A 50-year-old Minnesota pizza company that abruptly closed all of its locations last October likely won’t make a comeback after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy late last month. Court records show a staggering amount of debt averaging nearly $750,000 per location, suggesting the company had been insolvent long before it closed its doors.
But the closure of Gina Maria’s Pizza has allowed a former manager to carry on the brand’s legacy with a new name.
Gina Maria’s was founded in Minnetonka, Minnesota, in 1975 and gradually expanded across the Twin Cities. When its owner, Northern Brands Inc., closed all four of its stores last fall, it did so without warning its employees or customers, according to media reports.
Instead, Northern Brands posted a brief message on its website (no longer live) stating it had “officially closed its doors” and adding: “The decision did not come easily. We’re proud of what we built together and will always cherish the relationships formed over hot pizzas, warm smiles and great conversations.”
According to Newsweek, court filings show Northern Brands reported about $2.9 million in liabilities and about $64,000 in assets, suggesting no restructuring effort was possible. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy means a trustee will be appointed to sell off the company’s remaining assets to repay creditors, in this case at pennies on the dollar.
However, the Gina Maria’s legacy lives on, thanks to a former manager of two of the brand’s stores. Just weeks after Gina Maria’s closed for business, Ulises Godinez opened a new restaurant, called Pizzas Gina, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
According to Eden Prairie Local News, Gina Maria’s owners gave Godinez permission to use the Gina Maria’s recipes, and he’s now operating Pizzas Gina with his wife and children. Godinez appears to be related to Phil Godinez, who is reportedly listed as Gina Maria’s CEO, and Porfioro Godinez, listed as Northern Brand’s authorized representative of debtor.
Pizzas Gina offer thin-crust, New York-style and deep-dish pies.
