A Pennsylvania pizzeria that catapulted to fame is now grappling with the dark side of notoriety, as fed-up neighbors complain that trash-strewn crowds have turned their once-peaceful streets into a chaotic nightmare.
Angelos Pizzeria, a trendy spot tucked inside a rowhome on South 9th Street in South Philadelphia, has skyrocketed to international fame since opening in 2019, drawing crowds from across state lines eager to try its renowned cheesesteaks, hoagies and pizza.
However, neighbors say theyve reached a breaking point with the pizzerias celebrity status, citing trashed streets, constant noise, traffic congestion and rowdy customers even resorting to public urination.
To summarize it in one sentence, its a victim of its own success, Bella Vista Neighbors Association board president Eugene Desyatnik told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Declared the best slice in the city by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, the takeout-only spot draws 100-300 patrons daily - many of whom begin lining up at the door well before it opens at 11am.
It gets pretty overpopulated, customer Lilly Ringle told NBC 10 Philadelphia. It gets crowded. Like, theres not much room to order.
But the crowds dont vanish after placing their orders - despite a sign thats hung on Angelos door for years politely reading: Please be respectful of our neighbors and the neighborhood and do not sit on other peoples [sic] steps. Thank you!!!!
With no seating or public bathrooms, customers have no choice but to linger on the sidewalks outside, chowing down curbside and turning the neighborhood-friendly block into an all-day street party.
Neighbors of Angelos Pizzeria, a viral spot tucked inside a rowhome in Philadelphia, have reached a breaking point with the eaterys newfound celebrity-status, citing trashed streets, constant noise, traffic congestion and rowdy customers even resorting to public urination
The trendy spot is located on South 9th Street in South Philadelphia and has skyrocketed to international fame since opening in 2019, drawing crowds from across state lines eager to try its renowned cheesesteaks, hoagies and pizza
With no seating or public bathrooms, customers have no choice but to linger on the sidewalks outside, chowing down curbside and turning the neighborhood-friendly block into an all-day street party
Theyre a thorn in my side and the side of the neighborhood, neighbor Eileen Plato, who lives just feet away, told 6 ABC News.
I hate the lines, she added. I hate their business model.
Though many neighbors argue Angelos has long outgrown its modest, 17-foot-wide rowhome, those same lines have become an essential part of the pizzerias allure.
Thats something thats kind of in Angelos culture now, resident John McKenzie told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
People come here thinking, Oh, we know weve got to wait for 45 minutes, but were just going to hang out. Were going to listen to music in our car. Were going to have a beer, he added.
Its a party atmosphere, like a carnival-type thing.
However, neighbors say theyve borne the brunt of the crowds - acknowledging that while its great to see a local business thrive, its come at their expense.
Theres people parked everywhere, McKenzie said. Theres people beeping their horn because people are blocking stuff.
Declared the best slice in the city by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy (pictured), the takeout-only spot draws 100-300 patrons daily - many of whom begin lining up at the door well before it opens at 11am
Many neighbors argue that Angelos has long outgrown its modest, 17-foot-wide rowhome on their once-quiet street, expressing anger towards rowdy patrons eating food on neighborhood stoops and leaving trash behind once their done
Though many neighbors arent anti-Angelos, they still believe that relocating the pizzeria to a different location would benefit the community and help the chaotic traffic congestion and noise issues
Even a local postman, whos worked the same route for 22 years, has found himself stuck in the chaotic congestion as lines swell with dozens of people and delivery trucks block the street - describing the daily scene as bordering on the ridiculous side.
Still, traffic congestion is just the tip of the iceberg.
Once determined foodies and out-of-town tourists get their hands on an iconic slice, they turn the surrounding neighborhood into their personal dining hall - seemingly oblivious to the disruption theyre causing all around them.
Theres always noise coming in my house, neighbor Jim Orr told NBC. Its ridiculous.
I have people who camp out on my steps and eat and leave trash, he added.
McKenzie agreed, recalling a neighbor who told him: My sidewalk, my stoop, my space is being used as this restaurants.
Other neighbors have reported property damage to their stoops and cellar doors as just one of the grim side effects of the pizzerias booming popularity.
The people that are on ground zero, he added, I feel really bad for them.
![The crowds dont vanish after patrons placed their orders - despite a sign thats been hung on Angelos door for years politely reading: Please be respectful of our neighbors and the neighborhood and do not sit on other peoples [sic] steps. Thank you!!!!](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/04/25/00/97667005-14645603-image-m-12_1745537459940.jpg)
The crowds dont vanish after patrons placed their orders - despite a sign thats been hung on Angelos door for years politely reading: Please be respectful of our neighbors and the neighborhood and do not sit on other peoples [sic] steps. Thank you!!!!
Neighbors have reported property damage to their stoops and cellar doors as just one of the grim side effects of the pizzerias booming popularity
Councilman Mark Squilla (pictured) mentioned that the city is considering a loading zone to improve traffic flow while trucks make deliveries to the pizzeria. Angelos also announced that they had opened up a ghost kitchen to help with that issue
Similar to Orrs complaint, frustrated neighbors have also noticed a sharp surge in litter, with trash now lining the once-pristine streets.
Ill say its two-thirds coming from Angelos, resident Joel Palmer told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
What customers dont pick up is the pizza pie crust, the bits and pieces of food that they drop, he added. Thats just food for the rats.
But the worst part of living next to the now-viral Angelos, neighbors said, is dealing with unruly customers who openly urinate on sidewalks and nearby properties.
Its very easy for them to find this little secluded area as a place to use the bathroom, McKenzie told The Philadelphia Inquirer, adding that seeing these patrons outside his house is a regular occurrence.
Though many neighbors arent anti-Angelos, they still believe that relocating the pizzeria to a different location would benefit the community.
I want them to do well, McKenzie said. I just wish that they were like Jims Steaks down on South Street, where it is a business area, or Pats and Genos.
This is rowhouses, he added. This pizza place in this rowhouse has now become a huge business around other rowhouses.
Residents have described its renowned fame as causing a party atmosphere, like a carnival-type thing on the surrounding streets
Mounting complaints culminated in a heated meeting on Wednesday night, where neighbors didnt hold back as they voiced their frustrations directly to Angelos two attorneys and Councilman Mark Squilla who subsequently came up with possible solutions
Councilman Mark Squilla held a community meeting in the fall, resulting in some changes already being put in place to strike a balance between the business and the neighborhood.
The city has already installed plastic bollards at the Ninth and Fitzwater intersection to deter illegal parking.
While not visually appealing or flawless, they have reduced cars blocking the sidewalks.
While residents have been mostly appreciative of the efforts made thus far, theres some that are still very upset, because not everything has been accomplished, Squilla told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Hopefully well get to that point where both sides can live harmoniously.
Yet the continued mounting complaints culminated in a heated meeting on Wednesday night, where neighbors didnt hold back as they voiced their frustrations directly to Angelos two attorneys and Councilman Mark Squilla.
More permanent traffic solutions, such as bike corrals and planets, were discussed during Wednesdays meeting.
Squilla also mentioned that the city is considering a loading zone to improve traffic flow while trucks make deliveries to the pizzeria. Angelos announced that they had opened up a ghost kitchen to help with that issue.
The city has already installed plastic bollards at the Ninth and Fitzwater intersection to deter illegal parking. Additional trash cans, emptied throughout the day, were also placed outside the eatery to curb littering
In a statement, Evan Lechtman and Peter Kelsen (pictured), two attorneys representing Angelos, said: Angelos strives to be a great community partner and is always willing to engage in productive conversations with its neighbors
A local postman, whos worked the same route for 22 years, has also found himself stuck in the chaotic congestion as lines swell with dozens of people and delivery trucks block the street - describing the daily scene as bordering on the ridiculous side
Additional trash cans, emptied throughout the day, were also placed outside the eatery to curb littering.
In a statement, Evan Lechtman and Peter Kelsen, two attorneys representing Angelos, said: Angelos strives to be a great community partner and is always willing to engage in productive conversations with its neighbors.
Desyatnik, who described the scene outside Angelos as kind of iconic, is just one of many hoping that the community can find a solution that allows the pizzeria to stay.
People in their sports gear just standing around, the skyline in the background, eating off their hoods - theres something to it, he told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Were proud of our neighborhood being featured in the national food scene, he added. Thats not to be missed in all of this. We just have to make it work for everybody.