Papa Gino's history

The company was incorporated in January 1963 as Piece O’ Pizza Inc.” Most of these stores were located in downtown Boston with limited seating and focusing on takeout, serving pizza and grilled sandwiches.

The two varying accounts agree, however, that the small chain changed its name to Papa Gino’s of America, Inc., in 1968.

Papa Gino’s opened units in the new malls as well as smaller shopping centers, and in 1975 generated revenues of $11.3 million.

Restaurant Business offers a different chronology in a company profile published in 1983, when Michael Valerio was still the company’s sole owner.

When the economy soured and lapsed into recession in 1990, New England was hit especially hard, adversely affecting Papa Gino’s, which was forced to change tack.

In November 1993 a new CEO was installed at Papa Gino’s, Robert C. Taft, formerly with the Skipper’s seafood chain.

By early 1996 the Papa Gino’s chain was reduced to 180 units but eager to resume expansion, despite being saddled with a heavy debt load.

In February 1997 Papa Gino’s was recapitalized, allowing it to escape the debt burden that had hindered its growth for the previous five years.

Papa Gino’s introduced its first new pizza line since 1999.

The D’Angelo chain grew cautiously under Papa Gino’s management, adding just 13 company-owned units while existing franchisees opened another seven by the end of 2002.

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.