Papa Gino's

Papa Gino's, Inc. is a restaurant chain based in Dedham, Massachusetts,[1] specializing in American-style pizza along with pasta, subs, salads, and a variety of appetizers. There are 97 Papa Gino's locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. In November 2018, the chain's parent company, PGHC Holdings, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Papa Gino's
TypePrivate company
IndustryRestaurants
FoundedBoston, Massachusetts (October 23, 1961 (1961-10-23))
FounderMichael Valerio (d. 2020)
Headquarters
Dedham, Massachusetts
,
United States
Number of locations
97
Area served
New England
Key people
Corey Wendland, CFO
ProductsFast food
Italian-American cuisine
Pizza
Subs
Pasta
RevenueUS$ 200 million (2004 estimate from Hoover's, Inc.)
ParentPGHC Holdings, Inc.
SubsidiariesD'Angelo Sandwich Shops
Websitewww.papaginos.com
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History

Papa Gino's originated in East 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,[2][3] 220 when they sold the company to a group of investors in 1991.[4]

In 1997, Papa Gino's bought D'Angelo Sandwich Shops, another Massachusetts-based fast-food outlet, specializing in sandwiches, from prior owner Yum! Brands (then known as PepsiCo Inc.'s Pizza Hut unit).[5][6] A few months later, executives of a holding company, Papa Gino's Holdings Corporation (later known as PGHC Holdings), bought out the company in a deal financed by Bunker Hill Capital Partners.[7]

2018 bankruptcy

On September 18, 2018, Bunker Hill Capital Partners ended their investment with PGHC Holdings.[8] On November 4, 2018, dozens of Papa Gino's locations closed abruptly, including their only location in Maine, 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.[9] 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.[10]

Advertising

Since the late 1990s, the chain has partnered with the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, as well as individual players with the teams such as former Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz. Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi replaced kicker Adam Vinatieri as pitchman in the fall of 2006, after Vinatieri was signed by the Indianapolis Colts.[11] In 2020, Papa Gino's continues to partner with the Providence Bruins, the Pawtucket Red Sox and Holy Cross. They also partner with many local kids teams in the communities that they serve.

See also

References
  1. "Contact Us." Papa Gino's. Retrieved on September 2, 2014. "600 Providence Highway Dedham, MA 02026 "
  2. Abelson, Jenn (2007-03-09). "Papa Gino's seeks bigger slice of pie". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  3. "Papa Gino's (advertisement)". The Boston Globe. June 30, 1968. p. B-15. Retrieved November 6, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  4. Gaffin, Adam (2020-09-05). "Michael Valerio, whose pizza place on Bennington Street in East Boston grew into a New England chain, dies". Universal Hub.
  5. "Papa Gino's to acquire D'Angelo's Sandwich Shops". Boston Business Journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. 1997-08-13. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  6. Kooker, Naomi R.; Robin Wood (2005-01-31). "Papa Gino's parent preps growth outside N.E." Boston Business Journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  7. "Execs lead buyout of Papa Gino's Holding Corp". Boston Business Journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. 2005-03-28. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  8. "Bunker Hill Capital Exits PGHC Holdings Inc". Bunker Hill Capital. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  9. "Dozens of New England Papa Gino's locations abruptly shut down". WCVB Channel 5 Boston. 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  10. Sweet, Laurel J. (November 5, 2018). "Papa Gino's selling company, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  11. Reed, Keith (2006-09-05). "Bruschi to replace former Patriots' kicker Vinatieri in Papa Gino's ad". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
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