Paul Romano has tried to quit the pizza business. It’s just that he’s not a good quitter.
So he’s back at Bridgewood Plaza, 1794 Bridge Street, Suite 10, a spot he left in the mid-1980s after selling his Romano’s Pizza to George Coufos, who kept the name Romano’s all these years.
When George put the business and the unit on the market earlier this year, Paul found himself drawn back in. He and his partner, Scott Farris, bought the spot, cut it in half, walling off a larger dining area, and opened Original Romano’s Pizza.
“I love making pizzas,” Paul said. “I enjoy talking to the customers. I just enjoy the business.”
Original Romano’s held a soft opening on August 19, and Dracut Economic Development hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13.
Paul and Scott both have extensive experience operating restaurants. Paul has opened, and sold, several Romano’s Pizza shops throughout the area, including one to Scott, who owned the Romano’s in Salem, N.H., for seven years.
There are still Romano’s pizza shops in the area, including in Salem and Methuen, that are no longer owned by Romano.
With Paul coming back to Bridgewood Plaza, Dracut has the only Romano’s in the area that features an actual Romano. In fact, it has two, as Paul’s, daughter, Kyley Romano, is the manager of the Dracut spot.
“Things are going great,” Paul said about the first weeks in business. “For the first couple of weeks, it’s taken off better than any store I’ve ever opened.”
“The people of Dracut have been awesome,” Scott said. “The town has been great. The customers have been great. Everyone who comes in is excited and nice to deal with.”
The shop offers the normal pizza selections, as well as specialty pies, including a Cordon Bleu Pizza and a Mac Attack Pizza, and a full selection of calzones, appetizers, wings, salads, subs, burgers, wraps and dinners.
Original Romano’s is looking for employees, including delivery drivers.
For more information, call 978-970-2889, email romanosdracut@gmail.com, or visit www.mypizzamenu.com.
PHOTO CAPTION:
From left at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Original Romano’s Pizza of Dracut are Dave Ouellette, Health Director; Selectman Joe DiRocco; co-owner Scott Farris; manager Kyley Romano; co-owner Paul Romano; Kara Curley, Town Health Nurse; Town Manager Ann Vandal; Adriana Dagoumas; and Jenniffer Rogers, Economic Development Committee.