Beloved pizza chain Gina Maria's closes all US locations and files for bankruptcy after 50 years

Published: 02:14, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 02:25, 6 April 2026 A beloved pizza chain that served Minnesotans for 50 years abruptly shut its doors and filed for bankruptcy. Gina Maria's Pizza closed the doors of all four locations to the public back in October, leaving hungry customers with lots of questions.  The pizza business owners had nearly $3 million in debts, with only a mere $64,000 in assets, according to a March 26 bankruptcy filing.   Northern Brands Inc, the parent company, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which will likely result in the business being liquidated rather than restructured.  Liquidation happens when a business closes and sells off its remaining assets, using the money to pay those it owes - creditors first, and owners last.  Restructuring is when a business changes how it operates. This can include cutting costs and reorganizing so it can stay open.  'If they're gone forever, this is sad. My family and I love Gina Maria's. My kids looked forward to when we would drive from Bloomington to the [Eden Prairie] location to get lunch slices,' one user wrote. 'First pizza we ordered when we moved back to Minnesota on the enthusiastic recommendation of our moving company,' another user shared. Gina Maria's Pizza in Minnesota closed the doors of all four locations to the public back in October The pizza business owners had nearly $3 million in debts, with only a mere $64,000 in assets 'Must have ordered 100 times since 2006. Sorry to see them go. Really good pizza,' they added. Gina Maria's first opened its doors in 1975 in Minnetonka and eventually grew to serve customers in Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Plymouth.  A new chapter begins at the former Eden Prairie location of Gina Maria’s, now home to Pizzas Gina. Owner Ulises Godinez told Eden Prairie Local News that the restaurant is keeping the legacy alive by using the original recipes from the last pizzeria. He added that the previous owners even left behind kitchen tools and supplies to help him get started. It’s not just local restaurant chains that are facing trouble.  Hundreds of grocery workers are losing their jobs as Albertsons shuts more stores across the US. The 86-year-old supermarket giant closed 20 locations in Texas, California and Washington, DC last year - and now plans to axe even more locations founded in Boise, Idaho. The move comes just months after its blockbuster $24.6 billion merger with Kroger collapsed in court. Gina Maria's Pizza at 7416 Mitchell Rd., Eden Prairie, Minnesota Albertsons operates over 2,200 stores across 35 states under banners including Safeway, Vons and Pavilions Albertsons - founded in Boise, Idaho - operates over 2,200 stores across 35 states under banners including Safeway, Vons and Pavilions. Two Albertsons stores in North Texas are set to close by the end of April, cutting 138 jobs. In Washington, DC, a Safeway store will shut in May - putting another 87 workers out of work. Southern California will lose 135 jobs as Vons stores in Escondido and Redlands close down in April. The closure of an Albertsons near Riverside in March left a further 75 people unemployed, and a Safeway that closed in Northern California earlier this year axed another 76 jobs. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.