Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports Rescues Pizza Shop from Closure, Owner Shares Insights
Embracing the holiday spirit, Barstool’s Dave Portnoy came to the rescue of a pizza shop by donating $60,000 to prevent its closure.
Portnoy, 47, shared an Instagram video on Monday, December 23, showcasing his visit to TinyBrickOven in Baltimore. Upon tasting a slice of pizza, he learned from the owner, Will Fagg, that the establishment was facing imminent closure due to their inability to secure a liquor license.
“We can’t get our liquor license here,” Fagg expressed. “We’re just not making any money, man. It’s been crazy. The market opened and everyone inside could sell alcohol, but we were never allowed to.”
Turning to the camera, Portnoy declared, “We’re gonna have to keep this place open.” He inquired how much the owner would need to sustain the business for a year and generously donated $60,000 to ensure its survival.
Additionally, the President of Barstool Sports provided his renowned pizza rating, giving TinyBrickOven a 7.9 after sampling their “very good, thin, New York-style” pizza. Portnoy assured Fagg that he would receive the funds by Christmas Day.
“People say it’s a Christmas miracle,” Fagg later shared with CBS News on Wednesday, December 25. “It kind of feels like a Christmas miracle!”
Fagg revealed that since Portnoy’s video gained traction, TinyBrickOven has experienced an influx of customers. Supporters also contributed to the shop’s fundraiser, which exceeded its $50,000 goal by Tuesday, December 24.
“We’ve never had a crowd like this,” Fagg said. “It’s an incredible feeling; I’ve always had strong community support — it’s overwhelming, and I thank everybody so much.”
Earlier in the month, Portnoy visited several Maryland eateries, including Frank’s Pizza & Pasta and Pizza John’s, as reported by The Baltimore Banner. He began filming pizza reviews in 2013 and expanded them to his One Bite app and website.
Recently, Portnoy has not only made headlines for his charitable acts over the years but also drew public attention due to his involvement in the drama surrounding his podcast cohost Brianna “Chickenfry” Lapaglia’s breakup with Zach Bryan.
After commenting on the former couple and taking jabs at Bryan, Portnoy officially announced his departure from the “BFFs” podcast.
“The subjects don’t interest me at all,” Portnoy stated on “The Unnamed Show” podcast in November, a month after the news broke about Bryan, 28, and Lapaglia’s breakup. “They show me the topics when I arrive. I haven’t done any research, and I’m just bashing 18-year-olds, whom I don’t even know. I don’t necessarily enjoy doing that. It’s a little different.”
Lapaglia, 25, along with Josh Richards, will continue the podcast, which Portnoy initially launched in 2020.
“It certainly accomplished what I aimed for when we started it,” Portnoy added. “Josh and Bri will carry it on. It’s very successful. But, yeah, it’s time for me to pursue the next venture. I had run my course with it.”
