Lauren Andreucci and her cousin, Gino Marocco, were preparing to reopen their family-owned Italian restaurant, Cotto88 in Bond Head, when they realized they would need to come up with a system to indicate when the bathrooms required cleaning and sanitization after each customer use.
“We had to find a way to make customers feel safe” explains Andreucci. “People are still nervous. We wanted to keep the bathrooms safe for multiple families going in and out.”
The Italian eatery (which opened in 2018 with owners Walter and Antonella Marocco) has two patios that can accommodate 20 guests each and a spacious indoor dining area which can accommodate an additional 20 guests with appropriate physical distancing.
Andreucci surveyed the restaurant’s two bathrooms (located at the rear of the dining room between the bar and kitchen) and had a lightbulb moment.
“I wanted to come up with something that uses the doors,” explains Andreucci. “A sign that pops out to stop people from using the bathroom before it’s properly cleaned.”
Andreucci sat down with her cousin Marocco and came up with an idea using a double-sided red sticker that says STOP (To Be Sanitized) which pops out as soon as the door is opened.
When the flap is out, customers must wait for the bathroom to be cleaned.
Marocco (who is a graduate from the Ontario College of Art & Design) used his background to create a prototype for Andreucci’s ‘flap’ idea.
“We had some trial and errors, but finally came up with a creation that worked,” said Marocco.
An additional sign on the door reminds customers that if the STOP flap is out, do not enter the bathroom and a staff member will be by shortly to sanitize the facility.
“Both of us looked at each other one night and [Gino] said “sani” and I said “flap” and we’re like, OMG “SANI-FLAP!” remembers Andreucci. “It was a cute realization we came to together.”
Andreucci and Marocco spent hours after the restaurant closed for the evening putting together hundreds of stickers into packaging for sale.
The Sani-Flap comes with two flaps for doors that open from the left or right and is easy and quick to install. A YouTube video shows exactly how the Sani-Flap works which can be found on their website or Facebook page.
“People shouldn’t be scared to be out with their families,” says Marocco. “The flap advises people and warns them… bring your kids and let them touch the bathroom without fear.”
“It’s become an attraction at the bathroom that customers want to come and see,” added Andreucci. “A lot of people are saying it’s a great reminder.”
The entrepreneurial-duo have already registered the product and plan to have more in distribution for not only restaurants, but daycares, schools, and other change rooms, too.
“We both think very differently but work well together,” said Andreucci. “We’re very excited.”
The Sani-Flap currently sells for $25.99 and comes with two Sani-Flap doors. They can be purchased at Cotto88 Restaurant in Bond Head, or through their Facebook page or website.
Cotto88 has live outdoor acoustic entertainment every weekend hosted by Flavio Battiston (“The Lone Wolf”) and is accepting reservations.
Click here to watch the Sani-Flap promo video.
