{{Short description|American museum and pizzeria}} {{Promotional|date=August 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Pizza Brain Museum of Pizza Culture | logo = Pizza brain restaurant square logo design.jpg | logo_size = 175px | parent = Brian Dwyer, Michael Carter | type = Private | founded = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2011) | founder = Brian Dwyer<br />Joseph Hunter<br/>Michael Carter<br/>Ryan Anderson | location = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | key_people = | num_employees = | industry = Retail | products = Pizza | revenue = | homepage = {{URL|http://www.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.<ref name=record >{{cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-collection-of-pizza-related-items |title= Pizza Enthusiast Sets New Memorabilia World Record |author=Johanna Hesling |date= 3 Aug 2011 |work=Guinness World Records }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pizza Brain's Museum of Pizza Culture |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pizza-brain-museum-of-pizza-culture |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}</ref> Pizza Brain’s headquarters was in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. In 2024, Pizza Brain closed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sheehan |first=Jason |date=2024-05-21 |title=Pizza Brain's Time in Fishtown Comes to a Bittersweet End |url=https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2024/05/21/pizza-brain-closing-fishtown/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Philadelphia Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Pizza Brain- News + Discounts |url=https://squaremktg.com/campaigns/dCorxsJjCZYf/landing?source=facebook |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=SLICE NEWS: PIZZA, COMMUNITY + FUN}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/2010/05/06/give-pizza-chance-pizza-art-show |title=Of Slice and Men: The story behind Philly's first pizza-centric art show. |author=Drew Lazor |date=5 May 2010 |work=Philadelphia City Paper |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628000955/http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/2010/05/06/give-pizza-chance-pizza-art-show |archivedate=28 June 2012 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hawk Krall |date=February 2012 |title=Philadelphia: Details on Pizza Brain Museum Opening |url=http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2012/02/philadelphia-details-on-pizza-brain-opening-this-summer.html |work=Serious Eats}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |author=Elizabeth Fiedler |date=20 July 2012 |title=A Slice of Pizza Heaven Nears Opening Day in Philly |url=http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/philadelphia/41739-a-slice-of-pizza-heaven-nears-opening-day-in-philly |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015306/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/philadelphia/41739-a-slice-of-pizza-heaven-nears-opening-day-in-philly |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=24 January 2017 |work=WHYY Newsworks}}</ref> Together, they curated the world's largest collection of pizza related items, earning them a Guinness World Record by Summer 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2011/9/pizza-enthusiast-sets-new-memorabilia-world-record |title=Pizza enthusiast sets new memorabilia world record |author=Johanna Hessling |date=14 September 2011 |work=Guinness World Records }}</ref>
On September 7, 2012, Pizza Brain opened its doors to the public and became known as the "world's first pizza museum".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum |url=https://www.pizzabrain.org/museum |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Pizza Brain |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2024, Pizza Brain announced closure of the famed museum and restaurant amidst an unresolved dispute with its landlord over deteriorated property conditions. The subsequent decline in foot traffic in combination with other location constraints proved insurmountable to remain open.,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pizza |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/pizzabrain-fishtown-closing-philly-new-location/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Philly Voice |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pizza |url=https://www.inquirer.com/food/pizza-brain-closing-fishtown-20240521.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en-US}}</ref>
==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.<ref name=record />
==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,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zagat.com/buzz/pizza-brain-is-coming-to-fishtown-meet-its-pie-crazy-creator/ |title=Pizza Brain Is Coming to Fishtown: Meet Its Pie-Crazy Creator |author=Danya Henninger |date=Feb 2011 |work=Zagat blog Philadelphia }}</ref> ''The Huffington Post'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/worlds-first-pizza-museum-pizza-brain_n_1292001.html/ |title=World's First Pizza Museum, 'Pizza Brain', To Display Brian Dwyer's Record-Setting Collection In Philadelphia |author=Joe Satran |date=Feb 2012 |work=The Huffington Post Food }}</ref> ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-11/news/32633455_1_mystic-pizza-pizza-related-pizza-menu/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131123802/http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-11/news/32633455_1_mystic-pizza-pizza-related-pizza-menu/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |title=Pizza Museum a Testament to American Culture |author=A.D. Amorosi |date=Jul 2012 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer }}</ref> Fox News,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/05/06/world-most-bizarre-food-museums/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507030930/http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/05/06/world-most-bizarre-food-museums/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 7, 2012 |title=World's Most Bizarre Food Museums |author=Molly Aronica |date=May 2012 |work=Fox News }}</ref> Food Network Magazine, Metro,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/910573--hot-slice-of-culture-the-pizza-museum/ |title= Hot Slice of Culture: The Pizza Museum |author= Brian X. McCrone |work= Metro Philly |date= 7 Jul 2011 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120804100622/http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/local/article/910573--hot-slice-of-culture-the-pizza-museum/ |archivedate= 2012-08-04 }}</ref> ''Laughing Squid'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laughingsquid.com/pizza-brain-the-worlds-first-pizza-museum-restaurant/ |title= Pizza Brain, The World's First Pizza Museum & Restaurant |author=Rusty Blazenhoff |date= Jul 2012 |work=Laughing Squid }}</ref> and the magazine for Australia's national airline Qantas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/exploring_the_worlds_weird_wonderful_food_museums.htm/ |title=Exploring the World's Food Museums |author=Melissa Pearce |work=Qantas: Spirit of Australia |date=1 Aug 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009022749/http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/exploring_the_worlds_weird_wonderful_food_museums.htm |archivedate=2011-10-09 }}</ref>
NPR's ''All Things Considered'' also covered the story,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/07/25/157118940/pizza-museum-to-offer-a-slice-of-american-food-and-culture?ft=1&f=1001&sc=tw |title=New Pizza Museum Offers A Slice Of American Food And Culture |author=Elizabeth Fiedler |work=NPR All Things Considered |date=30 July 2012 }}</ref> as well as TV outlets like NBC 10,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/news/weird/A-World-Record-Worthy-Pizza-Man-/126442798 |title=A World Record Worthy Pizza Man |author=Stacy Shauffer |work=NBC10 Philadelphia |date=30 July 2011 |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530171922/http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/news/weird/A-World-Record-Worthy-Pizza-Man-/126442798 |archive-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''Good Morning Sacramento''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/video/7580230-pizza-museum/ |title=Pizza Museum |author=Cody Stark |work=CW31 Good Morning Sacramento|date=6 Aug 2012 }}</ref>
In September 2012, ''The New York Times'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/worlds-first-pizza-museum-opening-in-philadelphia/ |title=World's First Pizza Museum Opening in Philadelphia |author=Vindu Goel |work=The New York Times |date=6 September 2012 }}</ref> Associated Press,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/philly-pizza-museum-serves-slices-memorabilia/ |title=Pizza Museum Serves Up Memorabilia, Slices |author=Kathy Matheson |agency=Associated Press |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=1 October 2012 |archive-date=23 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423020602/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/philly-pizza-museum-serves-slices-memorabilia |url-status=dead }}</ref> Condé Nast Traveler,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/09/pizza-museum-philadelphia-pennsylvania-photos#slide=14 |title=Pizza Museum Opens in Philadelphia. Yes, Philadelphia. |author=Sharyn Jackson |work=Condé Nast |date=7 September 2012 |access-date=1 October 2012 |archive-date=15 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915005512/http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/09/pizza-museum-philadelphia-pennsylvania-photos?#slide=14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''USA Today'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2012/09/food-for-thought-worlds-first-pizza-museum-opens-in-philly/838647/1 |title=Food for Thought: World's First Pizza Museum Opens in Philly |author=Laura Bly |work=USA Today Travel |date=7 September 2012 }}</ref> TIME,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/08/07/slice-of-history-first-pizza-museum-to-open-in-philadelphia/ |title=Slice of History: First Pizza Museum to Open in Philadelphia |author=Terri Pous |work=Time Newsfeed |date=7 August 2012 }}</ref> BBC Travel <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120904-worldwide-weird-the-worlds-first-pizza-museum |title=The World's First Pizza Museum |author=Lindsey Galloway |work=BBC Travel |date=4 September 2012 |access-date=1 October 2012 |archive-date=8 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908015311/http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120904-worldwide-weird-the-worlds-first-pizza-museum |url-status=dead }}</ref> and The Guardian<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/sep/26/philadephia-pizza-power-museum-us?newsfeed=true |title=Welcome to The World's First Pizza Museum |author=Helen Ochyra|work=The Guardian|date=26 September 2012 }}</ref> all profiled Pizza Brain during its opening month, garnering further national and international attention.
On September 26, 2012, ''CBS This Morning'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7422400n |title= World's First Pizza Museum Opens in Philadelphia |author=Michelle Miller|work=CBS This Morning|date=20 September 2012 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Jeopardy/status/251018306214055936 |title= Jeopardy! Question of the Day |author=Jeopardy!|work=Jeopardy!|date=26 September 2012 }}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philebrity.com/2011/12/16/philebrity-awards-winners-and-wrap-up/ |title=Philebrity Awards: Winners and Wrap-up |author=Joey Sweeney |work=Philebrity.com |date=16 Dec 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118125700/http://www.philebrity.com/2011/12/16/philebrity-awards-winners-and-wrap-up/ |archivedate=2012-01-18 }}</ref>
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<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.phillymag.com/best-of-philly/?bestof_search=pizza+brain&s=1# |title=Best of Philly |work=Philadelphia Magazine| date=July 2013 }}</ref> from Philadelphia Magazine. It has received local, national, and international recognition.
Notable awards, reviews, and lists include: 3 ''Philadelphia Magazine'' "Best of Philly" awards,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phillymag.com/best-of-philly/pizza-brain/ |title=Best of Philly |work=Philadelphia Magazine|date=July 2013 }}</ref> Business Insider's Best Pizza in Every State,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/best-pizza-in-every-state-2015-3# |title= The Best Pizza In Every State |author=Emmie Martin and Lauren Browning|work=Business Insider|date=19 March 2015}}</ref> Zagat's 10 Killer Slices of Pizza in Philly,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zagat.com/b/philadelphia/10-slices-of-pizza-worth-holding-on-to-in-philly |title= 10 Killer Slices of Pizza in Philly |author=Danya Henniger| work=Zagat website|date=26 May 2015}}</ref> Nylon Magazine's 15 Best Pizza Slices in America,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/15-best-pizzas-in-america |title=The 15 Best Pizza Slices In America|author=Daniel Barna| work=Nylon Magazine|date=24 September 2015}}</ref> ''The Daily Meal''{{'}}s 10 Best Pepperoni Pizzas In America,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/10-best-pepperoni-pizzas-america |title=The 10 Best Pepperoni Pizzas in America|author=Arthur Bovino |work=The Daily Meal|date=19 September 2016}}</ref> Food Network's 50 Top Pizza Deliveries from Coast to Coast,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/photos/best-pizza-delivery-coast-to-coast.html |title=50 Top Delivery Pizzas From Coast to Coast|author=Amanda Marsteller|work=Food Network website|date=September 2016}}</ref> ''The Daily Meal''{{'}}s 101 Best Pizzas in America for 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/101-best-pizzas-america-2017-slideshow/slide-31 |title=101 Best Pizzas in America for 2018|author=Arthur Bovino |work=The Daily Meal|date=5 September 2017}}</ref> ''The Daily Meal''{{'}}s 101 Best Pizzas in America for 2018,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/101-best-pizzas-america-2018-gallery/slide-58 |title=101 Best Pizzas in America for 2018|author=Arthur Bovino |work=The Daily Meal|date=27 September 2018}}</ref> ''The Daily Meal''{{'}}s The 101 Best Pizzas in America 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/101-best-pizzas-america-2019/slide-68 |title=The 101 Best Pizzas in America 2019|author=Dan Myers |work=The Daily Meal| date=27 September 2019}}</ref> and ''The Infatuation''{{'}}s The Best Pizza Places In Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theinfatuation.com/philadelphia/guides/the-best-pizza-places-in-philadelphia |title=The Best Pizza Places In Philadelphia |author=Candis R Mclean |work=The Infatuation| date=2 January 2022}}</ref>
==See also== * List of pizza chains of the United States {{portal bar|Philadelphia|Companies|Food}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.pizzabrain.org}} {{Restaurants in Philadelphia}}
Category:Privately held companies based in Pennsylvania Category:Companies based in Philadelphia Category:American companies established in 2011 Category:Food museums in the United States Category:Restaurants in Philadelphia Category:Museums established in 2012 Category:2011 establishments in Pennsylvania Category:Pizzerias in Pennsylvania