When the Sicilian Butcher opened in December at Chandler Fashion Center, owner Joey Maggiore was intent on bringing to the East Valley the same Italian cuisine that brought plaudits to his original restaurant in Phoenix near north Scottsdale. 

But then the pandemic struck the restaurant industry and the Sicilian Butcher is still serving up its craft meatballs, homemade pasta and other Italian delights – but in a way Maggiore could never have imagined last Christmas season. Maggiore has changed its business model -- from having a booming dining room that was once a place for family dinners and large gatherings to limited capacity for social distancing.