Michael Riolo, owner of Michael's AJ Texas Hots at 1265 E. Second St., said business has slowed after news of an employee testing positive for COVID-19 was reported at the similarly named AJ Texas Hots, also located in Jamestown. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

The owner of a Jamestown restaurant said business has slowed since news of an employee testing positive for COVID-19 at a different, yet similarly named eatery was announced earlier this week.

Michael Riolo, owner of Michael’s AJ Texas Hots at 1265 E. Second St., said he has noticed a drop in customers after AJ Texas Hots on Foote Avenue announced via Facebook Monday afternoon that a part-time employee had tested positive for COVID-19. The employee has since been put in quarantine.

Owners of the Foote Avenue AJ’s have received word by the county Health Department that there was “no cause for alarm,” and that county officials were satisfied with the steps taken after the positive test result.

Nonetheless, Riolo believes customers may be confusing the restaurants.

“Since it was posted, I’ve seen we have slowed down,” said Riolo, noting that none of his 11 employees have tested positive for the virus. “We’re not affiliated with them — it’s just that people hear AJ’s and they think it might be us.”

See Friday’s edition for complete coverage.