Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and social media’s unofficial pizza critic, just saved Christmas for one Baltimore pizzeria. TinyBrickOven, a small but beloved pizza shop, was facing its final days when Portnoy stepped in with a $60,000 donation to keep the ovens burning.
The drama went down when Portnoy visited TinyBrickOven for one of his famous “One Bite” pizza reviews. After having a slice reheated for him, he gave it a solid 7.9 out of 10 rating and immediately asked how a place that made good pizza-like that could be on the verge of shutting down.
“There’s no way this place should be going out of business,” he said.
When he learned that owner William Fagg was barely keeping his head above water-due in part to liquor license hurdles-Portnoy asked the big question: “How much do you need to stay afloat?” And when Fagg answered, Portnoy didn’t blink: “Done,” he replied, forking over $60,000 to help the restaurant get a brand-new beginning.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” Fagg said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
This isn’t the first act of pizza philanthropy from Portnoy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded The Barstool Fund to help small businesses hard hit by lockdowns. What began with $500,000 of his own money eventually raised more than $41 million and helped upwards of 440 businesses around the country.
Well, Portnoy’s luck of combining financial support to his massive social media echo has turned the struggling enterprise into a local sensation in no time. For them, TinyBrickOven, his visit certainly stirred a wave of sensation. “This isn’t all about the money,” Portnoy said. “This is about giving people that hope and showing them it’s not alone.
The donation took only minutes to spread like wildfire across Baltimore, with everyone in town rallying around TinyBrickOven. Social media blew up in praise of Portnoy; several users vowed to pay a visit to the shop in support. “This is what the holiday spirit is all about,” one person wrote. “Good pizza and good people.
Fagg described the donation as “unbelievable” and said that the shop, which first opened its doors in November, is already seeing a spike in interest.
“I think we’re going to be really busy now,” he added. “The community has always been supportive; thanks to Dave, now we can continue serving this community.”
Portnoy’s generosity has not only left a mark in Baltimore but on every small business across the nation. Be it a pizza shop, a family pub, or even a facility for dog training, all his efforts through The Barstool Fund have always left entrepreneurs high when they needed that boost. The future is brighter for TinyBrickOven.
For Fagg, Portnoy’s gift is more than a financial boost. “This isn’t just about saving a pizza shop,” he said. “It’s about saving dreams, families, and a part of our community.” part of our community.”
