Port City Java, its franchising and roasting companies have changed hands, but few changes will be visible from outside the company.

PCJ Ventures LLC, a joint partnership between CEO Steve Schnitzler’s Port City Java Inc., Harbor Coffee and Raleigh-based Investors Management Corp. formerly owned the company. But, the company had been mired in litigation for the past couple years.

On Feb. 1, Black Gold Holdings, a partnership between Schnitzler and W. Cecil Worsley, III, bought the company and its franchising and roasting businesses.

“We’re very excited about not only this change but it will enable us to emerge from all of this. All of the old litigation is done. It’s really getting a clean slate going forward,” said Schnitzler, who will remain CEO of the company.

Port City Java has 10 local corporate stores and 6 local franchises, whose franchise agreements will now be with Black Gold Holdings.

PCJ Ventures LLC is currently winding up its ties with the company, Schnitzler said.

Port City Java’s new owner W. Cecil Worsley, III formerly owned Worsley Companies Inc. a company that owned and operated convenience stores and truck stops in North Carolina and South Carolina. He sold the company a few years ago and it became VPS, said a company spokeswoman.

Worsley was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Port City Java recently signed a lease for a new store on Racine Drive across the parking lot from Gold’s Gym. The new location will tentatively open in mid-April, Schnitzler said. Also, the company recently installed a new 60 kilo roaster at its headquarters on Portwatch Way.