Baltimore Pizza Shop Saved By Dave Portnoy’s Christmas Gift

A struggling Baltimore pizzeria received an early Christmas miracle thanks to Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who stepped in to save the veteran-owned Tiny Brick Oven from closing its doors for good.

The heartwarming moment, captured in a video that quickly went viral on X, shows Portnoy visiting the Maryland pizza joint as part of his One Bite Pizza rankings series. While speaking with Will, the owner and a military veteran, Portnoy learned that the shop was set to shut down on December 25.

Will explained that the city had denied him a liquor license, despite granting one to his competitors. Without it, he couldn’t make ends meet.

Portnoy placed his order and asked, “What happens if this pizza is great and you start getting busy making money? Can you stay open?” Will replied that he would keep the shop running if that happened.

After trying the pizza, Portnoy gave his verdict: “This is a reheat and very good. Thin, New York kind of style. Like I really like it. There’s no way this place should be going out of business. None.”

But what happened next was the real game-changer. Portnoy turned back to Will and asked, “How much money do you need to stay open for a year?”

Caught off guard, Will hesitated before estimating $60,000. Without skipping a beat, Portnoy shook his hand and declared it a done deal. “You’ll have the money before Christmas,” Portnoy promised, leaving the owner visibly stunned and ecstatic.

The Barstool founder’s generosity not only saved the shop but also lifted the spirits of a small business owner facing insurmountable odds. Will cheered as he exchanged numbers with Portnoy, who assured him that the funds would be on their way in time for Christmas.

Portnoy’s rating of 7.9 for the pizza added icing on the cake, further boosting the shop’s profile.

This act of kindness underscores the powerful impact individuals can have when they step up to help small businesses. Tiny Brick Oven is now poised to continue serving its community, thanks to Portnoy’s intervention.

Merry Christmas indeed. Share this story or subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring moments and stories about real change in local communities.