EAST PROVIDENCE — The Papa Gino’s Restaurant located at 80 Highland Ave./Route 6 in city at the border with Seekonk, which was initially tabbed as one of the regional pizzeria’s operations to be shuttered in a stunning announcement last week, remains open and appears to have been saved for the foreseeable future.

With little to no notice given to either employees or customers, Papa Gino’s announced it was closing numerous restaurants last weekend, including at first one of its two East Providence locations on Highland Avenue/Route 6.

The company did so not through a formal statement, but by placing placards on the doors of those it chose to shut down. Later, the company updated its website to reflect those stores that remained open without mentioning those it closed. However, the Highland Avenue spot wasn't included among those Rhode Island stores still operational.

The popular pizzeria chain only last week boasted of having over 150 locations across New England, but just a day or so later that total was down to 97, a handful of which remained open in Rhode Island. The other East Providence restaurant, on Newport Avenue in Rumford, was spared from the initial closings list.

The Highland Avenue/Route 6 never actually stopped operating. Its employees showed up for work and continued running the restaurant as usual.

“Nothing was said to us,” said a Highland Avenue employee, who wished to remain nameless. “We were never told either way. We just stayed open."

Asked if company officials had informed the Highland Avenue staff of restaurant's future status, the same employee added, "We have no idea. They haven’t really told us anything.”

All aspects of the Highland Avenue Papa Gino’s Restaurant remain unchanged from the menu to its hours of operations, the employee added.