Ind. Pizzeria that Refused to Cater Gay Wedding Closes Down for Good

A pizzeria in Indiana that made headlines in 2015 for refusing to cater a gay wedding has now officially closed up shop.

Nearly three years since being embroiled in a nationwide debate over LGBTQ rights and religious liberty, Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Ind. has closed, according to the South Bend Tribune. The newspaper notes a sign in the store's front window that says it closed last month.

The owners of the pizzeria, Kevin and Crystal O'Connor came under fire in April 2015 - just a few months before the Supreme Court's landmark marriage equality ruling - for refusing to cater a same-sex wedding, citing their religious beliefs. At the time they said they wouldn't deny service to any customer at their restaurant, however.

"If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no," said Crystal O'Connor at the time. "We're not discriminating against anyone, that's just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything."

The controversy came as then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. Those who opposed the measure claimed it allowed people to discriminate against LGBTQ people. Crystal O'Connor said she supported the bill but said she didn't think it would discriminate against people.

"I do not think it's targeting gays. I don't think it's discrimination. It's supposed to help people that have a religious belief," she said.

Kevin O'Connor, Crystal's father, also came under fire for saying he believes being gay is a choice.

"That lifestyle is something they choose. I choose to be heterosexual. They choose to be homosexual," he said at the time. "Why should I be beat over the head to go along with something they choose?"

Outrage soon ensued and Memories Pizza temporally closed at the time. The South Bend Tribune reports the owners received more than $800,000 in donations from supporters after Glenn Beck discussed the shop and launched a GoFundMe page on their behalf.

The newspaper points out Kevin O'Conner recently appeared on the Fox reality show "You the Jury" in which he faced a gay couple from Indianapolis.

//www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/walkerton-pizzeria-once-at-center-of-national-controversy-has-now/article_83b23989-40ef-554f-b4ab-d4657cf0a150.htmlThe South Bend Tribune reports a number of local business owners did not want to publicly comment on Memories Pizza's closure but some said they didn't believe it closed because of the 2015 controversy. Some believed the O'Conners wanted to retire.