EASTHAMPTON — After serving pizza in Easthampton for 14 years, the Domino’s located in the center of the city has shut off its pizza ovens and closed its doors for good.
The abrupt closing came on Oct. 24 when a sign was posted on the door of the business stating that the closure was due to a “lack of staff.” The sign also advised customers to call the Domino’s in Holyoke for the chain’s pizza.
Callers who tried to call in a pizza order to the former Easthampton location were informed that the number they had reached was a non-working number.
Anthony Patalano of Ludlow, operating under the business name Patalano Pizza LLC, has owned the Easthampton franchise since 2007. He declined to comment when contacted Wednesday.
Patalano rented the space from Judi LeBel, who is the co-owner of Big E’s Supermarket, which occupies the majority of the building at 11 Union St.
LeBel said she privately rented the space to Patalano and that Big E’s had no association with his franchise. She also noted that she had no idea why the Domino’s closed apart from the information posted on its front door.
The Domino’s corporate office, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, confirmed that Patalano is the owner of four other Domino’s located in Holyoke, Chicopee, Palmer and Ware.
In a Facebook post which appeared on the Easthampton group page on Oct. 24, a person who identified herself as a former Domino’ manager, wrote that the closing came as a surprise to employees.
“My friends and I woke up this morning ready to work and were told not to come in and that the store will be closed permanently, we had no notice, or any warning, it was all sudden and with very little explanation,” the post stated.
According to Domino’s corporate headquarters, the business has had a pizza shop in Easthampton since 1997 though it was then under different ownership until 2007.