Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 10:00 PM EDT Oct 20, 2019
Pagoni’s Pizza has closed in Neenah.
Note that the Kaukauna Pagoni’s Pizza remains open. It continues to operate normally under a different owner from the same family.
In Neenah, restaurant owner Louie Morales decided to close his Pagoni’s Pizza at 1137 W. Winneconne Ave., in the same building as Maurices in front of Walmart.
He started the local operation 12 years ago, and even though it looks like a chain or franchise, it isn’t.
Keeping the long hours needed to run a restaurant was too much with his young family, he said. He wanted to see his kids grow up.
“I’ve missed a lot of time with them. Running the restaurant takes a lot of time. Plus expenses keep going up and I don’t have enough employees.”
Morales was offered a nine-to-five job in management of a manufacturing firm, which he’s considering. He said he’ll help his 12 pizzeria employees find new jobs.
He tried to sell the business without luck.
“We tried to pass the torch. We looked for a buyer for the last two and half years. We weren’t able to find anyone.”
Gift certificates will be honored at the Kaukauna Pagoni’s Pizza, 320 E. Ann St., which is independently owned by his brother Ernesto. It serves the same menu and recipes.
Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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