According to a report on Nation’s Restaurant News, “Cullen Williamson has stepped down as chief executive of the Mary’s Pizza Shack chain in Northern California to launch a new fast-casual variant of the family-owned Italian concept, the company announced Monday.”

“Williamson is the grandson-in-law of founder Mary Fazio, who opened the first Mary’s Pizza Shack 50 years ago in Boyes Hot Springs, Calif. He has been replaced as chief executive by Vince Albano, a grandson of Fazio and Williamson’s brother-in-law. The change in leadership was effective June 5. The new as-yet-unnamed concept will feature a similar menu of Fazio’s original recipes, including pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches, but with order-at-the-counter service and a lower price point. Williamson said he expects the first location to open in the first quarter of 2010.”

“Mary’s Pizza Shack, a full-service casual-dining concept, offers roughly 120 menu items and has a per-person check average of about $12.50 to $13. The new fast-casual concept will offer a shortened menu of about 30 items and the company will aim for a check average of about $8.50 to $10 per person, Williamson said,” the story said.