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 day by day.
Joanie’s Pizza in Chelmsford obtained a “spectacular” score from pizza influencer and Barstool Sports activities proprietor Dave Portnoy. Now there is a line out of the door day by 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 maintain coming again to — and who’ve kindly unfold the phrase about — their not-quite-New York, not-quite-New Haven pizza.
House owners and husband and spouse Dan Rodriguez and Anne Thompson stated the regional love and constructive opinions for his or her extra elevated pies has stored them busy, giving the enterprise sufficient to reinvest in itself every year.
However then a blessing and a curse of types 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 chew,” Portnoy gave Joanie’s an 8.4 out of 10, which, based on his score system, meant it was “spectacular.” He would have given it an excellent larger 8.6 — a 6.5 or larger tends to be ok reward from Portnoy — however he prefers his pizza with out the grated arduous 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 up to now.”
After Portnoy’s assessment was posted on-line, Rodriguez stated there’s been a line out the door on daily basis. As has been the case with highly-ranked pizzerias on One Chunk: If Portnoy likes it, folks will are available droves — whether or not you’re ready or not.
Rodriguez and Thompson pressured that they’re grateful to get this quantity of enterprise.
“It’s actually cool when folks like your pizza,” Rodriguez stated. “Particularly somebody who … he eats pizza on daily basis. It’s very flattering.”
A typical weekday at Joanie’s might have meant 100 pizzas ordered. On their busiest day, a Friday, they might promote out at 300 pizzas.
Because the assessment, they’ve hit 400 orders simply on daily basis 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 typically traveled so far as Montreal ready in line for hours.
This has offered some issues within the store that’s just one,000 sq. ft and has one oven, Rodriguez stated. The restaurant additionally doesn’t have any seating.
That is my new official fav pizza in Mass. I do not care if others have scored larger up to now. That is my new #1. I like it https://t.co/NoAs6G6DRs
Rodriguez and Thompson stated they needed to double their workers — going from a really small crew of six workers to a barely greater workers of 12 — they usually’ve briefly stopped accepting orders through cellphone or on-line.
“I used to be conscious of the opinions and who he was and that it was an enormous deal. However I’m considering, ‘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 bettering their system to take extra orders extra effectively, however that’s nonetheless weeks out, Thompson stated.
Noticed that my favourite pizza place (Joanie’s in Chelmsford) is now Portnoy’s prime pizza place in MA or one thing after a current assessment. On the one hand, they deserve each excessive rating. On the opposite, I concern they’re now not a greatest stored secret.
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 using a bronco, and on daily basis you’re simply attempting to hold on,” Thompson jokes. “Our precedence is to make our product — get the very best pizza we are able to out the door.”
A tip for individuals who’d prefer to strive Joanie’s: Rodriguez stated the wait time they offer you is the wait time you’re more likely to wait. So if they are saying 2 hours, effectively, you’re ready 2 hours for pizza. However based on Portnoy, you’d be ready for the very best pizza within the commonwealth.
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