Current:Home > NewsMassachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation -Wealth Momentum Network
Massachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation
View
Date:2025-04-19 05:14:51
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! (84)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- McConnell absent from Senate on Thursday as he recovers from fall in Capitol
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Trump's 'stop
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
Ranking
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
Recommendation
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north