A newly promoted Pizza Museum, advertising all-you-can-eat pizza and interactive exhibits, is raising red flags among customers who were scammed by the Taco Museum — a nearly identical pop-up that left attendees out hundreds of dollars last month.
The Pizza Museum recently surfaced online, just weeks after the Taco Museum made headlines for scamming ticket holders in three Texas cities and California. The Taco Museum abruptly canceled its scheduled events at the last minute, promised refunds that customers say were never issued, and later deactivated its website, leaving frustrated customers in the dark.
Weeks later, many ticket holders told the Austin American-Statesman they had yet to receive refunds, while the supposed event venues denied any affiliation with — or even awareness of — the pop-up.
Now, the Pizza Museum appears to be following the same pattern. Social media advertisements, website copy, and promotional images — which seem to have been generated using artificial intelligence — closely resemble those used for the Taco Museum.
For instance, both “museums” promoted immersive experiences celebrating their respective foods, promising interactive exhibits and unlimited tastings. Compare their descriptions:
“Immerse yourself in a vibrant, interactive experience that celebrates everything taco-related,” the Taco Museum website, which has now been deactivated, stated. “Discover the rich history behind this beloved dish as you explore stunning taco-inspired art from talented creators. Indulge in our all-you-can-eat taco bar, featuring a variety of flavors to delight your taste buds. Snap unforgettable photos at our engaging exhibits, perfect for sharing on social media. “
“The Pizza Museum is a one-of-a-kind culinary experience celebrating the rich history and culture of pizza,” the Pizza Museum states on its home page. “Whether you’re a pizza enthusiast, a food lover, or just curious about this iconic dish, our museum offers a fun and educational journey into the world of pizza!”
“The Pizza Museum is bringing a fun, interactive and flavor-packed event to your city,” the website states on the promotional for its Anaheim location. “Explore the history of pizza, snap the ultimate cheesy photos, and of course, enjoy plenty of delicious slices. This is one event you won’t want to miss!”
Additionally, photos shared on Instagram and the website closely resemble the design of the Taco Museum, featuring stock images of the respective foods and photos of the “pop-up” exhibits. A reverse Google Image search reveals that the selfies posted on the Instagram page were actually taken at the Museum of Pizza, a pop-up exhibition that took place in Brooklyn, New York, in 2018.
Like the Taco Museum, the event also offers a “VIP” experience for an extra charge, which included “priority entry.”
One Taco Museum customer contacted the Austin American-Statesman to express frustration over the ongoing scam, noting that she had confirmed with all three locations in California that they were not hosting the event. She has also reported it to the FBI.
The founder of the Taco Museum never responded to a request for comment.
What happened with the Taco Museum?
The Taco Museum, a pop-up exhibit that previously toured California, promised three stops in Texas. However, many are now calling it a scam after all Texas events were abruptly canceled without warning. The organizers deactivated their website and failed to issue refunds, leaving ticket holders frustrated and out of pocket.
Even in California, those who attended described it as underwhelming. In a Reddit thread exposing what they’ve described as a scam, users claimed the exhibit featured little more than two taco trucks, Taco Bell commercials, and neon signs from taco restaurants and brands.
“Don’t waste your time, money, or gas. It was absolutely horrible,” one user wrote. “No swag bags, 2 taco vendors who ran out of meat and tortillas by 3pm. Salsa bar not on ice and in 80 degree heat. It was in a parking lot with limited shade to sit. 0/10 do not recommend.”
In Texas, the museum was scheduled to stop in:
But none of these events took place.
Several readers contacted the Austin American-Statesman and other news outlets that covered the museum, expressing concerns about the event.
One attendee said she purchased two VIP tickets for $50 each but received an email at 3 a.m. on the day of the event, informing her it had been postponed until March. She immediately requested a refund but received no response. When she followed up weeks later, she still heard nothing, she said.
In light of confusion, MySA reported that the owner of River North Icehouse at San Antonio’s event had no knowledge of the event at all and was never in contact with event organizers. The Dallas Observer noted that those attendees who did arrive for the fake museum were met with an entirely different event — “Booty, Brunch, and Bubbly,” a hybrid fitness and food pop-up — that was actually scheduled to happen that day. (The events have no affiliation.)
“On February 22nd, the day of the ‘original event,’ we had around 30 people show up for it. All were very upset when they realized they had been scammed out of money,” River North Icehouse co-owner Seth Klein told MySA.
“We feel pretty bad for all the people who lost out on money because of it. It’s also negatively impacted our business as people are associating us with the scam,” Klein continued.
What to do if you bought tickets for the Taco Museum
If you bought tickets for the Taco Museum or the Pizza Museum and are seeking a refund, many readers have confirmed that their refund requests have been unsuccessful. It is still unclear who the exact organizers are.
However, some people, including those who attended the makeshift event in San Diego, have reported successfully receiving chargebacks from their banks.
If you are still seeking a refund, contacting your bank or credit card provider to initiate a chargeback may be a viable option.
The Austin American-Statesman has reached out to the event organizers for comment. They have not responded.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: All-you-can-eat pizza? Not so fast, customers of former Taco Museum scam warn
Reporting by Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
