Fourteen Mr. Gatti's corporate locations will see new management. The company has been an Austin staple for nearly 50 years.

AUSTIN — More than a dozen Mr. Gatti's restaurants in Austin are now under new management.

The company, an Austin staple for nearly 50 years, announced Tuesday that Austin entrepreneur and former vice president of operations for Papa John's Pizza Jeff Tisdel will take over 13 corporate locations in Austin. Mr. Gatti's in Southpark Meadows will remain a corporate location and all the other franchise locations in the surrounding Austin area will remain unaffected.

The deal reportedly marks the largest franchise agreement by Mr. Gatti's for 2018 and one of the largest multi-unit agreements in the company's history.

“Mr. Gatti’s has been an Austin staple for nearly 50 years,” Tisdel said in a statement. “As we approach the anniversary, I am eager to join the Mr. Gatti’s family to take on the Austin market and continue to grow the Mr. Gatti’s brand in our hometown. We are looking at renovations for some locations, operational changes and possibly opening new locations down the line.”

Effective Sept. 18, the 13 locations are now owned and operated by the investment group Three Dough Boys, LLC, comprised of Jeff Tisdel, Kenny Starks and Richie Jarzombek; all local Austin entrepreneurs.