Amherst St. Papa Gino's Closing Permanently on Friday

Editor's note: This story has been edited to remove inaccurate information given to Patch regarding the lease on the buildings. Whole Foods is leasing only the space that housed the former Market Basket.

According to Lourdes Townsend, executive marketing coordinator for Whole Foods' North Atlantic region, the only work they are doing to the plaza is interior fittings within the store and some facade work.


At 8 p.m. Friday night, Papa Gino's on Amherst Street will lock its doors for the final time.

After more than 30 years in the location just off Exit 7W, the pizzeria is closing that location permanently and soon enough the building will be no longer, says the store manager.

Store Manager Robert Johnston said on Thursday afternoon that the Papa Gino's is going to be torn down, which is why  the store is closing. 

Johnston said while it's sad to see the restaurant go after so many years, the popular New England pizza chain has plans to open in a new location nearby, though the new location is yet to be determined. He said the hope is to have the new restaurant opened within a year.

Johnston said all employees of the store who wished to remain with the company were offered transfers to other nearby locations.

Papa Gino's will be open for business as usual, closing at 8 p.m. on Nov. 1. A sign on the door apologizes for the inconvenience of the store's closing, but directs patrons to three other nearby Papa Gino's locations at 77 Derry Road in Hudson, 3 Continental Boulevard in Merrimack and in the Southgate Plaza on Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua down near the Pheasant Lane Mall.

A call to Whole Foods the public relations North Atlantic region manager regarding the plans at the plaza and any other changes that may be made there was not immediately returned.

According to a previous report, Whole Foods is expected to open sometime in 2014.