Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza Announces Grand Openings in Fort Worth and The Colony

FORT WORTH, TX--(Marketwired - Jul 1, 2016) - As the temperature rises in the DFW Metroplex, locals and visitors will soon experience a different kind of heat wave with the opening of Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza in Fort Worth and The Colony. The fast-casual artisanal pizza concept known for its chef-driven menu and casually hip restaurants will officially open its doors on Thursday, July 7, in both Fort Worth (5925 Convair Dr., in the Waterside Shopping Center near REI) and The Colony (5050 State Hwy 121, near Nebraska Furniture Mart). To celebrate the grand opening, both Blaze restaurants will offer FREE build-your-own pizzas on Friday, July 8 in Fort Worth and Saturday, July 9 in The Colony from 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. to anyone who follows Blaze Pizza on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat. Additionally, guests will enjoy prize giveaways and entertainment by local favorite, Lone Star Bottle Band.

Blaze Pizza is a modern day "pizza joint" serving up high-quality, 11-inch pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s'more pies. Each restaurant features an interactive open-kitchen format that allows guests to customize one of the menu's signature pizzas or create their own, choosing from a wide array of unlimited, artisanal toppings -- all for under $8. The pizzas are then fast-fire'd in a blazing hot open-flame oven for just 180 seconds.

Each Blaze restaurant makes its own pizza dough from scratch daily using a recipe developed by Blaze Pizza's 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. Blaze will also pour local craft beers from Community Beer Co. and (512) Brewing Company on tap at both locations. 

"Great pizza starts with great dough," said Chef Kent. "That's why we make our dough from scratch in-house daily. No frozen dough, preservatives or dough conditioners -- EVER. Just a few simple ingredients and a mixer."

Blaze to Raise Funds for Cook Children's, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital July 7

Just as fresh, local ingredients are intrinsic to Blaze's culture, the restaurant team is also committed to giving back to local schools, clubs, nonprofits and community organizations by hosting fundraisers at Blaze, donating 20 percent of an event's proceeds back to local groups.

To celebrate its grand opening, Blaze Pizza will host the following fundraisers on July 7:

• Blaze Pizza Fort Worth and Arlington will host an all-day fundraiser for Cook Children's, a member of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The fundraisers last from 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. for anyone who shows this promotional flyer to the cashier.
• Blaze Pizza The Colony will be raising some "dough" all day on July 7 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital from 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. for anyone who shows this promotional flyer to the cashier.
  
  

"We are honored to be partnering with Blaze Pizza. Community support is crucial to Cook Children's growth in helping us provide extraordinary care to the children of our community. We are grateful for the generosity of Blaze Pizza in making a difference in the lives of our patient families," said Grant Harris, VP Cook Children's Health Foundation.

With the two new DFW locations, Blaze Pizza has eight restaurants in Texas. Blaze debuted in the Lone Star State in May 2015 with the opening of the Frisco location (3311 Preston Rd., near Stonebriar Centre), followed by
Sugar Land (16100 Kensington Dr.), Houston (Woodlake Square, 9650 Westheimer Rd.) and Austin (14009 N. Research Blvd., near Lakeline Mall). Blaze opened earlier this year in Arlington (841 E. Lamar Blvd.,) and in Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

"We're very excited to continue the expansion of Blaze Pizza in the greater DFW area with two new locations, combining our best-in-class, hand-crafted pizza with local craft beers on tap," said Brian Kelley, Managing 
Partner of Saddles Blazin LLC, a Blaze Pizza franchisee. "We invite everyone to come experience our fast-fire'd, artisanal pizza on Free Pizza Day and enjoy a cold beer brewed locally. With live music and giveaways, it's an event you won't want to miss!"

Blaze Pizza Fort Worth, The Colony Grand Openings, Free Pizza Days, and Fundraisers

WHAT:
Blaze Pizza Fort Worth & The Colony Grand Openings, Fundraisers and "Free Pizza Day"
One free pizza per person on Friday, July 8 in Fort Worth and Saturday, July 9 in The Colony for guests who follow Blaze Pizza on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat.

WHEN:
Opening Day:  Thursday, July 7 at 10:30 a.m. (Fort Worth & The Colony restaurants)
Blaze will donate 20 percent of proceeds from guests who show the promotional flyer on July 7 to local nonprofit Cook Children's and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Free Pizza Day:
Friday, July 8 (Fort Worth) - Free pizza served 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. and musical entertainment by Lone Star Bottle Band from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 9 (The Colony) - Free pizza served 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. and musical entertainment by Lone Star Bottle Band from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

WHO:
The DFW Community

WHERE:
Blaze Pizza The Colony
(Near Nebraska Furniture Mart)
5050 State Hwy 121, Suite 100
The Colony, TX 75056
(469) 384-8114

Blaze Pizza Fort Worth
Waterside Shopping Center
5925 Convair Dr., Suite 521
Fort Worth, TX 76109
(469) 384-8114

Blaze Pizza is calling aspiring pizzasmiths in the greater Fort Worth and The Colony areas to join their team. Submit applications online at www.saddlesblazin.com/careers.html. Both Blaze Pizza locations will be open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

About Blaze Pizza
The first Blaze Pizza^® restaurant opened on Aug. 6, 2012, in Irvine, Calif., and quickly gained attention for its chef-driven recipes, thoughtful interior design, and a service culture that celebrates individuality. Now ranked as the leading fast-casual pizza chain in the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report, Blaze Pizza is building momentum and developing a cult following as it expands across the country. The company currently operates 144 restaurants in 31 states and Canada, including the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Dallas, Las Vegas and Washington D.C. Founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel (co-founder of Wetzel's Pretzels), the concept is backed by investors including LeBron James, Maria Shriver, Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner and movie producer John Davis. For more information, please visit blazepizza.com and facebook.com/blazepizza or click here to view a company video.

Blaze Pizza®, Fast-Fire'd®, the horizontal logo design, and the proprietary names "Pizzasmith", "Intelligent Choices For Our Pizzas, People & Planet" and related trademarks are the property of Blaze Pizza LLC.