Dave Portnoy feud introduced elevated enterprise, Dragon Pizza proprietor says

Meals

The Somerville pizza store reopened Wednesday.

There could also be one thing of a silver lining to the dispute that broke out between Somerville’s Dragon Pizza and Barstool Sports activities’ Dave Portnoy.

Final Thursday, Portnoy, who is understood to charge pizzerias throughout the nation on his YouTube channel, “One Chew Pizza Evaluations,” posted a video the place he referred to as Dragon Pizza “the worst pizza place in America.” When proprietor Charlie Redd confronted him, they erupted right into a spat, exchanging expletives on digital camera. However issues is likely to be trying up for the Davis Sq. store. Within the aftermath of the feud, clients have been turning out in droves to purchase pizza and present assist. Enterprise has been so profitable that Dragon Pizza needed to shut on Tuesday — that they had run out of components over the lengthy weekend.

“We ran out of dough. We ran out of sauce. We ran out of cheese,” mentioned Redd. “There’s not a lot you are able to do with a pizza store with out dough, sauce, and cheese.” 

Earlier than closing, Dragon Pizza had been seeing traces outdoors of the door, Redd mentioned. As a result of they have been serving so many patrons, they needed to increase manufacturing and make extra pizzas, which they proceed to do, he added. When the restaurant opened up once more on Wednesday, they felt extra ready to deal with the crowds, and in the present day, clients can get a desk extra simply. Many have had form phrases to say, Redd mentioned, and a few even introduced in presents.

After Portnoy’s video went viral, Redd started receiving demise threats. He’s nonetheless getting detrimental cellphone calls, and has continued to maintain feedback closed on Dragon Pizza’s Instagram. They proceed to filter emails and display screen calls.

“Sadly, sure, we’re receiving threats, however no, we don’t really feel unsafe,” Redd mentioned. “Our group is protected, [and] our police division has been very supportive. We haven’t had any harmful incidents. It’s simply all phrases.”

Throughout Portnoy’s overview of Dragon Pizza, recorded outdoors of the restaurant, the media mogul asserted that he didn’t just like the style and construction of the pizza calling it, “a floppy mess. Robust parmesan. Just like the parmesan is coming proper via… In case you get this, know you’re going to be hit with a left, proper within the face with parmesan.” He gave the pizza a score of 6.4 out of 10.

Reflecting again on the dispute and the general public consideration that it’s gotten, Redd mentioned that he’s glad that he engaged the way in which that he did.

“If you’re confronted with a bully, you need to stand as much as them,” he mentioned. “… I’ve no regrets. That is actually so simple as a playground bully. Everyone is aware of and feels that they might arise on this state of affairs, and I really feel that I did.”