Papa Gino's Abruptly Closes Several Restaurants

MANSFIELD (CBS/AP) — Popular New England pizzeria chain Papa Gino's has abruptly closed several locations.

Patrons and workers have been tweeting Sunday about the surprise closures, which included a number of locations in the Boston-area and neighboring New Hampshire.

"Closed" signs appeared on several Papa Gino's doors. Employees say they feel blindsided by the move and had no idea they'd be without a job.

The company hasn't provided a full list of the closures and has not yet responded to a WBZ-TV request for comment.

"It's surprising," Papa Gino's customer Jennifer Woods said. "I feel bad for the employees."

The Dedham-based company previously said it had 150 stores. As of Sunday, its website only listed 97 locations.

Papa Gino's was founded in 1961 in East Boston as Piece O' Pizza. It changed its name to Papa Gino's in 1968 and expanded throughout Boston, other parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

The company also owns D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches. Patrons reported some of those restaurants also had signs saying they were permanently closed Sunday.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)