Papa Gino's facts for kids
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Papa Gino's in Dorchester, Massachusetts (2021)
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| Private company | |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | Boston, Massachusetts (October 23, 1961) |
| Founder | Michael Valerio (d. 2020) |
| Headquarters | , |
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Number of locations
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79 |
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Area served
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New England |
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Key people
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Tom Sterrett - CEO, Corey Wendland - CFO, Deena McKinley - CXO, Kevin Bentley - VP of Technology & Automation |
| Products | Fast food Italian-American cuisine Pizza Subs French fries Salad Pasta and more |
| Revenue | 244 million USD (estimate from Zoominfo) |
| Parent | Wynnchurch Capital |
| Subsidiaries | D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches |
Papa Gino's is a popular restaurant chain known for its delicious thin-crust pizza. They also serve tasty pasta, sandwiches (called subs), fresh salads, and other yummy snacks. You can find Papa Gino's restaurants in several states in New England, like Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. In 2023, there were 79 Papa Gino's locations. The company's main office is in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Contents
How Papa Gino's Started
Papa Gino's began in 1961 in East Boston, Massachusetts. It was first a small pizza place called "Piece O' Pizza." The owners, Helen and Michael Valerio, worked hard to make it a success.
In 1968, they changed the name to "Papa Gino's." They started opening more and more restaurants. By 1991, they had grown to 220 locations. That year, the Valerios sold the company to a group of investors.
In 1997, Papa Gino's bought another restaurant chain. This was D'Angelo Sandwich Shops, which is famous for its sandwiches. A few months later, a new company called PGHC Holdings took over Papa Gino's.
Financial Challenges and New Ownership
In 2018, Papa Gino's faced some financial challenges. On November 4, 2018, many Papa Gino's restaurants closed suddenly. Employees were not told beforehand, which was a surprise. The chain went from over 150 locations down to 97.
The next day, the company announced it would be sold. A company called Wynnchurch Capital agreed to buy the restaurant chains. This helped Papa Gino's continue to operate.
Reopening and Growth
After these changes, Papa Gino's began to rebuild. On June 14, 2022, the company announced exciting news. They would be opening a brand new restaurant. This was the first new location since the company got new owners.
Papa Gino's Advertising
Since the late 1990s, Papa Gino's has worked with famous sports teams. They have partnered with the Boston Red Sox baseball team. They also work with the New England Patriots football team.
Individual players have also helped advertise Papa Gino's. These include former Red Sox player David Ortiz. Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi also became a spokesperson. Papa Gino's continues to support local sports. They partner with the Providence Bruins and the Worcester Red Sox. They also work with many kids' sports teams in their communities.
See also
