Dave Portnoy known as this Chelmsford pizzeria his favourite in Mass. Now there’s 2-hour waits every day.

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Joanie’s Pizza in Chelmsford had been raved about regionally, however after pizza influencer Dave Portnoy sang its reward, there’s now a line out the door every day.

A pizza in a pizza box from Joanie's Pizza in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Joanie’s Pizza in Chelmsford obtained a “spectacular” ranking from pizza influencer and Barstool Sports activities proprietor Dave Portnoy. Now there is a line out of the door every day. Courtesy of Joanie’s Pizza

Within the almost three years that Joanie’s Pizza has been open in Chelmsford, they’ve developed relationships with loyal clients who preserve coming again to — and who’ve kindly unfold the phrase about — their not-quite-New York, not-quite-New Haven pizza. 

Homeowners and husband and spouse Dan Rodriguez and Anne Thompson stated the regional love and optimistic critiques for his or her extra elevated pies has saved them busy, giving the enterprise sufficient to reinvest in itself annually.

However then a blessing and a curse of kinds occurred. Dave Portnoy, the controversial Barstool Sports activities founder and influential pizza reviewer, caught wind of the word-of-mouth press Joanie’s had obtained.

Portnoy was on the Military/Navy recreation Dec. 9 and thought he’d see if this take-out-only spot exterior of Lowell was actually definitely worth the hype. 

After “one chunk,” Portnoy gave Joanie’s an 8.4 out of 10, which, in accordance with his ranking system, meant it was “spectacular.” He would have given it an excellent larger 8.6 — a 6.5 or larger tends to be adequate reward from Portnoy — however he prefers his pizza with out the grated exhausting cheese that was sprinkled on prime of his Joanie’s pie. 

“How doesn’t this place have a line across the nook?” Portnoy stated within the video assessment. He’s gone on to say on social media that Joanie’s is his favorite pizza in Massachusetts and that he doesn’t care “if others have scored larger previously.”

After Portnoy’s assessment was posted on-line, Rodriguez stated there’s been a line out the door each day. As has been the case with highly-ranked pizzerias on One Chew: If Portnoy likes it, individuals will are available in droves — whether or not you’re ready or not. 

Rodriguez and Thompson burdened that they’re grateful to get this quantity of enterprise.

“It’s actually cool when individuals like your pizza,” Rodriguez stated. “Particularly somebody who … he eats pizza each day. It’s very flattering.”

A typical weekday at Joanie’s could have meant 100 pizzas ordered. On their busiest day, a Friday, they might promote out at 300 pizzas. 

For the reason that assessment, they’ve hit 400 orders simply each day they’re open, Tuesday to Saturday, with a line wrapping across the Chelmsford strip mall. They promote out of pizzas on Fridays now round 4 p.m., with individuals who have generally traveled so far as Montreal ready in line for hours. 

This has offered some issues within the store that’s only one,000 sq. toes and has one oven, Rodriguez stated. The restaurant additionally doesn’t have any seating. 

Rodriguez and Thompson stated they needed to double their workers — going from a really small crew of six workers to a barely larger workers of 12 — they usually’ve quickly stopped accepting orders through telephone or on-line.

“I used to be conscious of the critiques and who he was and that it was a giant deal. However I’m pondering, ‘OK, massive deal is sort of a weekend,’” stated Thompson, who added that they’ve remained this busy occurring 4 weeks now.

Within the meantime they’re enhancing their system to take extra orders extra effectively, however that’s nonetheless weeks out, Thompson stated. 

So a part of their plan is to attend it out till the excitement dies down — if it dies down.

“Proper now it seems like we’re driving a bronco, and each day you’re simply making an attempt to hold on,” Thompson jokes. “Our precedence is to make our product — get the perfect pizza we will out the door.”

A tip for many who’d wish to strive Joanie’s: Rodriguez stated the wait time they offer you is the wait time you’re prone to wait. So if they are saying 2 hours, effectively, you’re ready 2 hours for pizza. However in accordance with Portnoy, you’d be ready for the perfect pizza within the commonwealth.