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 Papa Gino's inDorchester, Massachusetts (2021) | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Boston, Massachusetts (October 23, 1961; 64 years ago (1961-10-23)) |
| Founder | Michael Valerio (d. 2020) |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Number of locations | 79 |
Area served | New England |
Key people | |
| Products | |
| Revenue | 244 millionUSD (estimate fromZoominfo) |
| Parent | Wynnchurch Capital |
| Subsidiaries | D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches |
| Website | papaginos |
Papa Gino's, Inc., is a restaurant chain based inDedham, Massachusetts,[5][6] specializing in traditional thin crustpizza along with pasta, subs, salads, and a variety of appetizers. As of 2023, there are 79 Papa Gino's locations inConnecticut,Massachusetts,New Hampshire andRhode Island.[7]
Papa Gino's originated inEast Boston,Massachusetts as a single location named "Piece O' Pizza," which opened in 1961. In 1968, the owners, Helen and Michael Valerio, changed the name to "Papa Gino's" and began expanding the business to multiple locations,[8][9] 220 when they sold the company to a group of investors in 1991.[10]
In 1997, Papa Gino's boughtD'Angelo Sandwich Shops, another Massachusetts-based fast-food outlet, specializing in sandwiches, from prior ownerYum! Brands (then known asPepsiCo Inc.'sPizza Hut unit).[11][12] A few months later, executives of aholding company, Papa Gino's Holdings Corporation (later known as PGHC Holdings), bought out the company in a deal financed by Bunker Hill Capital Partners.[13]
On September 18, 2018, Bunker Hill Capital Partners ended their investment with PGHC Holdings.[14] On November 4, 2018, dozens of Papa Gino's locations closed abruptly, including their only location inMaine, at the Auburn Mall, bringing the chain from over 150 locations to 97. Employees were not given advance notice of the closures and were told to apply to other restaurants when they arrived for work at closed stores.[15] The following day, PGHC Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection and announced that it had reached an agreement in principle to sell its restaurant chains to Wynnchurch Capital.[16][17]
On June 14, 2022, it was revealed that Papa Gino’s would be opening a new restaurant for the first time since it emerged from bankruptcy.[18]
Since the late 1990s, the chain has partnered with theBoston Red Sox andNew England Patriots, as well as individual players with the teams such as former Red Soxdesignated hitterDavid Ortiz. Patriots linebackerTedy Bruschi replaced kickerAdam Vinatieri as pitchman in the fall of 2006, after Vinatieri was signed by theIndianapolis Colts.[19] In 2020, Papa Gino's continues to partner with the Providence Bruins, the Worcester Red Sox and Holy Cross. They also partner with many local kids teams in the communities that they serve.
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