Pizza Brain facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2011) |
| Founder | Brian Dwyer Joseph Hunter Michael Carter Ryan Anderson |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Products | Pizza |
| Parent | Brian Dwyer, Michael Carter |
Pizza Brain was a special place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a pizzeria (a pizza restaurant) and a museum all in one! This unique spot was famous for having the world's biggest collection of items related to pizza. Pizza Brain was located in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. It closed its doors in May 2024.
Contents
The Story of Pizza Brain
How Pizza Brain Began
The idea for Pizza Brain started in May 2010. An artist named Brian Dwyer, who lived in Kensington, helped organize an art show. It was called "Give Pizza Chance." This show was all about pizza, with over 25 artists displaying their pizza-inspired artwork.
Later that year, Brian met Michael Carter. Brian was very excited about his hobby: collecting pizza-related things. Michael, who had experience with museums, suggested that Brian's collection could be shown like a museum.
By late 2010, a pizza chef named Joe Hunter joined them. In January 2011, a skilled carpenter, Ryan Anderson, also became part of the team. Ryan helped find two buildings in Philadelphia for their project.
Building the Pizza Museum
Joe Hunter started creating Pizza Brain’s unique pizza recipes. Michael Carter helped organize Brian’s collection. He also developed the business plan, focusing on using social media. Ryan Anderson designed the space using recycled materials.
Together, they gathered the world's largest collection of pizza-related items. This amazing collection earned them a Guinness World Record by the summer of 2011.
On September 7, 2012, Pizza Brain officially opened to the public. It quickly became known as the "world's first pizza museum."
Why Pizza Brain Closed
In May 2024, Pizza Brain announced that it was closing. This happened because of a problem with its landlord. The building conditions had become worse. Also, fewer people were visiting the area. These challenges made it too difficult for Pizza Brain to stay open.
Pizza Brain's World Record
Earning a Guinness World Record
Before Pizza Brain opened, Michael Carter and Brian Dwyer showed their collection to Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records is famous for listing amazing achievements.
On July 31, 2011, Guinness World Records officially recognized their collection. They certified it as "the world's largest collection of pizza-related items." The record listed 561 different items. These items had been collected from all over the world since 2010.
Pizza Brain in the News
Before Opening Day
Many news articles were written about Pizza Brain before it even opened. People were very interested in the idea of a pizza museum.
Some of the famous places that wrote about Pizza Brain included Zagat, The Huffington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Fox News and Food Network Magazine also featured stories.
NPR's All Things Considered talked about it on the radio. TV channels like NBC 10 also covered the story.
After Opening Day
When Pizza Brain opened in September 2012, it gained even more attention. The New York Times, Associated Press, USA Today, TIME, and BBC Travel all wrote about it. This brought national and international fame to Pizza Brain.
On September 26, 2012, CBS This Morning showed a national TV feature about the museum and restaurant.
Awards for Pizza Brain
Top Pizza Awards
Pizza Brain started winning awards even before it opened. Brian Dwyer, one of the founders, was named "Phoodie of the Year" by Philebrity.com. This was because of the Guinness record and excitement for the opening.
After opening, under head chef Joe Hunter, Pizza Brain became known for having some of Philadelphia's best pizza. It received many awards from local, national, and even international groups.
Some notable awards and mentions include:
- Three "Best of Philly" awards from Philadelphia Magazine.
- Being listed in Business Insider's "Best Pizza in Every State."
- Featured in Zagat's "10 Killer Slices of Pizza in Philly."
- Included in Nylon Magazine's "15 Best Pizza Slices in America."
- Recognized by Food Network for "50 Top Pizza Deliveries from Coast to Coast."
- Listed multiple times in The Daily Meal's "101 Best Pizzas in America."
See also
