Popular pizzeria taking over recently closed Superchef’s after ‘gun to head negotiations’ with former lessee

When one restaurant’s doors close, another restaurant’s doors open. At least, that seems to be the trend here in central Ohio.

Pizza Nerds, a popular spot known for inventive Detroit-style pies, posted a statement 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 in Newark. Initially, they didn’t publicly announce where they’d be moving to.

But today, Pizza Nerds told 614now they’re officially moving to Gahanna, at the former Superchef’s location that recently closed, at 1376 Cherry Bottom Rd.

They’re not sure of their official opening date, but they told us it would hopefully be in early December! 

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Editor’s note: Tim Degenero, lessee of Pizza Nerds, referred to the negotiation 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.”

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