Lebron James-Endorsed Pizza Joint Coming to Massachusetts

Fans of fast-casual dining rejoice. The ordering method that allows you to personalize your meal, popularized by burrito chains Chipotle and Qdoba, has been applied to pizza. And it’s coming to Massachusetts.

Blaze Pizza announced it is opening up two shops in Boston and one in Cambridge in 2016. The Cambridge location will be the first to open, debuting in the spring at 1 Canal St., followed by one in Fenway and one at the Boston Common in the summer.

The joint puts a modern twist on the classic pizza-building process. Its open-kitchen format allows customers to choose from a variety of ingredients, toppings and dough, à la Chipotle. The Frankenstein pie is then baked in the restaurant’s signature ‘fast-fire’ oven for three minutes.

Based out of southern California, the company has expanded rapidly since its inception in 2012. As of December 2015 it had opened up 103 locations around the country and had plans for 87 more, according to website QSR. Arguably its greatest accomplishment, though, was getting Lebron James to drop McDonald’s and sign on as a spokesman. James is also an investor, along with Maria Shriver and Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, according to Boston.com.

“At Blaze, we’re all about creating an engaging dining experience where guests can enjoy artisanal pizza that’s both fast and affordable,” Jim Mizes, president & COO of Blaze Pizza, said in a press release. “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 Massachusetts locations will be locally owned and operated by franchise group BGR Hospitality, the press release said.

Photo Credit: Blaze Pizza