Owning and operating a restaurant following the COVID-19 pandemic is no easy feat — even for a chain. Bertucci’s Restaurants, a casual-dining pizza eatery, knows this all too well.
Bertucci’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the third time in seven years. Bertucci’s filed for bankruptcy for the first time in 2018.
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Since then, operations have been cut to 21 restaurants across the U.S., primarily in the Northeast.
Before filing for bankruptcy again, Bertucci’s debuted a new type of dining experience called Pronto in the Boston Government Center. Bertucci’s currently has 14 locations in Massachusetts.
“Reflecting the fast-paced lifestyle of its urban customers, Bertucci’s Pronto menu will also include breakfast pizzas and sandwiches for busy morning travelers and will remain open into the evening for the reverse commute,” the company said in a statement, per NRN.
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“We are thrilled to return to downtown Boston with a new concept in this historic location,” Robert Earl, the owner of Bertucci’s, detailed. “The community has been so supportive of Bertucci’s. and we have been searching for the perfect spot in the city to launch our first Bertucci’s Pronto restaurant. This spot, on Tremont Street, is what we were looking for.”
It seems the company will be applying this strategy to all of their remaining locations.
“Consistent with numerous other recent restaurant brand bankruptcies, consumer demand has shifted away from legacy casual-dining brands,” Bertucci’s said in a separate statement. “In order to adapt, Bertucci’s will be emphasizing its new fast casual spinoff going forward, Bertucci’s Pronto! The first Bertucci’s Pronto recently opened at 22 Tremont Street in Boston to rave reviews. Bertucci’s Pronto offers delicious pizza, sandwiches, salads and more.
