Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza, the fast-casual concept, known for its chef-driven menu and casually hip restaurants, announced today that it will open its sixth Chicago-area restaurant, in Niles, on Thursday, May 7. To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant will offer free build-your-own artisanal pizzas on Friday, May 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to anyone who follows Blaze Pizza on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. The Niles restaurant will be located in Pointe Plaza near Starbucks.
Blaze Pizza is a modern day "pizza joint" known for its custom-built artisanal pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade, and s'more pies. Each restaurant features an interactive assembly-line format that allows guests to customize one of the menu's signature pizzas or create their own, choosing from a wide selection of fresh, artisanal ingredients — all for under $8. The 11-inch pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-flame oven — the centerpiece of the restaurant — where dedicated “pizzasmiths” ensure that the thin-crust pies are ready to eat in just 180 seconds. Each restaurant makes its own dough from scratch using a recipe developed by critically acclaimed executive chef Bradford Kent ("The Pizza Whisperer"), which requires a 24-hour fermentation period to produce his signature light-as-air, crisp crust. For pizza fans with specific dietary needs, Blaze Pizza offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese. The Niles restaurant will also feature a selection of wine and craft beer.
"We're redefining the way people think about and eat pizza," says Adam Cummis, Blaze Pizza franchise partner. "Blaze is chef-driven, providing the artisanal quality Chicagoans have come to expect, with a modern and fast twist."
Blaze Pizza launched in Chicago in December 2013, and its first restaurant, at 953 W. Belmont Ave. (next to the Belmont L), has quickly become a neighborhood favorite. A second Chicago location, at 227 E. Ontario St., opened in April 2014 to serve the Streeterville and the Michigan Avenue crowd. In Q4 2014, Blaze opened two additional restaurants in the Chicago area, Chicago's Presidential Towers at 24 South Clinton Street and Skokie's Westfield Old Orchard Mall, located at 4999 Old Orchard Center. In March 2015, Blaze added its fifth area restaurant, located near Northwestern University's campus in Evanston at 1737 Sherman Avenue.
Blaze Pizza is being developed in the Chicago area by Levy Family Partners under a 15-store franchise development agreement. Levy Family Partners was established by entrepreneur Larry Levy, founder of Levy Restaurants, as the holding company for his family's investments in restaurants, hotels, real estate, and other ventures.
