Minnesota pizza lovers are heartbroken: Gina Maria’s Pizza, the beloved 50-year-old chain, has shut all four Twin Cities locations after parent company Northern Brands Inc. filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in March 2026, listing $2.9M debts vs. $64K assets. From Minnetonka origins in 1975 to spots in Chanhassen, Edina, Plymouth, and Eden Prairie, its thin-crust and deep-dish pies created lasting memories—but intense competition and economic pressures sealed its fate.
The parent company, Northern Brands Inc., has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy listing $2.9 million in liabilities alongside paltry assets of just $64,000. This bankruptcy filing represents a liquidation process — selling off the company’s assets to pay off debts — as opposed to a corporate restructuring. The widespread shuttering of every one of their locations last October (2025) had come as a shock to clientele.
Gina Maria’s Pizza has been around since 1975. It opened the first location in Minnetonka and expanded into Chanhassen, Edina, Plymouth and Eden Prairie. Its thin-crust, deep-dish and New York-style pizzas wowed millions. But for families in the area it was more than a pizza place; it was a memory-filled locale. Each bite brought genuine Italian flair and a comforting, homemade flavor.
Exactly why the Minnesota company was forced to file for bankruptcy is a little hazy, but the industry has been experiencing intense competition. Even major chains like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s have faced store closures. Inflation, waning sales and supply chain disruptions have been whacking smaller chains. These pressures ultimately became too much for Gina Maria’s Pizza to bear, leading its CEO Phil Godinez and his representative Porfirio Godinez to take this arduous step.
But a vestige of Gina Maria’s Pizza has not completely faded. Now a new place called “Pizzas Gina” has opened in the space that once was home to the shut-down Ginas Maria’s location in Eden Prairie. Started by previous manager Ulises Godinez, the new iteration still uses the original recipes. The transition was seamless because the old equipment and supplies had already been left behind. Here, too, you’ll find Deep Dish, New York-style and other hit items — the same way you will at Gina Maria’s Pizza.
There’s also a Gina Maria’s Pizza in Orange County, Calif., but it is not connected to the Minnesota establishment. That business remains operational. Now, there’s “Pizzas Gina” for fans in Minnesota. This shop preserves the legacy of Gina Maria’s Pizza — and brings that same flavor to a new generation.
The closure affected the local economy. Many were left unemployed, though some have since become employees of ‘Pizzas Gina.’ The pizza business is tough, with smaller brands struggling to exist. Gina Maria’s Pizza: The flavor that it delivered will live on.
Based on customer response, the hashtag #SaveGinaMarias trended online. It’s a memory from my childhood!” people said. Now that’s how popular Gina Maria’s Pizza was. With the passage of time, more institutions dedicated to preserving such legacies can be imagined.
The obituary for Gina Maria’s Pizza is a sad one — but it teaches us that great flavor never really dies. Thanks to programs such as ‘Pizzas Gina,’ that legacy will continue
