Downtown House of Pizza, located in Fort Myers, Florida, felt like a very uptown place to be when one of the most famous VIPs in the world showed up for a couple of slices on the night of Friday, April 21.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, apparently still hungry after his speech at the Lee County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner, drew a throng of supporters when he made an unscheduled visit to the pizza shop. During his brief visit, Trump handed out slices to the crowd, exhorting them to “enjoy the pizza, enjoy the pizza!”
In a video shot at the event, Trump can be seen taking a bite of a slice and then joking with the crowd: “Does anybody want a piece that I’ve eaten?”
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The visit from the former president landed Downtown House of Pizza in headlines nationwide, including coverage from Fox News, the New York Post and the UK’s Daily Mail. According to WINK News, Trump spent about 15 minutes in the pizza shop, accompanied by his staffers, Secret Service agents and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican who endorsed Trump earlier this month.
WINK reported that Trump’s visit sparked “pandemonium” at the pizzeria. Some starstruck customers took the opportunity to meet him and shake his hand. “I stood at the front, and I was just … he actually started talking to me,” one customer told WINK. “He was asking me if I play linebacker for Fort Myers High, and I do.… And he was like, ‘Let’s get a picture.’ So, I was like, ‘Of course, I’d love to.’”
Via Facebook and Instagram, Downtown House of Pizza posted a photo of the former president in the shop and added a simple statement of gratitude: “Many thanks to our surprise guest last evening, former President Donald Trump, and to all of you who came out to greet him.”
WINK also reported that “an enormous crowd” rushed into the pizzeria after the former president left, and “the line to order was out the door and then some.”
Members of Trump’s staff even took several pies to go, according to WINK.
Downtown House of Pizza serves up New York-style pizza with an open kitchen that allows customers to watch the pizza-makers at work. Specialty pizzas on the menu include the Grandma’s Sicilian, the Chicken Bacon Ranch, the Taco Pizza (pictured above) and the Caprese. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
USA Today lists Downtown House of Pizza as a top Fort Myers restaurant on its 10Best website, calling it “the premier spot” for a late-night slice. “Serving until 3 a.m., patrons who show up at this hour are delighted. You’ll find a line out the door for the hand-tossed pizza, but it moves relatively quickly. The case is full of pies loaded with all kinds of toppings, just waiting to be finished off in the hot ovens. While the slices are big, if there are more than a couple of you ordering, it’s worth it to get an entire pie.”