A Christian-owned Pizzeria in Indiana has reportedly decided to close, three years after it became embroiled in controversy for declaring that it would not cater to same-sex weddings.
Memories Pizza, located in Walkerton, has put up a sign in its front window informing passersby that it has shut down, according to the South Bend Tribune.
The owners, father Kevin and daughter Crystal O'Connor, sparked backlash from liberals in April 2015 after they stated in an interview that they would not create cakes celebrating gay weddings because of their faith that marriage is between a man and a woman.
"Because of what we believe, we cannot condone a [gay] wedding but anybody is welcome into this shop and we will serve anyone. But we will not participate, in any way, in a gay wedding," Crystal O'Connor said at the time.
Despite their refusal to cater to same-sex weddings, Kevin O'Connor insisted that the shop would not turn away any customers.
"I don't care if they are gay. I don't care if they walk in on their hands. I don't care if their heads are attached to their knee. They are more than welcome to come in and eat," he said.
"That is not what this is about. We believe that it is not right for a man to marry a man and for a woman to marry a woman. People could end up marrying trees ... come on!" he continued.
The owners' comments came at the height of the controversy over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Critics of the legislation expressed concern that it would be used to discriminate against gay people, while supporters contended that it would protect the religious rights of business owners.
Local business owners and residents have declined to speak about the shop's closing, but some said they did not think the closure was related to the controversy over same-sex weddings, but that the owners were simply ready to retire.
The shop had to shut down for eight days due to the backlash it received in 2015, but a crowdfunding campaign launched by Glenn Beck's The Blaze network raised more than $800,000 to support the owners.
The O'Connors had promised to donate some of the money to Barronelle Stutzman, a Washington florist who was sued by the state's attorney general for refusing to cater to a same-sex wedding.
