The central question in a dispute over a five-pizza holiday pop-up in downtown Phoenix is whether Via Della Pizza authorized Trophy Room to serve its pies. Via Della says it did not; Trophy Room says it believed a conversation with a Via Della manager gave it permission. Trophy Room is part of Pretty Decent Concepts. The dispute was reported by The Arizona Republic.
Via Della was named one of the best pizzerias in the United States by USA TODAY earlier this year, according to azcentral.com. Trophy Room said it believed the plan was approved as a five-pizza pilot.
How the Pilot Allegedly Came Together
Trophy Room said the pilot followed a conversation between its team member Thor and a Via Della manager at the pizzeria. The bar said the manager encouraged the idea and shared instructions for holding and reheating the pies. Trophy Room said it bought five pizzas for a Home Alone-themed winter pop-up, intending to reference the Little Nero’s pizza scene from the movie, as reported by The Arizona Republic.
Trophy Room said it made no money from the five pizzas and apologized for proceeding without direct confirmation from Via Della. The bar characterized the incident as a misunderstanding and said it wanted to celebrate the local community, according to The Arizona Republic.
What food-permit rules say
Maricopa County’s food code generally requires food establishments to hold a valid operating permit, subject to a specified exception for establishments operating in compliance with Regulation 7. The code does not establish how that requirement applies to this particular pizza pilot, according to the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department.
Rules and other pop-up collaborations
Maricopa County says special events where food is sold or given away must be registered, and only vendors with mobile food establishment, temporary food establishment or catering permits may operate at such events. The county’s special-event guidance does not establish whether this pizza pilot fell into that category…