A Memphis pizzeria owner is facing fierce backlash after refusing over the weekend to serve members of the National Guard deployed to the city to combat crime.
Miles Tamboli, proprietor of Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza, sparked the controversy by turning away troops stationed in the city since September 2025 — and he declared in a Thursday statement that he would “make the same decision tomorrow.”
Tamboli argued that utilizing soldiers trained for overseas combat in local law enforcement roles has compromised city safety.
“I love this country and I love this city, and that is exactly why I made this call,” Tamboli told Fox News Digital.
“I want Memphis to be safe. Every business owner does. And the honest truth is that Memphis was already getting safer before this Task Force ever arrived,” the statement continued.
Tamboli cited an independent state audit to support his claim that crime in Memphis is at a 25-year low due to the efforts of local law enforcement, rather than federal intervention.
“That progress was earned by the people of this city. It was not delivered by soldiers,” he said.
The move to refuse the troops on Saturday night has drawn heavy fire online.
One user on X blasted the owner as a “leftist scumbag,” while others encouraged followers to target the establishment.
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US Rep. Tim Burchett wrote, “When I get home I’m driving to Memphis and not eating there.”
The Memphis Police Department put out a statement in September 2025 crediting the decline in crime to strengthened partnerships between all levels of law enforcement: local, state, and federal.
“In recent years, MPD has launched initiatives focused on fugitives, violent repeat offenders, auto theft, and traffic enforcement, while strengthening partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies,” the statement read.
Tamboli remains undeterred, insisting that “being pro-safety means telling the truth about what actually protects a community, and it is not soldiers trained for combat doing the work of police officers.”
“That mismatch is dangerous for the people of Memphis and dangerous for the troops themselves, who were sent here to do a job they were never trained for.”
He maintains that his restaurant is one of dozens of local businesses committed to protesting military policing in the city.
