BALTIMORE, Md. — Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports and well-known for his viral “One Bite” pizza reviews, is giving a holiday lifeline to Tiny Brick Oven, a struggling pizzeria in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
During a recent visit to the city, Portnoy stopped by the veteran-owned shop, known for its thin-crust pies, where the owner, identified only as Will, shared his struggle to keep the business afloat. Will explained that the lack of a liquor license and financial strain had pushed the shop to the brink, with plans to shutter permanently on December 25.
“This place should not be going out of business,” Portnoy said in his review, which scored the pizza a 7.9 out of 10. Praising the owner’s upbeat demeanor and the community-driven mission of the shop, he added, “The guy was the most upbeat guy you’re ever going to have. Christmas spirit Will.”
After learning the pizzeria would need $60,000 to stay open for another year and potentially secure a liquor license, Portnoy pledged to cover the costs himself. “I’m going to figure it out, and you’ll have it before Christmas,” he assured the owner during the review.
The unexpected gesture left the owner visibly emotional, expressing gratitude not just for the financial assistance but also for the hope it could bring to the neighborhood. “You have no idea—the whole neighborhood is crazy wanting us to stay open,” Will said.
