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Pizza Brain

Pizza Brain Museum of Pizza Culture
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
FoundedPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania (2011)
FounderBrian Dwyer
Joseph Hunter
Michael Carter
Ryan Anderson
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
ProductsPizza
ParentBrian Dwyer, Michael Carter
Websitewww.pizzabrain.org

Pizza Brain was a pizza culture museum and pizzeria based in Pennsylvania. It was home to the world's largest collection of pizza memorabilia and collectibles.[1][2] Pizza Brain’s headquarters was in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. In 2024, Pizza Brain closed.[3][4]

History

In May 2010, Kensington-based artist Brian Dwyer, along with Christopher Powell, organized "Give Pizza Chance"—Philadelphia's first pizza-based art show—in which pizza was served as the muse for more than 25 artists who displayed their work at a local gallery.[5]

In October 2010, Dwyer met Carter at Circle of Hope's (a local church) annual mapping meeting. Dwyer shared his enthusiasm for collecting pizza-related objects with Carter. Carter's background led him to suggest the idea of presenting the items in a museum format.

In late Fall 2010, Joe Hunter, a pizza chef from South Carolina, joined Carter and Dwyer. By January 2011, a master carpenter, Ryan Anderson, helped to identify a pair of buildings in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia in which to locate their project.

Hunter started working on Pizza Brain’s pizzas and flavor profiles.[6] Carter provided curatorial direction to Dwyer’s collection and developed the business’ model, determining its long-term focus on social media. Anderson made use of reclaimed and found materials in his design.[7] Together, they curated the world's largest collection of pizza related items, earning them a Guinness World Record by Summer 2011.[8]

On September 7, 2012, Pizza Brain opened its doors to the public and became known as the "world's first pizza museum".[9]

In May of 2024, Pizza Brain announced the closure of the museum and restaurant as a result of funding and location concerns.[3][4]

Guinness World Record

In preparation for the opening of Pizza Brain, Carter and Dwyer submitted their collection to be adjudicated by Guinness World Record. On July 31, 2011, Guinness World Records certified the collection releasing certificates under both Pizza Brain's and Dwyer's name as "the world's largest collection of pizza-related items"; they cited 561 different items, from all over the world, collected since 2010.[1]

Pre-open press

A number of additional articles followed the creation of the Museum of Pizza Culture as it gained notoriety, including articles from Zagat,[10] The Huffington Post,[11] The Philadelphia Inquirer,[12] Fox News,[13] Food Network Magazine, Metro,[14] Laughing Squid,[15] and the magazine for Australia's national airline Qantas.[16]

NPR's All Things Considered also covered the story,[17] as well as TV outlets like NBC 10,[18] and Good Morning Sacramento.[19]

In September 2012, The New York Times,[20] Associated Press,[21] Condé Nast Traveler,[22] USA Today,[23] TIME,[24] BBC Travel [25] and The Guardian[26] all profiled Pizza Brain during its opening month, garnering further national and international attention.

On September 26, 2012, CBS This Morning [27] aired a nationally televised news feature on the museum/restaurant, resulting in Pizza Brain being selected as a topic of discussion on Jeopardy!'s Twitter account.[28]

Pizza awards & accolades post open

Pizza Brain earned its first foodie award before it opened. Though he is not a pizza maker, the Guinness record and enthusiasm for its grand opening led to partner Dwyer being the honorific title of "Phoodie of the Year" from Philebrity.com.[29]

Post-opening, under the direction of head chef Joe Hunter, Pizza Brain has established itself as one of Philadelphia's best pizza shops, including earning 3 "Best of Philly" Awards [30] from Philadelphia Magazine It has received local, national and international recognition.

Notable awards, reviews and lists include: 3 Philadelphia Magazine "Best of Philly" awards[31] Business Insider's Best Pizza in Every State,[32] Zagat's 10 Killer Slices of Pizza in Philly[33] Nylon Magazine's 15 Best Pizza Slices in America,[34] The Daily Meal's 10 Best Pepperoni Pizzas In America[35] Food Network's 50 Top Pizza Deliveries from Coast to Coast.[36] The Daily Meal's 101 Best Pizzas in America for 2017 [37] The Daily Meal's 101 Best Pizzas in America for 2018 [38] and The Daily Meal's The 101 Best Pizzas in America 2019 [39] and The Infatuation's The Best Pizza Places In Philadelphia [40]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Johanna Hesling (3 Aug 2011). "Pizza Enthusiast Sets New Memorabilia World Record". Guinness World Records.
  2. ^ "Pizza Brain's Museum of Pizza Culture". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  3. ^ a b Sheehan, Jason (2024-05-21). "Pizza Brain's Time in Fishtown Comes to a Bittersweet End". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  4. ^ a b "Pizza Brain- News + Discounts". SLICE NEWS: PIZZA, COMMUNITY + FUN. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  5. ^ Drew Lazor (5 May 2010). "Of Slice and Men: The story behind Philly's first pizza-centric art show". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012.
  6. ^ Hawk Krall (February 2012). "Philadelphia: Details on Pizza Brain Museum Opening". Serious Eats.
  7. ^ Elizabeth Fiedler (20 July 2012). "A Slice of Pizza Heaven Nears Opening Day in Philly". WHYY Newsworks. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  8. ^ Johanna Hessling (14 September 2011). "Pizza enthusiast sets new memorabilia world record". Guinness World Records.
  9. ^ "Museum". Pizza Brain. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  10. ^ Danya Henninger (Feb 2011). "Pizza Brain Is Coming to Fishtown: Meet Its Pie-Crazy Creator". Zagat blog Philadelphia.
  11. ^ Joe Satran (Feb 2012). "World's First Pizza Museum, 'Pizza Brain', To Display Brian Dwyer's Record-Setting Collection In Philadelphia". The Huffington Post Food.
  12. ^ A.D. Amorosi (Jul 2012). "Pizza Museum a Testament to American Culture". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
  13. ^ Molly Aronica (May 2012). "World's Most Bizarre Food Museums". Fox News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012.
  14. ^ Brian X. McCrone (7 Jul 2011). "Hot Slice of Culture: The Pizza Museum". Metro Philly. Archived from the original on 2012-08-04.
  15. ^ Rusty Blazenhoff (Jul 2012). "Pizza Brain, The World's First Pizza Museum & Restaurant". Laughing Squid.
  16. ^ Melissa Pearce (1 Aug 2011). "Exploring the World's Food Museums". Qantas: Spirit of Australia. Archived from the original on 2011-10-09.
  17. ^ Elizabeth Fiedler (30 July 2012). "New Pizza Museum Offers A Slice Of American Food And Culture". NPR All Things Considered.
  18. ^ Stacy Shauffer (30 July 2011). "A World Record Worthy Pizza Man". NBC10 Philadelphia. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  19. ^ Cody Stark (6 Aug 2012). "Pizza Museum". CW31 Good Morning Sacramento.
  20. ^ Vindu Goel (6 September 2012). "World's First Pizza Museum Opening in Philadelphia". The New York Times.
  21. ^ Kathy Matheson (18 September 2012). "Pizza Museum Serves Up Memorabilia, Slices". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  22. ^ Sharyn Jackson (7 September 2012). "Pizza Museum Opens in Philadelphia. Yes, Philadelphia". Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  23. ^ Laura Bly (7 September 2012). "Food for Thought: World's First Pizza Museum Opens in Philly". USA Today Travel.
  24. ^ Terri Pous (7 August 2012). "Slice of History: First Pizza Museum to Open in Philadelphia". Time Newsfeed.
  25. ^ Lindsey Galloway (4 September 2012). "The World's First Pizza Museum". BBC Travel. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  26. ^ Helen Ochyra (26 September 2012). "Welcome to The World's First Pizza Museum". The Guardian.
  27. ^ Michelle Miller (20 September 2012). "World's First Pizza Museum Opens in Philadelphia". CBS This Morning.
  28. ^ Jeopardy! (26 September 2012). "Jeopardy! Question of the Day". Jeopardy!.
  29. ^ Joey Sweeney (16 Dec 2011). "Philebrity Awards: Winners and Wrap-up". Philebrity.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18.
  30. ^ "Best of Philly". Philadelphia Magazine. July 2013.
  31. ^ "Best of Philly". Philadelphia Magazine. July 2013.
  32. ^ Emmie Martin and Lauren Browning (19 March 2015). "The Best Pizza In Every State". Business Insider.
  33. ^ Danya Henniger (26 May 2015). "10 Killer Slices of Pizza in Philly". Zagat website.
  34. ^ Daniel Barna (24 September 2015). "The 15 Best Pizza Slices In America". Nylon Magazine.
  35. ^ Arthur Bovino (19 September 2016). "The 10 Best Pepperoni Pizzas in America". The Daily Meal.
  36. ^ Amanda Marsteller (September 2016). "50 Top Delivery Pizzas From Coast to Coast". Food Network website.
  37. ^ Arthur Bovino (5 September 2017). "101 Best Pizzas in America for 2018". The Daily Meal.
  38. ^ Arthur Bovino (27 September 2018). "101 Best Pizzas in America for 2018". The Daily Meal.
  39. ^ Dan Myers (27 September 2019). "The 101 Best Pizzas in America 2019". The Daily Meal.
  40. ^ Candis R Mclean (2 January 2022). "The Best Pizza Places In Philadelphia". The Infatuation.
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