NewsNation

Barstool founder gifts $60K to save Baltimore pizzeria

BALTIMORE (NewsNation) —  A veteran-owned Baltimore pizzeria has all hands on deck since it was flooded with orders after being saved from permanently closing its doors on Christmas Day.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy surprised the owner of TinyBrickOven with a One Bite Pizza Review. After learning the veteran-owned business was struggling financially, he gifted $60,000 to the owner, Will Fagg.


“It’s been such a wild ride, and I’m so grateful. I’m so super grateful for everybody that’s been a part of this story. It’s been an amazing story,” Fagg said Friday on NewsNation’s “Morning in America.”

Since Portnoy’s visit, Fagg has been on an emotional roller coaster with a pizza parlor packed with new customers.

“We are, we are so busy. Our email server went down within hours of this airing,” Fagg said. “It’s been an overwhelming flood of support and donations, and even, like sweet old veterans just calling up the shop to say that they’re like with me, and rooting for me. It’s been a massive outpouring.”

Fagg told Portnoy the shop’s inability to acquire a liquor license and cash flow problems were forcing him to close.

“We’re gonna have to keep this place open,” Portnoy said in his review that has been viewed over 14 million times.

“I know it. Listen, I think we could probably get our liquor license and continue to stay open if we had $60,000,” Fagg said.

“Done,” Portnoy responded, immediately shaking his hand to confirm the deal.

Portnoy rated the pizza slice a 7.9 out of 10.

According to the pizzeria’s website, Fagg has used his business to feed the homeless and raise money for the Maryland Food Bank.

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