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Bertucci's

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Bertucci's
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRestaurant
GenreCasual dining
FoundedNovember 3, 1981; 43 years ago (1981-11-03), in Somerville, Massachusetts, as (Bertucci's Pizza and Bocce)
FounderJoseph Crugnale
HeadquartersNorthborough, Massachusetts
U.S.
Key people
Len Carpenter (CEO)
ProductsItalian-American cuisine
ParentN.E. Restaurant Co. Inc. (1998–2018)
Earl Enterprises
(2018–present)
Websitewww.bertuccis.com Edit this at Wikidata

Bertucci's is an American chain of restaurants offering pizza and Italian food. Bertucci's was founded by Joey Crugnale in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts, on November 3, 1981.[1] The company expanded rapidly during the 1990s. Bertucci's locations are primarily found in the Northeast US, but range as far southwest as Virginia. N.E. Restaurant Co. Inc. bought out Bertucci's in 1998, adopting the Bertucci's Co. name in 2001.

History

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Joseph ("Joey") Crugnale, Bertucci's founder, was born in Sulmona, Italy. He landed his first job in a restaurant while in high school, after emigrating to Boston. He worked as a porter at the Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1974, he opened his first ice cream stand. In 1975, he refinanced his father's home and purchased Steve's Ice Cream from founder Steve Herrell for $80,000. Crugnale established 26 stores before selling the concept to Integrated Resources in 1983 for $4.5 million.[2]

The first 'Bertucci's Pizza and Bocce' was opened on November 3, 1981, two doors from Steve's Ice Cream in Davis Square. Bertucci's was opened to eliminate the possibility of an ice cream competitor moving in. The name was found in a magazine during a flight to New York City.[2] The original location had a bocce court in the basement.[3]

1980s

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USA Today listed Bertucci's as one of America's top 10 pizza restaurants in 1989; by then, its headquarters were in Woburn, Massachusetts.[2]

1990s

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Bertucci's in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. (Now closed)

Bertucci's became a publicly owned company on July 3, 1991. The company offered 21 units for $13 per share. That year sales increased 30% to $37.4 million and net income increased by 90% to $3 million. Stock prices nearly doubled, selling for $24.75 per share.[2][4]

Joey Crugnale attempted to take the chain private again in 1998,[3] but though the board approved his attempt, he was outbid. N.E. Restaurant Co. Inc. purchased Bertucci's for $10.50 a share during the buyout.[5]

2000s

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In 2001, N.E. Restaurant Co. Inc. sold its Chili's and On the Border restaurants to Brinker International,[6] and changed its name to Bertucci's Corp. A $4 million advertising tagline "Everybody Eats" was developed on April 13, 2002. In 2006, Italian chain Vinny T's rebranded as Buca di Beppo and withdrew from some markets. As part of their consolidation, they sold 11 Boston locations to Bertucci's Corp. By 2007, the chain had 103 locations.[7]

2010s

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In 2011, The Boston Globe did a DNA investigation of fish available in area restaurants and supermarkets and determined that 50% of the fish was not properly labeled as to species.[8] Bertucci's was asked for comment, and acted swiftly to correct the issue – an article on their search to find an acceptable serving of cod to replace the hake that their supplier had sourced them with appeared at the same time as the report on the investigation.[9]

In December 2012, Bertucci's opened its first 2Ovens concept restaurant in the revamped White City shopping center in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The brick ovens were the primary method of cooking in the restaurant.[10]

On April 15, 2018, Bertucci's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[11] The chain was expected to close 15 of their locations, including the one in Taunton, where George Heath, 60, was stabbed to death back in 2016 while trying to protect a pregnant waitress,[12] and the plans were to hold an auction for the remainder of the company. The opening bid would be for $19.7 million and if no higher bid was made, an affiliate of Right Lane Capital had agreed to purchase the chain. The company owed approximately $9 million to their suppliers and $110 million to financial lenders.[13] The only 2Ovens, located in Shrewsbury, also permanently closed.[14]

In June 2018, the Bertucci's chain agreed to be acquired by the corporate parent of Planet Hollywood, Earl Enterprises, for $20 million.[15]

2020s

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In December 2022, Bertucci's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again, blaming declining sales and loss in revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inflation causing the company to increase dramatically in supply issues. As a result of the bankruptcy, two restaurants in Connecticut, in Avon and Newington, two restaurants in New Hampshire, in Manchester and Salem, and five restaurants in Massachusetts, in Beverly, Brockton, Canton, Marlborough, and North Attleborough, were closed. None of Earl Enterprises' other owned companies were affected from the bankruptcy filing.[16] In February 2023, Bertucci’s unexpectedly closed its last New Hampshire location in Nashua. In March 2023, the Needham and Peabody locations in Massachusetts were closed.[17] In June 2023, Bertucci's closed its last New Jersey location in Mount Laurel.[18] In October 2023, two more Massachusetts Bertucci's locations were closed, located in Central Square in Cambridge, and in Lexington.[19] In December 2024, Bertucci’s closed yet another Massachusetts location, located in Swampscott.[20] On March 3, 2025, the Bertucci’s located at 441 Washington Street in Holliston, Massachusetts abruptly closed, without any notice to employees or patrons. Next morning, the signage was removed from the building. As of March 5, 2025, the company operates 21 locations, including one in Connecticut, one in Delaware, two in Maryland, 14 in Massachusetts, one in Pennsylvania, one in Rhode Island, and one in Virginia.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About Bertucci's: The Story". Bertucci's. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "History of Bertucci's Corporation – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Hall of Fame Profile: Joey Crugnale". October 15, 2004. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  4. ^ "Keynote Entrepreneur - Bertucci's Inc". Archived from the original on January 25, 1998.
  5. ^ "Company News; Bertucci's, Pizza Chain, Is Sought by Ne Restaurant". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. April 4, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  6. ^ "Brinker adds restaurants in New England". Dallas Business Journal. April 13, 2001.
  7. ^ "BUCA, Inc. Announces Sale of Vinny T's of Boston to Bertucci's Corporation" (Press release). September 25, 2006. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  8. ^ Abelson, Jenn; Daley, Beth (October 23, 2011). "On the menu, but not on your plate". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  9. ^ Abelson, Jenn; Johnston, Katie (October 23, 2011). "Bertucci's tries to right a wrong". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "2ovens". 2ovens.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  11. ^ "Bertucci's files Chapter 11 bankruptcy: Pizza chain may close restaurants". USA Today. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Russom, Perry; Flanigan, Kaitlin (October 26, 2016). "Sheriff's Deputy Who Fatally Shot Mall Rampage Suspect Speaks". NBC Boston. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  13. ^ Church, Steven (April 16, 2018). "Bertucci's bankruptcy plan includes initial bid from Right Lane". The Boston Globe. Bloomberg News. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  14. ^ Luttrell, Aviva (April 18, 2018). "Shrewsbury concept restaurant 2Ovens closes after sister brand Bertucci's files for bankruptcy". masslive. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  15. ^ Graham, Jordan (June 6, 2018). "Bertucci's 'very expandable,' new owner says". Boston Herald. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  16. ^ "Bertucci's declares bankruptcy for the second time". December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "Another Bertucci's in Mass. has shuttered". NBC Boston. March 8, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "Italian restaurant chain closes its last N.J. spot". NJ.com. July 20, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "Two Mass. Bertucci's locations shut down, bagel shop opens in Cambridge". NBC Boston. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Riley, Neal (December 5, 2024). "Bertucci's closes North Shore restaurant; 15 locations remain in Massachusetts - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
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