Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza Soon to Open Two New Southern California Locations

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 19, 2016) - Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza, the fast-casual concept known for its chef-driven menu and casually hip restaurants, today announced that it will soon open two new Southern California locations, in San Clemente and Garden Grove, in April. The San Clemente restaurant, which will feature a 2,835 square foot interior with seating for 63 inside and an additional 36 seats on an exterior patio, will open in the Outlets at San Clemente (225 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa), next to AT&T. The Garden Grove location, which will feature a 2,500 square foot interior with seating for 74 inside and an additional 33 seats on an exterior patio, will be located at 9735 Chapman Ave., near Regal Cinemas.

Blaze Pizza is a modern day "pizza joint" that has been inspiring excitement and cultivating fanatics for its custom-built artisanal pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s'more pies since it opened its first location in 2012. 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 selection of carefully sourced, high-quality ingredients -- all for around $8. The generously-sized 11" 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 fast-fire'd and 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.

To create the perfect vibe inside the restaurants, award-winning design architect Ana Henton has added several unique, modern touches, including oversized wall graphics custom-built to suit the spaces. Additionally, in support of the company's commitment to "Intelligent Choices for Our Pizzas, People & Planet," the restaurants will use both recycled and sustainable materials and energy-efficient LED lighting, and will feature eco-friendly, compostable packaging.

"At Blaze, we're all about creating an engaging dining experience where guests can enjoy artisanal pizza that's both fast and affordable," said Jim Mizes, president & COO of Blaze Pizza. "The authenticity of our food, plus a service culture that genuinely focuses on the happiness of our guests and crew -- have been key to our popularity and expansion."

The newest Blaze restaurants are looking forward to building strong roots within the community, offering a spot where guests can connect, create and enjoy. To that end, the restaurants promote a turnkey fundraiser program that returns 20 percent of an event's proceeds back to the organization, helping schools, sports clubs and other local groups "cause a scene for a good cause."

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 overall #2 fast-casual brand in FastCasual.com's annual Top 100 list, Blaze Pizza is building momentum and developing a cult-like following as it expands across the country. The company currently operates 105 restaurants in 25 states and Canada, including the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Dallas 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.