Upper Crust in Danger of Going Under

The financially and legally troubled Boston-based pizza chain has shut some locations, including its Brookline location, and its future remains uncertain.

The locally owned pizza chain Upper Crust needs a cash infusion of a least a hundred thousand dollars to keep its doors open, or it could close forever, according to the Boston Globe.  Upper Crust declared bankruptcy last month and is also in the midst of a scandal that it owes $850,000 to its workers in back wages, according to the US Department of Labor. A separate investigation into the company in 2009 found the company had also violated several labor laws and owed employees $425,000. At a hearing in US Bankruptcy Court Tuesday, the trustee, Mark G. DeGiacomo, said the company needed $120,000 to keep the doors open, according to the Globe. However, that cash did not come through.  The chain has rapidly shut down 10 out of its 16 area …

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Bill Davidson

7:52 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A 11/13/12 article on Boston.com indicates that Upper Crust "locations in Beacon Hill and Brookline" are still in business and "are operated separately by company founder Jordan Tobins and are not part of the bankruptcy."   more ›

Upper Crust Pizzeria Files for Bankruptcy Protection

The chain of gourmet pizza restaurants, which has a location in Coolidge Corner, filed for bankruptcy and reportedly owes $3.4 million to creditors.

The Upper Crust Pizzeria chain has filed for bankruptcy protection after defaulting on millions of dollars in loans, according to the Boston Globe. The embattled gourmet pizza chain was ordered by the Federal Labor officials to pay overtime to employees, and has been accused of improper use of assests for personal use by executives, and recently shut down some locations, including the Commonwealth Avenue location which has since been replaced with an Otto Pizza.  The Boston-based company defaulted on a loan to TD Bank in September, and owes $3.4 million to creditors, according to the Globe story. The list of creditors to which chain reportedly owe money, according to documents filed in federal bankruptcy court, includes a construction …

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Otto Pizza Heading to Commonwealth Avenue Soon

888 Commonwealth Avenue, a former Upper Crust pizza location, is cruising toward an opening later this month.

Boston University will be grabbing a slice of Portland, Maine in the new school year: Otto Pizza is moving in next door.  Last month, reports indicated that Otto Pizza was planning to open in the site of a former Upper Crust Pizza location. At the Board of Selectmen meeting last night, members heard more about the Portland-based chain's newest Boston-area location--which owner Anthony Allen says is "on pace" to open Aug. 20. The restaurant will open with 50 seats, and plans to serve its pizza from 11:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and until 1 a.m. on weekends. They have also applied for a beer and wine license--which the Selectmen will discuss at a future meeting.  While Commonwealth Avenue itself is in Boston, the town line actually …

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Several Changes for Brookline's Food Landscape

With a number of changes coming to restaurants in the Brookline area, where will you be going for dinner?

Whether you consider yourself a Brookline foodie, or just want somewhere new to take someone special on a date, there are a few changes coming to the nightlife landscape in Brookline. In case you missed a story, here are the quick hits: So, what might this mean for Brookline's foodies?  We asked food blogger and Patch Columnist Cristin Nelson, who said: "While there's a very vibrant restaurant culture in Brookline, it often caters towards the same type of person, which can send other segments away towards other areas like Allston or downtown Boston. But this could be an exciting time for business owners who hope to attract an entirely new segment of people." For examples, she said that Otto's new location in Coolidge Corner is now Otto's …

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Otto Pizza Heads for Allston, Replacing An Upper Crust

A new addition to the Brookline dining scene plans to expand, and is replacing one of its nearest competitors.

Boston University's topping enthusiasts had best get ready, as Portland-based Otto Pizza chain plans to open a Boston location in the former site of an Upper Crust Pizza, Boston Eater reports.  Last month, Otto Pizza opened almost across the street from Brookline's Upper Crust location, at the former home of Friendly's Express. The chain also has a restaurant in Harvard Square, and its Portland location was rated one of the ten best by Boston.com in 2010. Meanwhile, Upper Crust chain has some recent Deep Woes, such as Scandals Emerged and reports of an attempt to Scheme Workers Out Of Overtime Wages. These issues had Grub Street Boston asking whether Otto Pizza is the new kinder, gentler Upper Crust. According to Boston Eater, Otto Pizza …

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Upper Crust Tried to Scheme Workers Out Of Overtime Wages

Upper Crust has locations in Waltham, Brookline, West Roxbury, Lexington, Beacon Hill, Wellesley and Watertown.

Despite being ordered to pay employees previously unpaid overtime, Upper Crust instead attempted to get the money back through illegal means, according to the Boston Globe. The firm, which is embroiled in an internal dispute, allegedly cashed forged checks and cut workers’ pay to recoup $350,000 the federal Department of Labor ordered they pay workers in overtime, according to the Globe. Upper Crust has locations in Waltham, Beacon Hill, Brookline, Lexington, South End, Watertown, Wellesley and West Roxbury, according to its website. Earlier this year, the Salem and Beverly Upper Crust locations closed. The revelations are detailed in new court documents filed in Suffolk Superior Court on Friday, June 15 in which the company’s chief …

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Woes Deepen for Coolidge Corner Pizzeria [POLL]

Upper Crust executives and founder engaged in bitter dispute.

Upper Crust’s woes have reached new heights with court filings showing its co-owners claiming each other has used company money for personal gain, according to Boston.com.  The details on the split are revealed in legal documents filed by co-owners Joshua Huggard and Brendan Higgins as well as co-founder Jordan Tobins, according to Boston.com. In April, Tobins was accused of spending money on, among other things, a $700,000 yacht. The company is already under federal investigation for labor violations.  Upper Crust has locations in Waltham, Beacon Hill, Brookline, Lexington, South End, Watertown, Wellesley and West Roxbury, according to its website. Earlier this year, the Salem and Beverly Upper Crust locations closed. As a result of the …

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Bill Davidson

12:00 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012

Ouch.   more ›

Salem and Beverly Upper Crust Locations Closing

The Coolidge Corner pizzeria remains, while two of its sister sites close in Salem and Beverly.

The Upper Crust chain is shrinking a little, but its Coolidge Corner restaurant will remain where it is for now.  On the chain's Facebook page, they confirmed that the two locations will close, directing customers to its other locations in Lexington, Newburyport, and Portsmouth, NH. The Boston Restaurant Talk blog posted both the Salem and Beverly locations shuttered their doors, adding that the latter location had only opened in January of 2011.  A reason for the closure was not immediately available. The business was in operation as recently as last week, Salem Patch reported on Monday. The Upper Crust location in Salem has already closed. The chain made news in June of 2011, when the company was ordered to pay $80K in back wages as well…

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Viewfinder

Viewfinder: Pie in the Sky

A behind-the-counter look at some of the pizza places around Brookline

Step into the kitchens of some of Brookline's pizza places to watch a ball of dough be transformed into the perfect pie.

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Frugal Family

Frugal Family: Ten Dollar Dishes

It’s lunchtime and now that the weather is finally nice, some of our Frugal Family members might just want to venture out of the office or home and grab a bite to eat. No need to bust the budget while doing so! Here are some delicious meals under $10 in

Wonder Spice Cafe – 697 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain Deal:  There are few things more scrumptious and satisfying than a meal of tasty Pad Thai.  If you’re in Jamaica Plain, stop by Wonder Spice Café at 697 Centre Street and order this dish.  Delight in some rice noodles mixed with your choice of chicken, shrimp or egg, turnips and ground peanuts.  It’s warm, it’s comforting and it’s a mere $8.50 for a yummy lunch. Good Through:  Until further notice   Purple Cactus Burrito and Wrap Bar – 674 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain Deal:  Calling all vegetarians!  The Frugal Family Frugalista has a yummy deal for you at the Purple Cactus Burrito and Wrap Bar, located at 674 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.  Order the Portobello and Baby Spinach …

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Grahame Turner

8:34 pm on Tuesday, May 10, 2011

We share our Frugal Family columnist with JP Patch. I have been to Wonder Spice (just a couple of blocks from Jamaica Pond), and I really enjoyed their pad thai.   more ›