The Cigar Syndicate

Avid cigar and pipe smokers for 24yrs. Are you with The Cigar Syndicate?

[John LeFevre @JohnLeFevre]

In a just world, this would be a New York Times feature story - the Dave Portnoy Effect.

I randomly came across a Portnoy pizza review and just so happened to be close by. So I made the trip to Ah-Beetz in Delray Beach, Florida. He had given it an 8.4, which is (apparently) an excellent score. 

I don't follow Dave Portnoy. I don't consume Barstool's content, or even relate to the demographic it cultivates. I don't eat much pizza, except with my kids. I don't bet on sports, and generally think adult men who devote excessive hours to watching professional sports are wasting their time.

But, as someone who follows the zeitgeist, I can objectively say Portnoy seems like a very good person:
-> Earned his success; the free market seldom lies
-> Took Cancel Culture head-on and won
-> Raised ~$40 million for small businesses during COVID
-> Called out fake news outlets like Business Insider long before Ackman buried them
-> Personally donated and raised millions for great causes - law enforcement, first responders, animal shelters, etc. - as opposed to having a building named after himself at Harvard.

The pizza at Ah-Beetz is excellent. Very much worth the trip. But more interesting is the Dave Portnoy effect. I asked the owner about the influence he's had on their business. 

When Portnoy's review aired, Ah-Beetz was a single, small shop in a less-than-desirable strip mall not far from I-95, really far from the beach or what is generally considered a nice part of Palm Beach County.

Overnight, there was a two-hour wait, a pop that has never receded (because the food is also great). And now, in less than a year, there are soon-to-be 4 locations and 70+ employees, an expansion that they attribute almost entirely to Portnoy.

Revenue has increased more than 10x, or millions of dollars that are also attributable to Portnoy, for which he has not received/sought any attention or credit. 

Portnoy has completely changed their lives. And this has probably happened countless times all over the country. 

(Also, they said he was exceptionally kind and humble, and 100% sincere.)

This is America.

[The Tobacco Shop @TobaccoShop_NJ]

Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2022 have arrived @TobaccoShop_NJ

[Chance The Rapper @chancetherapper]

Happy Birthday Bernie Mac 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[Joseph Valtellini @BazookaJoeV]

Mandatory 48hrs quarantine when entering fight island but still no excuse to not keep sharpening @MALCOLM_X_MMA tools for July 18th @ufc

[UFC @ufc]

The face of Canadian MMA has a new home 🇨🇦

🏆 @GeorgesStPierre is set to enter the Modern Wing of the #UFCHoF. (B2YB @ToyoTires)

[blogTO @blogTO]

Piazzetta Trattoria in Toronto just donated 500 meals to North York General Hospital #Toronto #ourcommunityTO https://t.co/N9ZjEZG1vS

[blogTO @blogTO]

Casa Loma now has a Scandinavian hygge lounge for the holidays @volvocarcanada #VolvoHolidayHygge #VolvoXC90 #T8 #Toronto #Sponsored

[David Ortiz @davidortiz]

Yooo @Twitter ...I’m baccckk 😎😎 catching up on all the tweets I missed the past few months. Thankful for all the luv n support 🙏🏿

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

Wow, me encontré con el servicio al cliente de ladrones absolutos @Avianca, sé que la aerolínea está teniendo dificultades financieras, pero engañar y mentir a clientes leales es una vergüenza. Manténgase alejado de esta aerolínea en el futuro

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

Wow, came across absolute thieves @Avianca customer service today, I realize the airline is having financial difficulties but to cheat and lie to loyal customers is a disgrace. Stay away from this airline going forward

[Joseph Valtellini @BazookaJoeV]

Scarborough represent!!!!

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

@BazookaJoeV @Costa_Klad gentlemen, why did you crop us out of this photo? Not cool, but I still respect it 💪#respect

[Joseph Valtellini @BazookaJoeV]

Congrats to the man @GeorgesStPierre on a career that inspired countless Canadians to take up martial arts and combat sports. There is no doubt that your legacy will live on as a pioneer and legend.. Now more time for us to be in more movies together :)

[Raj Lyall Jokes, Videos and Banter @Raj_Lyall_72]

Colombia’s line up looks good #POLCOL

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

@Costa_Klad We are working with legal counsel on that. Either way, this box will happily be shared with you #cigars

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

Shout out to @HoltsCigar for the quick delivery of this @alecbradley box sharing the name of @Costa_Klad high performance centre for athletes https://t.co/X0YBQfDAgf @BazookaJoeV @DaltonPompey @lavsav_ #tempus

[Stephen A Smith @stephenasmith]

Dwane Casey getting fired is BS man!

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

Amazing keynote given by @neiltyson and a great way to start the week @DellMatchPlay @DellTech "There is no greater education than one that is self-driven" #WGCDellmatchplay

[The Cigar Syndicate @CigarSyndicate]

Angel in the Khokhloma print tracksuit smoking with some of the crew. Photo taken by @YallFreddy4this #Cigars #BOTL

[Joseph Valtellini @BazookaJoeV]

When people forget that I did more than just kick @glory_ws https://t.co/aRskrBVw6G via @GIPHY

[Muhammad Ali @MuhammadAli]

"Everyone predicted that Sonny Liston would destroy me. And he was scary. But it’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.” Today in 1964 #MuhammadAli shook up the world, defeating Liston to win the world heavyweight championship.