Current:Home > ScamsMassachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation -Quantum Growth Learning
Massachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation
View
Date:2025-04-18 08:01:37
A Massachusetts pizza place is seeing booming sales after businessman Dave Portnoy branded the joint as the "worst" in the U.S. during a viral feud with the owner.
Portnoy, the founder of sports and popular culture blog Barstool Sports, got into an on-camera dispute with Dragon Pizza owner Charlie Redd while Portnoy filmed his review of their pizza, which he called a "floppy mess" and gave it a 6.4 out of 10 rating.
Portnoy posted the review on his Instagram and YouTube channel, "One Bite Pizza Reviews," last week, labeling the in Somerville, Massachusetts joint "The Worst Pizza Place in America." He also shared footage of his expletive-filled exchange with Redd.
In the review, Portnoy criticized the pizza's heavy parmesan, saying "this is an acquired taste. If you get this, know you’re going to get hit with a left, right in the face with parmesan.”
See the top 50 pizzerias in the US:Ranked by Italian pizza experts: NYC leads with 9
"Dave, enjoy your pizza as any customer, but I don't appreciate what you do coming in and judging a business with one bite," Redd told Portnoy in the video as he recorded the review. "I hope you enjoy your pizza, but I don't appreciate what you do to small businesses."
Portnoy told Redd that his reviews actually help "so many small businesses" so he could peacefully say that the "pizza was trash" and referred to Redd as a clown.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Portnoy and Dragon Pizza for comment.
Dragon Pizza sees booming business
Redd's business appears to have profited following the negative review.
On Monday, Dragon Pizza thanked the community for "Another Day SOLD OUT" in an Instagram post. On Tuesday, the account announced its closure to get through the rest of the week.
"We are completely sold out and need a day to prepare for the rest of the week. Thank you to our amazing staff and supporters. Couldn’t do it without y’all," the Tuesday caption read.
More:Shake Shack launches new 'Hot Menu' featuring hot chicken sandwich, spicy burger
Despite the success, Redd does not view the situation as a positive experience telling Boston.com that he received death threats following the video's exposure.
"It’s kind of new terrain for me. It’s mental,” Redd said. “But I don’t want to give him credit for complicating my life. We’re running our pizza shop, and everyone is happy. I’m receiving death threats. I’ve received threats at my home. I’m receiving tons of all sorts of different attacks in many different ways."
Regardless of the negativity he told the outlet that they're going to keeping doing what they do.
"We’re in this no matter what,” Redd shared. "We’re going to go back to making pizza and making people happy.”
veryGood! (12)
Related
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- 5-year-old boy who went missing while parent was napping is found dead near Oregon home, officials say
- New York nursing home operator accused of neglect settles with state for $45M
- Today Reveals Hoda Kotb's Replacement
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Burger King's 'Million Dollar Whopper' finalists: How to try and vote on your favorite
- Dozens indicted over NYC gang warfare that led to the deaths of four bystanders
- Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America
Ranking
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Jennifer Lopez Gets Loud in Her First Onstage Appearance Amid Ben Affleck Divorce
- Only 8 monkeys remain free after more than a week outside a South Carolina compound
- Jimmy Kimmel, more late-night hosts 'shocked' by Trump Cabinet picks: 'Goblins and weirdos'
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Quincy Jones' cause of death revealed: Reports
- USMNT Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal Leg 1 vs. Jamaica: Live stream and TV, rosters
- The state that cleared the way for sports gambling now may ban ‘prop’ bets on college athletes
Recommendation
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and More React to Craig Melvin Replacing Hoda Kotb as Co-Anchor
Black, red or dead: How Omaha became a hub for black squirrel scholarship
Bankruptcy judge questioned Shilo Sanders' no-show at previous trial
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Golden Bachelorette: Joan Vassos Gets Engaged During Season Finale
The state that cleared the way for sports gambling now may ban ‘prop’ bets on college athletes
Florida Man Arrested for Cold Case Double Murder Almost 50 Years Later