Current:Home > ScamsMassachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation -AssetLink
Massachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation
View
Date:2025-04-14 11:40:57
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! (15)
Related
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Mark Kelly may be Kamala Harris' VP pick: What that would mean for Americans
- EEOC hits budget crunch and plans to furlough employees
- After a Study Found Lead in Tampons, Environmentalists Wonder if Global Metal Pollution Is Worse Than They Previously Thought
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Intel shares slump 26% as turnaround struggle deepens
- Monday through Friday, business casual reigns in US offices. Here's how to make it work.
- There's good reason to root for the South Koreans to medal in Olympic men's golf
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- US and Russia tout prisoner swap as a victory. But perceptions of the deal show stark differences
Ranking
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Olympic gymnastics highlights: Simone Biles wins gold in vault final at Paris Olympics
- Olympic medal count: Tallying up gold, silver, bronze for each country in Paris
- Paris Olympics highlights: Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky win more gold for Team USA
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- One Extraordinary (Olympic) Photo: Vadim Ghirda captures the sunset framed by the Arc de Triomphe
- Chicken parade prompts changes to proposed restrictions in Iowa’s capital city
- What polling shows about the top VP contenders for Kamala Harris
Recommendation
US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
Street artists use their art to express their feelings about Paris Olympics
2024 Olympics: British Racer Kye Whyte Taken to Hospital After Crash During BMX Semifinals
American swimmer Alex Walsh disqualified from 200 individual medley at Paris Olympics
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
Stock market today: Dow drops 600 on weak jobs data as a global sell-off whips back to Wall Street
Paris Olympics highlights: Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky win more gold for Team USA
Ticketmaster posts additional Eras Tour show in Toronto, quickly takes it down