Regina Pizzeria
American pizza chain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regina Pizzeria, also known as Pizzeria Regina, and originally called Regina Pizza, is a regional pizza chain in New England. The company was founded in 1926 by Luigi D'Auria in Boston's North End neighborhood.[1] It has been run by the Polcari family since 1956.[2] The chain is a part of Boston Restaurant Associates and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.[3]
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The Regina Pizzeria's first location, at 11 1/2 Thacher Street in Boston's North End, is the best known. The company also boasts that it makes its sausage and dough daily from fresh ingredients.[4]
History
Regina Pizzeria was established in 1926 by Luigi D'Auria, originally under the name Regina Pizza ("Queen Pizza" in Italian).[1] It is located at 11 1/2 Thacher Street in Boston's North End, and is Boston's oldest pizzeria.[2] When D'Auria died he left the restaurant to his grandson, Luigi D'Auria. In 1956, the grandson sold Regina Pizza to the Polcari family, who have operated the restaurant since.[1]
In May 2015, the parent company filed for bankruptcy protection, closing four underperforming locations (Emerald Square Mall in North Attleborough; Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua; Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester; and the Arsenal Project Mall in Watertown) and saving $70,000 a month. They hoped to renegotiate leases at Independence Mall in Kingston, Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, and Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough.[5][6]
In 2018, Regina Pizzeria was declared the best pizza restaurant in the United States by TripAdvisor. However, a Boston Globe critic pointed out that this is partly due to fame rather than quality.[7]
