Papa Gino’s closes dozens of its sites

Customers, employees and communities are outraged after Papa Gino’s Pizza abruptly closed dozens of locations across New England overnight.

The Herald visited locations in Watertown, Arlington and Brockton, where signs posted on the window announced permanent closures. Papa Gino’s made no comment yesterday, leaving many confused and upset.

In Arlington, Edward Witham Jr. and his 8-year-old daughter, Anneliese Stifler-Witham, looked despondently at the shuttered Papa Gino’s, where they planned to grab dinner last night.

“We have ordered many a pizza from there,” Witham said. Anneliese normally opts for cheese, while her father is partial to pepperoni. “I wonder what the hell’s going on.”

The restaurant was dark, with two signs on the outside glass informing the public that it’s closed. Next to that, a “we’re hiring” sign remained, seeking drivers.

According to social media users, the stores closed without giving warning to employees; many of them said they tried to show up to work yesterday and found the doors locked.

“I went to work today for the Beverly location on Cabot Street to find out I was jobless,” wrote one Twitter user by the handle JakeNStuff. “I was working just last night and now I have no idea what’s going on, just that tons of stores were closed.”

Employees who survived the cuts were told not to talk about it.

When the Herald called a manager in Charlestown, he said they weren’t able to talk about it and didn’t want to give a comment.

The Dedham-based pizza chain, founded in 1961, earlier this year boasted 150 restaurants across New England.

Yesterday, its advertised locations plummeted to 97 without explanation.

Company spokeswoman Lisa Tremblay did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Corey Wendland of Falmouth, Maine, listed in corporation records as Papa Gino’s chief financial officer, also could not be reached for comment.