If you grew up in Massachusetts, then you know all about Papa Gino's.  But did you know it started in East Boston?  It's true!  Founder Michael Valerio, who emigrated from Italy in the 1930s, used the money his mother had saved for him during his military service fighting in the Korean War to open his first location on Bennington Street in East Boston in 1961.  The original name was Piece O'Pizza, but he changed it to Papa Gino's in honor of his brother.

Eventually, he and his wife expanded to several different locations in Boston and then into the suburbs, where it truly became iconic in Massachusetts culture.  Eventually there were over 300 locations when Valerio sold it in 1991.  Since then, it has changed hands many times and unfortunately…

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