Pizza Business Closing All Seven Central Florida Restaurants

Donatos Pizzeria has served its last customer in Orlando. The pizza and sub chain closed its seven Central Florida restaurants Monday.

VIDEO REPORT: Seven Central Florida Pizza Restaurants Close Their Doors

About 140 employees will lose their jobs. Managers will be given the chance to relocate to other stores.

Donatos still has about 180 stores nationwide. The company says it will shift its focus to smaller franchised stores that can generate bigger profits.

The following is a statement from the corporation: "Donatos Pizza expanded into the Orlando, FL market in 2001 while under McDonald's ownership. Donatos' current leadership team believes that focusing on complete penetration of Donatos current markets presents the most value to our company and the communities we serve. Donatos currently operates seven locations in Orlando, which does not represent a significant penetration in that market. To fully penetrate the Orlando market, Donatos would need to build and operate more than 100 stores, which under the current growth and development plan is not prudent. Additionally, the stores operating in Orlando are not consistent with Donatos forward-moving store layout. Donatos will regretfully close its Orlando area locations on Monday, June 23, 2008.

"Donatos' decision to close its Orlando area locations allows the company to continue to concentrate company resources on fully developing current markets and prioritizing further Donatos expansion into markets fairly contiguous with our present footprint. In keeping with Donatos' Mission to promote goodwill through product and service, principles and people, Donatos Pizza will be offering outplacement assistance and severance packages for current managers. Additionally, severance packages and a career fair will be made available to all current full- and part-time associates."