open amid ongoing pandemic challenges but has not returned to the same level of public attention since the incident.
The story reflects broader themes of faith and personal transformation in the wake of trauma, set against the backdrop of a business that made headlines for controversy during one of the city’s most difficult periods.