Asger Risom
Pentagon war activity tipped off by… a gay bar and Domino’s pizza?
A viral account is drawing surprising links between Pentagon decisions and the foot traffic at a beloved LGBTQ+ venue.
In an unexpected twist, a social media account has emerged as an unlikely source for tracking U.S. military activity in the Middle East.
Dubbed “Pentagon Pizza Report,” the account monitors pizza delivery spikes and patron attendance at Freddie’s Beach Bar, an iconic LGBTQ+ establishment just blocks from the Pentagon.
Pizza surge, cocktails stall
Last Thursday, as tensions flared between Israel and Iran, the account noted a sharp rise in Domino’s orders in Crystal City and a simultaneous dip in visitors to Freddie’s.
That same evening, Israel launched a surprise airstrike campaign on Iranian military sites—a major escalation in the conflict.
“Freddie’s Beach Bar, the closest gay bar to the Pentagon, has abnormally low traffic for a Thursday night,” the account posted at 10 p.m., adding that such signals often precede military operations. Days later, it repeated the pattern: high pizza orders, low bar attendance.
A quirky tradition with serious implications
While it sounds tongue-in-cheek, this pizza-and-bar method has historical backing. Increased Pentagon takeout orders preceded both the 1989 Panama invasion and the 1991 Desert Storm operation, according to The Guardian. Apparently, late-night war planning still includes a craving for takeout.
Freddie’s Beach Bar, opened in 2001 by longtime restaurateur Freddie Lutz, is a flamboyantly gay, yet proudly “straight-friendly” space.
Over the years, it’s welcomed patrons from across the Pentagon, including out gay military figures like Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith.
With missiles now flying between Israel and Iran, and whispers of U.S. involvement growing louder, the eyes of some journalists have turned not to intel briefings—but to Freddie’s empty bar stools and Domino’s delivery receipts.