Beloved Minneapolis Pizza Chain Gina Maria's Closes All Locations After 50 Years

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Gina Maria's Pizza, a beloved Minneapolis pizza chain that had been in business for 50 years, has abruptly closed all four of its locations in the Twin Cities area. The company, Northern Brands Inc., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in March, citing $2.9 million in debts and only $64,000 in assets, likely meaning the business will be liquidated instead of restructured.

Why it matters

The closure of Gina Maria's Pizza, a long-standing local institution, is the latest example of the challenges facing independent restaurants and regional chains in the face of rising costs, increased competition, and shifting consumer preferences. The shuttering of this iconic pizza brand is a blow to the Minneapolis community and highlights the broader struggles of the restaurant industry.

The details

Gina Maria's Pizza first opened in 1975 with a location in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Over the years, the chain expanded to four additional locations in the Twin Cities area, including in Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Plymouth. In October 2025, the company abruptly closed all of its restaurants without warning customers. The March 2026 bankruptcy filing revealed that Northern Brands Inc., the operator of Gina Maria's, had $2.9 million in debts and only $64,000 in assets.

• Gina Maria's Pizza first opened in Minnetonka, Minnesota in 1975.
• The chain expanded to four additional locations in the Twin Cities area over the years.
• In October 2025, Gina Maria's abruptly closed all of its restaurants without warning customers.
• In March 2026, Northern Brands Inc., the operator of Gina Maria's, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

What’s next

The former manager who opened the new Pizzas Gina restaurant in the former Eden Prairie Gina Maria's location plans to continue using the same recipes as the shuttered brand.