The River Street Papa Gino’s location remains open amid the parent company’s decision to sell and file for bankruptcy. (File photograph)
Haverhill pizza lovers can rest easy knowing that the River Street Papa Gino’s location isn’t going anywhere—despite the company’s recent bankruptcy filing and plans to sell.
The New England-area pizza chain owned by parent company PGHC Holdings announced their intention this week to sell 141 restaurants in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut to Wynnchurch Capital. The company, that also owns D’Angelo sandwich shops, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy paperwork in order to allowing operations to continue while the sale takes place.
Several local eateries abruptly shuttered in the wake of the news, with the parent company calling the locations “underperforming.” Those Merrimack Valley-area shops include Andover (209 N. Main St.) and Methuen (188 Haverhill St.). Across the border, the restaurant at 9 Plaistow Road in Plaistow, N.H., remains open. Calls to closed locations were met with a pre-recorded message alerting callers to the permanent closure.
The decision to close shops was difficult but necessary, CEO Corey Wendland said.
“If your nearest Papa Gino’s or D’Angelo has closed, be assured that your favorite pizza or Steak No. 9 sandwich awaits you at a re-energized restaurant not too far away,” Wendland said.
The company hopes to “move certain team members from closed restaurants” to those 178 that are staying open.