Pizza chain closes all US locations and files for bankruptcy after 50 years

A beloved pizza chain has lastly revealed why it closed its doorways after 50 years within the enterprise.

Gina Maria’s Pizza abruptly shuttered its 4 Minneapolis locations in October with out warning prospects that the eating places had been closing.

A March 26 bankruptcy filing defined that the operators of the pizza chain had $2.9 million in money owed — whereas solely reporting $64,000 in property.

The firm, Northern Brands Inc., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, seemingly that means the enterprise might be liquidated as an alternative of restructured.

Gina Maria’s began in 1975 with a since-closed location in Minnetonka. The Twin Cities chain went on to increase to Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Edina and Plymouth.

Locals shared their disappointment with the information on social media, with one writing on Facebook: “I’m so bummed , I live a block away from the E.P. Store went there for 25 years , just love the pepperoni and green olive , best pizza by far now in Richfield and they opened theEdina store I wonder why they closed , very bummed.”

Another added, “Closed. Sad. Easily the BEST pizza anywhere. Nothing in Naples FL comes close!”

One Reddit person wrote on a dialogue thread concerning the chain’s closure: “Geez. This hits. Not THE BEST pizza in town, but consistently reliable. The slice deal for lunch will go down for some of the best quick lunches of my day.”

After the locations closed in October, the previous supervisor at two Gina Maria’s locations stepped as much as open an analogous restaurant in the identical spot, in line with native retailers.

A brand new restaurant known as Pizzas Gina is now open within the location the place the Eden Prairie Gina Maria’s retailer was.

Ulises Godinez, who opened the revamped retailer, is utilizing the identical recipes because the shuttered model. He advised Eden Prairie Local News that the restaurant’s earlier homeowners left provides within the kitchen for him to make use of within the new enterprise. The eatery has simply the one location.

Local chains should not the one eating places which are dealing with hassle.

Applebee’s might be permanently closing at least four locations throughout the United States as a part of a company restructuring plan to shut underperforming eating places.

Popeye’s also closed several U.S. locations after a franchisee filed for bankruptcy earlier this 12 months.

Colorado-based Noodles & Company announced it expects to close up to 35 restaurants this year after closing 33 in 2025. Plus, burger chain Jack within the Box additionally closed dozens of underperforming restaurants throughout the U.S. final 12 months.