Late-Night Pizza Orders Surge Near Pentagon Sparks Iran Ceasefire Fears
PZZA•On May 3, late-night orders at Wiseguy Pizza, Papa John's and Nighthawk Brewery near the Pentagon and US Southern Command surged above average around 11:30 pm ET. Traders view the spike as a sign the fragile 2026 Iran ceasefire may be faltering, potentially influencing safe-haven and risk asset flows.
1. Observed Surge
On May 3, mapping data showed above-average late-night orders at Wiseguy Pizza, Papa John's and Nighthawk Brewery near the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a similar spike at the closest Papa John's to the US Southern Command in Florida around 11:30 pm ET.
2. Trader Reaction
Market participants interpreted the traffic spike as an indicator that the fragile 2026 Iran ceasefire negotiations could be weakening, prompting shifts in safe-haven demand and risk asset positioning as traders seek early warnings of geopolitical escalations.
3. Pentagon Pizza Index Background
The so-called Pentagon Pizza Index measures unusual restaurant traffic near defense sites using popular times data; while past spikes have coincided with major military operations, critics caution the metric can be skewed by small orders or coordinated activity, so traders weigh it alongside other indicators.
