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Quick pizzas, quick expansion for Levy's Blaze Pizza - Crain's dining blog - Crain's Chicago Business
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Local review site Yelp lists 257 restaurants under the category
“pizza” in Chicago, but Levy Family Partners is betting there's
room for 15 more.
The company announced Oct. 29 that it will bring Blaze FastFire'd Pizza, a Pasadena, Calif.-based chain, to Chicago in
December. Blaze currently operates five fast-casual locations in
California and one in Michigan, but it has plans to expand to 10
other states and Washington.
The chain uses the fast-casual assembly-line model to make 11inch custom pizzas baked in three minutes. Three Chicago
outlets have been announced so far, with plans for 15 total. The
first, at 953 W. Belmont Ave., will open in December, with the
other two (555 W. Madison St. and 227 E. Ontario St.) to follow in
early 2014.
Despite the plethora of local pizza joints, Blaze’s president Rick
Wetzel said the fast-casual place differentiates itself through speed and a lower price point. The
chain targets millennial diners who want a quick lunch that’s more customized than fast food.
Blaze’s success in Chicago sets the tone for the rest of the country, Mr. Wetzel said.
Crain's reported in May that Blaze hired Allen Joffe, principal at Chicago-based Baum Realty
Group LLC, and Baum Vice President Will Crowden to scout locations.
— Meghan Morris
Follow On Dining on Twitter at @CrainsLife.
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Quick pizzas, quick expansion for Levy's Blaze Pizza
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