SE Valley Times

A pizza restaurant in Tempe is joining the ranks of several other local restaurants and businesses that are using a contactless delivery system during the coronavirus pandemic, Arizona Republic reported.

Venezia's Pizzeria is joining Fate Brewing Company, Tempe City Tacos and Tempe Fry's in the contactless delivery system of robots by working with Starship Technologies, according to the news agency. The robots can hold about 20 pounds.

"He showed us the robot, and we were all for it just because of all the contactless that's going on," Domenick Montanile, Venezia's owner, told the news agency. "We felt like this would be a great thing to have right now, and just see where it goes."

Currently, the robots are only delivering within a limited radius, but the pizzeria plans to expand that radius in the next few weeks. Right now, the restaurant delivers between Mill Avenue, Rural Road, Southern Avenue and U.S. 60, according to the news agency.

Montanile told the news agency the pizza restaurant is happy with the decision to use the robots so far.

"Getting through these difficult times, it's not easy for us," Montanile told the news agency. "We're kind of on the front line, we're dealing with all the public, and the most important thing to Venezia’s was the safety of our employees."

Montanile told the news agency that while they've had to spend more money on labor to facilitate the robots, but it was worth it to keep employees safe.

The news agency reported that there are currently more than 30 robots between the pizza restaurant and Tempe Fry's. For customers to receive robot delivery, they must download the Starship app. The news agency reported that people were intrigued and don't mind downloading the app.

"Definitely I think people are totally into it, and want to try it," Montanile told the news agency.