Mary's Pizza Shack files for bankruptcy

Mary's Pizza Shack Corporation announced Tuesday that it has filed for bankruptcy, the latest step in the company's effort to save the longtime, family-owned pizza brand.

Mary's granddaughters will take over the brand, according to a press release from the Sonoma-based company. All 10 current Mary's Pizza Shack locations will remain open and there are no plans to close additional locations after a wave of closures in 2022 and 2023.

Mary's Pizza Shack has assets ranging from $100,001 to $500,000 and 1,000 to 5,000 creditors, according to documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California.

A spokesperson for Mary's Pizza Shack did not return a call from a Press Democrat reporter Wednesday morning. An attorney for Mary's Pizza Shack did not respond to a voicemail left Wednesday afternoon.

“This year we celebrated our 65th anniversary and we are not going anywhere,” the company said in a press release Wednesday. “The iconic recipes you grew up with will remain the same and gift cards will continue to be accepted and sold at all locations.”

The pizza company, with locations throughout the North Bay, announced in 2022 that it would restructure from a sole proprietorship into smaller, family-run restaurants run by third- and fourth-generation owners along with employees.

To preserve the Mary's brand, each restaurant is now owned and operated by extended family members of founder Mary Fazio, rather than operating under a single company. The brand was founded by Fazio in 1959 in Boyes Hot Springs.

Each ownership group has a company that oversees each location under a licensing agreement that protects the brand, core menu, logo and quality standards, the company said in July 2023.

The restructuring officially took place in February 2023.

The company has closed several restaurants across the North Bay, including downtown Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Dixon, Napa and Novato, citing declining revenue and rising food and labor costs.

Grandson Vince Albano and longtime operator Mayra Martinez-Cornejo have reopened the Napa location in late 2023.

Reach staff writer Sara Edwards at 707-521-5487 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @sedwards380.