Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy surprised a pizza place in Baltimore with a $60,000 donation to prevent it from shutting down.
As part of his ongoing series of pizza reviews, Portnoy recently stopped at TinyBrickOven on Light Street in Baltimore. As owner Will Fagg was working behind the counter, he explained to Portnoy that his inability to acquire a liquor license meant the restaurant was no longer financially sustainable. Because of this, he planned to close TinyBrickOven on Christmas Day.
“Well, we’re just not making any money, man,” he told Portnoy in the video posted Monday. “It’s been crazy… The thing is, our politicians gave this market down here their liquor license, but they won’t give us ours. It’s been crazy, man. It’s been totally crazy.”
Portnoy then told Fagg that he hoped the pizza would be great so that the exposure could lead to more business. A few minutes later, Portnoy stepped outside to finally try it.
“OK, this is a reheat and very good,” Portnoy said after taking a few bites. “Thin, New York kinda style. I really like it… There’s no way this place should be going out of business. None.”
Portnoy walked back into the restaurant and asked Fagg a question.
“How much money do you need to stay open for like a year?” he said.
Fagg couldn’t give a firm answer, so Portnoy asked again.
“Well, if there was somebody super rich who was in the pizza business, and by serendipity was like, ‘What do you need to stay open for a year?’ you gotta give him some figure because then he’s gonna walk away.”
Fagg estimated it’d cost around $60,000, prompting an immediate “done” from Portnoy as the two shook hands.
“Oh my god!” Fagg exclaimed. “That is unbelievable!”
Watch above via Dave Portnoy
