Pizza Terra restaurant in Burns Harbor reopened on Aug. 21 after an ownership dispute that caused its closure was resolved.
Neither party wanted to discuss the details of their settlement.
Jeremy Branshaw confirmed Pizza Terra’s reopening and stated that he is now the owner. He had no further comment.
Rolando “Roly” Martinez had filed a lawsuit against Branshaw in Porter Superior Court and had all of the kitchen equipment, tables and chairs removed, causing the restaurant’s sudden closure on July 14. Courtney Eaton, a restaurant employee, was also named as a defendant with Branshaw.
Patrick McEuen, Martinez’s attorney, said the issues that Martinez had with Branshaw have been “resolved to the satisfaction of all involved.” The lawsuit will be dismissed.
McEuen said there is no longer a joint ownership of the restaurant, but he isn’t at liberty to discuss how the matter was resolved.
Martinez had owned a 50% stake in Pizza Terra. His civil lawsuit accused Branshaw and Eaton of conspiring to “defame” him and freeze him out of the restaurant’s operation.
JGR Restaurant, Inc., formed in May 2022 to operate the Italian restaurant, which is located in a renovated service station at the corner of Ind. 149 and U.S. 20.
The Duneland Chamber of Commerce last month honored Pizza Terra with a Business Renovation Award, noting how the abandoned service station space had been transformed into a “hidden gem in Burns Harbor.”
Branshaw, who had been working as a chef at Lucrezia Cafe in Chesterton, had agreed to be the head chef at Pizza Terra. Branshaw became a partner in the business, which opened its doors in March 2023.
Soon afterwards, though, Martinez and Branshaw clashed.
The situation came to a head in April, when Martinez and Branshaw had a confrontation in their accountant’s office.
That eventually led to the removal of the restaurant equipment on July 14. Branshaw had refused to sign for any financial responsibility for the equipment, McEeun said.
When the leasing company learned of the shareholder dispute, it advised Martinez, because he was the debt’s guarantor, that he was authorized to move the equipment to a safe and insured location, McEuen said.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.