Well, this is one of those “good news, bad news” situations.
A few weeks ago, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports (aka the pizza king himself) stopped by Artisan Pizza Cafe, a small, family-owned pizzeria that’s only been open a few months. His review dropped last week, and it was glowing. He gave the shop an 8.1 out of 10 — and for Dave, that’s not just good, it’s borderline historic, especially for Columbus pizza.
Naturally, the internet went wild. Local Columbusites, pizza fans, and Barstool followers started flocking to the shop to try it for themselves. But with that much love and attention, a small business like this can also feel the growing pains.
(If you want to jump ahead to the GoFundMe page, click here)
A Husband and Wife Team With Big Dreams
Artisan Pizza Cafe is run by Jasmin Ahmed with tons of help from her husband, who has been taking time off of his full-time gig to help Jasmin handle the massive rush. Jasmin isn’t just the owner, she’s also the head chef, the creative force, and the heartbeat of the place. From day one, she built the cafe around a simple philosophy: only the best ingredients, made with love, in a space that feels cozy and welcoming.
Even when Dave Portnoy worried aloud about whether they could keep up with demand after his review, Jasmin stayed upbeat. She said she was ready for the challenge and expressed nothing but love for her customers.
And then…the oven broke.
The Oven Disaster No One Asked For
Here’s where the story takes a rough turn. Jasmin’s brand-new oven, perhaps the most important thing in a pizza shop, is already failing her. Half of the oven’s capacity is basically out of commission, as the lower rack stopped working a few days ago.
On top of all that, the company that sold it to her allegedly delivered it with chipped pizza stones, and when she reached out for help, they ghosted her.
As if running a viral pizza cafe wasn’t stressful enough, now Jasmin is stuck with a broken oven and limited storage. She needs to replace the oven and upgrade to a new freezer so she can keep up with demand and continue serving the pizzas people are raving about.
How You Can Help Artisan Pizza Cafe
This is where we come in. Jasmin isn’t asking for much, but she is asking for help. She’s launched a GoFundMe to cover the costs of a new oven and freezer so Artisan Pizza Cafe can survive the whirlwind of success that Dave Portnoy brought their way.
And if anyone deserves it, it’s Jasmin.
👉 Donate to Jasmin’s GoFundMe here
Even a small donation makes a difference, and if you can’t donate, sharing the campaign link (or this article) helps more than you know.
So whether you’re a Barstool fan, a Columbus foodie, or just someone who appreciates a good underdog story… this is your chance to help keep an incredible local business thriving.
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