Dave Portnoy pledges One Bite Pizza Festival profits to rebuild Santillo's

When the legendary Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza in Elizabeth was destroyed by a fire in January, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy promised to help rebuild it.

The pizzeria's owner, Al Santillo said Portnoy is a man of his word.

Portnoy, who has a strong social media presence and is behind the One Bite Pizza reviews, has pledged to donate all profits from the upcoming One Bite Pizza Festival on Sept. 14 to the rebuilding of Stantillo's Brick Oven Pizza.

Portnoy held the first One Bite Pizza Festival last year, and despite a tropical storm that hit the area on the same day, managed to attract thousands of participants who deemed it a success.

Portnoy announced Wednesday that money made from this year's festival will go toward helping Santillo reopen his pizzeria/bakery and help rebuild its brick oven that Santillo has called "the cathedral."

“Every penny I make is going to Al Santillo,” Portnoy said. “ Every cent that goes to me is going right to Al. We’re going to rebuild Santillo’s, get them going. So this is for Al, this is for the pizza community, this is for local business.”

Why is Dave Portnoy helping Al Santillo rebuild his pizzeria?

Very shortly after his Brick Oven Pizza closed because of the fire, Portnoy told Santillo he'd have his back, Santillo said.

"The fire started at 9 a.m.," Santillo said. "By 10 a.m. Dave reported it. He was the first."

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At that time, Portnoy pledged to help Santillo rebuild his business.

Prior to the pledge and the fire, Portnoy reviewed Santillo's pizza and raved about the flavor and the crust giving it a high score of 8.3 calling Santillo the "real deal." Portnoy eventually went back into the pizzeria and interviewed Santillo on camera.

Santillo also participated in the first annual One Bite Festival last year, and despite this year's series of bad luck, which started with his pizzeria burning down and continued with his hospitalization for two months, Santillo said he plans to take part in the festival again.

He's well on the way to recovery after a fishbone perforated his colon, he said. He has started physical therapy and hopes to be back very soon to making pies. Portnoy, he said, has not only pledged his profits, but has gathered all the equipment Santillo will need to take part in the September festival.

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Portnoy and Santillo said this year's One Bite festival will be even better than last year's. If the weather cooperates, many of the great pizzerias in the area will be there. The list includes Manhattan's Prince Street Pizza, Brooklyn Square from Jackson, plus 16 other storied pizza joints from around the nation.

Santillo's pizzeria and bakery to be rebuilt

Santillo said the demolition of the building that housed his business is complete. He said a roof has been built over the remains of the bakery his father purchased in the 1950s. He's working with a special mason who will rebuild his oven which was severely damaged by water used to put out the fire, Santillo said.

"I am at the end of the beginning," Santillo said. "I need to get back to work."

The One Bite Festival will held Sept. 14 at Randall's Island. For more information visit www.onebitepizzafest.com.