NORTHAMPTON — Papa Gino’s on King Street has been serving pizza in Northampton for decades. On Sunday, it will close for the last time.
Rob Greene, a shift leader at the restaurant said his manager and the district manager arrived at the restaurant Feb. 10 with bad news — the restaurant would close forever.
The 10 to 15 employees at the Papa Gino’s were informed a week in advance about the closing.
Next month would have marked Greene’s third year working at the pizza shop. Now, he is temporarily out of work.
“We’ve been going through a lot of ups and downs,” Greene said. Still in shock, Greene explained that business at Papa Gino’s has recently picked up a bit. “We were starting to pick up everything, and all of a sudden — just done.”
Greene said he wishes that the employees were given more notice that Papa Gino’s would be closing.
Attempts to reach the district manager and corporate office were unsuccessful on Friday.
Tim Willis, a longtime customer, summarized his feelings about the closing in one word: disappointment. Willis said he has been getting lunch at Papa Gino’s for more than 20 years.
“It’s really good pizza and people don’t realize it,” he said.
Willis said he doesn’t think King Street should lose another chain restaurant.
“Here’s the thing — there are many fine pizza places in and around Northampton,” Willis said. “There are just none that offer the convenience of what Papa Gino’s offered.”
Papa Gino’s will be open on Sunday until 9:30 p.m.