Current:Home > MarketsMassachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation -ProfitLogic
Massachusetts pizza place sells out after Dave Portnoy calls it the worst in the nation
View
Date:2025-04-12 15:22:03
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! (99276)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Yacht called Kaos vandalized by climate activists in Ibiza
- The Best Coachella Style Moments Deserving of a Fashion Crown
- Rare twin panda babies welcomed at South Korea amusement park
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- The Western megadrought is revealing America's 'lost national park'
- Is The Real Housewives of Las Vegas Coming to Bravo? Andy Cohen Says...
- TikToker Dylan Mulvaney Speaks Out Amid Criticism of Her Brand Partnerships
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Create a Filtered, Airbrushed Look and Get 2 It Cosmetics Foundations for the Price of 1
Ranking
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Sweden's expected NATO accession shows Putin that alliance is more united than ever, Blinken says
- Heat wave in Europe could be poised to set a new temperature record in Italy
- Crocodile attacks, injures man at popular swimming spot in Australia: Extremely scary
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Russian military recruitment official who appeared on Ukraine blacklist shot dead while jogging
- California just ran on 100% renewable energy, but fossil fuels aren't fading away yet
- Kate Spade 24-Hour Flash Deal: Get This $240 Crossbody Bag for Just $59
Recommendation
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
Encore: Beach grass could be key to protecting the Aquinnah Wampanoag homeland
Jeremy Piven Teases His Idea for Entourage Reboot
Megadrought fuels debate over whether a flooded canyon should reemerge
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a fossil fuel war, climate scientist says
Why Brian Cox Hasn't Even Watched That Shocking Succession Episode
Making weather forecasts is hard. Getting people to understand them is even harder