He will operate the restaurant in the same location with his wife, Maxine Hague.
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“We looked at the operations as a whole, and we thought let’s just try something different,” he said. “There was a lot of thought that went into the decision.”
Hague also mentioned increased labor costs from operating on two floors instead of one because a pizza oven that couldn’t keep up with demand during peak hours.
Although Bada Bing will close on Sunday, and En Fuego could be open as soon as Wednesday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bada Bing Pizzeria over the years
“We’d be fire roasting our salsas, our meats. Everything that we can will be made fresh and on site,” he said.
The short-term goal for the restaurant will be to open for lunch and dinner, but could expand into breakfast and late-night hours within the year. All current Bada Bing staff will be kept on during the transition to the new concept.
“It is the most bittersweet thing I’ve done in my life,” Hague said. “I’ve made a lot of great friends through Bada Bing, and I hope those friends come back with the new restaurant.”
Tango Yankee, a hamburger restaurant Hague opened in the Upper Valley Mall in 2017 is now closed.
Bada Bing Pizzeria is located at 40 N. Fountain Ave in downtown Springfield.
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