The owners of Chicago Pizza have announced they will reopen at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 5.
The business has been closed since the August 26 tragedy that left three dead, including the gunman, who took his own life. Ten others were shot and survived.
“As a family owned and operated business, we are looking forward to getting our employees back to together, serving all of our favorite people and continuing our relationship with vendors who have been so kind and supportive during all of this,” the owners of Chicago Pizza wrote on Facebook.
“GLHF Game Bar will not currently be operating at the same capacity as before,” the owners wrote, adding the game bar where the shooting occurred is undergoing renovations. “GLHF will be undergoing some renovations over the next few weeks and hopefully when finished it will provide a beautiful and fun atmosphere that you all want and deserve.”
The ownser were cited after the shooting by the city for “creating an unpermitted game room area,” according to our Florida Times-Union news partner.
The Morgan and Morgan law firm announced it was filing a lawsuit on behalf of several victims harmed in the shooting.
Chicago Pizza is among the businesses named in the suit, according to our News4Jax partner.
“We look forward to getting back into the swing of things although we will never mentally or emotionally recover from that heartbreaking day. All we can do is try as a business and a very close family,” Chicago Pizza’s owners wrote on Facebook.
The shooter was David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, police said.
Katz bought his handguns - a .45 caliber and 9mm - legally in Maryland from a licensed dealer, according to Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams.
Katz traveled to Jacksonville to take part in a Madden NFL 19 tournament. The video game’s parent company, Electronic Arts (EA), has also been named in the suit filed by Morgan and Morgan, according to News4Jax.
Following the shooting, EA announced a Jacksonville tribute live stream would be held and it would make a $1 million contribution to support the victims in addition to setting up a fund where others can contribute.
The live stream took place on September 6 with remembrances of Elijah Clayton and Taylor Robertson, the two gamers killed by the gunman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B96vwpU8Nk4
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
