In an effort to improve its business model, Mary’s Pizza Shack has launched separate ownership groups for its nine North Bay locations, which are now separately owned and operated by various members of late-founder Mary Fazio’s extended family. This does not translate to a radical change, say family members—each Mary’s location will largely stay the same with small tweaks like adding new items to the menu.
The new ownership structure was completed in February 2023, coming on the heels of the recent closing of multiple restaurants, including those in Dixon, Napa, Novato, downtown Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. The Press Democrat reports that the separately owned franchises are now overseen by “a new umbrella company—Three Albano Sisters, LLC, named after Mary Fazio’s granddaughters—[which] houses the intellectual property and licensing agreements” and ensures each location adheres to standards of brand integrity, menu options and service efficiency.
Mary Fazio opened the first Pizza Shack in Boyes Hot Springs in 1959, with $700 and some pots and pans from her own kitchen, according to maryspizzashack.com. Her father was originally from Ischia, Italy, where he developed a love for cooking and eventually passed his recipes down to his daughter. Mary wanted to create a restaurant with a cozy ambience filled with the smells of home-cooked meals. From the beginning, this family-run organization has also supported local nonprofit organizations, schools and first responders.
