Bertucci's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | November 1, 1981 in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Joey Crugnale |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Northeastern United States (as far southwest as Virginia) |
| Products | Italian-American menu including pizza, pasta, soups, salads, desserts |
| Owner | Earl Enterprises |
| Parent | Earl Enterprises |
Bertucci's is a U.S.-based casual dining chain known for its Italian-American menu, which includes pizza, pasta, soups, salads, and desserts. Established in November 1981 by entrepreneur Joey Crugnale in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts, the brand experienced rapid growth throughout the 1990s. Its operations are predominantly situated in the Northeastern United States, reaching as far southwest as Virginia. After being acquired by N.E. Restaurant Co. Inc. in 1998, the company adopted the name Bertucci's Corp. in 2001. As of 2025, under the ownership of Earl Enterprises, Bertucci's runs 14 restaurants across five states.
History
Joseph ("Joey") Crugnale, originally from Sulmona, Italy, immigrated to Boston and began his hospitality career at the Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1974, he opened his initial ice cream stand and subsequently purchased Steve's Ice Cream from its founder Steve Herrell in 1975 for $80,000 by refinancing his father's home. Crugnale expanded Steve's Ice Cream to 26 outlets before selling it to Integrated Resources in 1983 for $4.5 million.
To strategically block new ice cream competitors from entering Davis Square, Crugnale launched Bertucci's Pizza and Bocce in November 1981 near his existing ice cream business. The name "Bertucci's" was inspired by a magazine discovered during a flight to New York City. The original venue included a bocce court located in the basement, emphasizing a distinctive dining experience.
1980s
In 1989, USA Today ranked Bertucci's among the nation’s top ten pizza restaurants; at that time, its corporate offices were based in Woburn, Massachusetts.
1990s
Bertucci's went public in July 1991 with an offering of 21 units priced at $13 per share. That year saw a 30% increase in sales to $37.4 million and a 90% jump in net income reaching $3 million. The stock price nearly doubled to $24.75 per share.
Founder Joey Crugnale attempted to privatize the company again in 1998 but was outbid. Instead, N.E. Restaurant Co. Inc. purchased Bertucci's for $10.50 per share during that acquisition.
2000s
In 2001, N.E. Restaurant Co., after selling its Chili's and On the Border chains to Brinker International, rebranded itself as Bertucci's Corp. The following year saw the introduction of a $4 million "Everybody Eats" marketing campaign. In 2006, Bertucci's grew by acquiring eleven Boston-area locations from Italian chain Vinny T's amid that brand’s market exit and rebranding efforts. By the end of the decade, Bertucci's operated close to 100 restaurants.
2010s
A The Boston Globe report in 2011 uncovered widespread mislabeling of fish served in local eateries; Bertucci's reacted swiftly by substituting hake with correctly sourced cod.
December 2012 marked the debut of Bertucci's first 2Ovens concept restaurant in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, highlighting brick oven cooking as its signature feature.
2020s
On April 23, 2025, Bertucci's introduced Bertucci's Pronto, a fast-casual dining concept designed to broaden its market reach.
By July 2025, the company maintained ten locations within Massachusetts and one each in Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, demonstrating a concentrated regional presence.
2010s
In April 2018, Bertucci's initiated a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, resulting in the shutdown of 15 outlets located in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The company scheduled an auction with a starting bid set at $19.7 million; a Right Lane Capital affiliate was positioned to acquire the chain if no superior offers were submitted. At this juncture, Bertucci's had outstanding debts of approximately $9 million owed to suppliers and $110 million to creditors.
By June 2018, Earl Enterprises, the parent organization of Planet Hollywood, purchased Bertucci's for $20 million, aiming to steer the brand toward renewed growth under its management.
In July 2022, the Bertucci’s restaurant in Andover ceased operations, followed by the closure of the Woburn location in September 2022.
In December 2022, Bertucci's once again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy within a four-year span. The company attributed this move to decreased sales, revenue declines caused by the COVID-19 crisis, inflationary pressures, and disruptions in the supply chain. This restructuring led to the closure of several establishments: one in Marlton, New Jersey; two in Connecticut (Avon and Newington); two in New Hampshire (Manchester and Salem); and five across Massachusetts (Beverly, Brockton, Canton, Marlborough, North Attleborough). Other businesses under Earl Enterprises remained unaffected.
March 2023 saw the closing of Bertucci's locations in Needham and Peabody, Massachusetts. By May 2023, the final New Hampshire branch in Nashua was shuttered, followed by the last New Jersey venue in Mount Laurel closing in June 2023. Two additional Massachusetts sites in Cambridge and Lexington were closed by October 2023. The Swampscott location ended operations in December 2024. Further closures occurred in March 2025 with the shutdown of two more Massachusetts restaurants situated in Holliston and Plymouth.
On April 24, 2025, Bertucci's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the third time within seven years due to ongoing declines in consumer demand. The company announced a reorganization plan focusing on launching a new fast-casual concept named Bertucci's Pronto, which had opened its inaugural location on Tremont Street in Boston just one day prior. Following this filing, six outlets were immediately closed: one Maryland store in Timonium; the final Rhode Island location in Warwick; and four Massachusetts restaurants located in Braintree, Mansfield, North Andover, and Norwood. The last remaining Maryland restaurant in Columbia closed its doors in June 2025.