Following ‘gun to head negotiations,’ central Ohio pizza is moving
A popular Columbus-area pizzeria is on the move.
According to a social media statement from Pizza Nerds, the 90s-themed spot known for inventive pies and breakfast cereal-inspired cookies, the pizzeria plans to relocate from its current home in Newark to a location closer to Downtown Columbus.
Currently, Pizza Nerds shares the storefront located at 2050 Cherry Valley Rd. in Newark with 710 Bread.
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In its statement, the pizzeria said it was approached by the bakery owner in 2022 (when Pizza Nerds was a food truck) about sharing a leased space that they were originally slated to take over for themselves by the end of the year.
“It’s become apparent 2 years later that we aren’t going to acquire this location for our independent use. We were no longer welcome in the shop we called home, and the promise of retirement was never fulfilled,” Pizza Nerds’ statement reads.
Their statement goes to claim that, after “gun to head negotiations” with the lessee, ones that allegedly required a “substantial financial investment” to continue sharing the space “with no independent takeover date insight,” the pizzeria has decided to move on from its former home.
Tim Degenero, owner of 710 Bread, referred to the situation as “nothing more than a disagreement on terms of a new sublease agreement.” He told 614Now that the original lease agreement was for one year, beginning in April 2022. He also claims there was no time frame offered to Pizza Nerds on his selling or retiring.
Degenero added that, while he did ask for additional compensation after offering Pizza Nerds the option to take over as master lessee, he did so to recoup “part of the costs incurred during the building improvements I completed and basic equipment purchases required to bring the space up to retail food licensing standards back in 2018.”
He continued, “They rejected my offer and simply refused to submit a counter offer or engage in any meaningful discussion moving forward.”
Pizza Nerds said its last day in the Newark storefront will be Aug. 17, and that it plans to relocate to the Cherry Bottom Plaza in Gahanna this fall or winter. An exact address wasn’t provided, but the concept said more information is coming soon.
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