Papa Gino's

Infobox Company
company_name = Papa Gino's
company_
company_type = Private company
genre =
foundation = Boston, Massachusetts (1961)
founder = Michael Valerio
location_city = Dedham, Massachusetts
location_country = United States
location =
origins =
key_people = Thomas Galligan, CEO
area_served = New York & New England
industry = Restaurants
products = Fast food Italian-American cuisine Pizza· Subs· Pasta
services =
revenue = US$ 200 million (2004 estimate from Hoover's, Inc.)
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent = Papa Gino's Holdings Corporation, LLC
divisions =
subsid =
owner =
company_slogan =
homepage = http://www.papaginos.com/
dissolved =
footnotes =

Papa Gino's is a restaurant chain based in Dedham, Massachusetts specializing in American-style pizza along with pasta, subs, salads, and a variety of appetizers. There are over 200 Papa Gino's locations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

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. Papa Gino's has been established as the leader of New England pizza chains. [cite news |first=Jenn |last=Abelson |title=Papa Gino's seeks bigger slice of pie |url=http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/03/09/papa_ginos_seeks_bigger_slice_of_pie/ |format= |work=Boston Globe |publisher= |date=2007-03-09 |accessdate=2007-04-11 ]

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). [cite news |title=Papa Gino's to acquire D'Angelo's Sandwich Shops |url=http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/1997/08/11/daily5.html |format= |work=Boston Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals, Inc. |date=1997-08-13 |accessdate=2007-04-11 ]

Plans for expansion beyond New England were announced in early 2005, with franchisees securing the rights to develop locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida. [cite news |first=Naomi R. |last=Kooker |coauthors=Robin Wood |title=Papa Gino's parent preps growth outside N.E. |url=http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2005/01/31/daily12.html |format= |work=Boston Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals, Inc. |date=2005-01-31 |accessdate=2007-04-11] A few months later, executives of the holding corporation bought out the company. [cite news |title=Execs lead buyout of Papa Gino's Holding Corp. |url=http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2005/03/28/daily12.html |work=Boston Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals, Inc. |date=2005-03-28 |accessdate=2007-04-11 ]

Changes to the restaurants over the years include removal of the salad bar and the addition of self-service beverage bars and take-out counters. Many visual elements remain such as the gingham-printed laminated tables, light oak wood finishes, and pizzas made in full view of customers. [cite news |first=Sheri |last=McGregor |title=Going Through Changes|url=http://pizzatoday.com/frontofthehouse_articles.shtml?article=MTQ2OXN1cGVyMTQ2NnNlY3JldDE0NzM= |format= |work=Pizza Today |publisher= |date=July/August 2003 |accessdate=2007-04-11]

Advertising

Since the late 1990s, the chain has entered a corporate sponsorship agreement with the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, as well as individual players with the teams such as current Red Sox DH David Ortiz. Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi replaced kicker Adam Vinatieri as pitchman in fall 2006 after Vinatieri was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. [cite news |first=Keith |last=Reed |title=Bruschi to replace former Patriots' kicker Vinatieri in Papa Gino's ad |url=http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2006/09/bruschi_to_repl.html |work=Boston Globe |publisher= |date=2006-09-05 |accessdate=2007-04-11]

References

External links

* [http://www.papaginos.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.gearonhoffman.com/pr_06july04.html A Gearon Hoffman press release detailing the origins of Papa Gino's]
* [http://bostonworks.boston.com/research/profiles/papa_ginos.shtml BostonWorks - Papa Gino's/D'Angelos Inc. Jobs and Employer Profile]