Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, the leader in the fast casual build-your-own pizza category, announced that it will soon be opening a new location at the Rolling Hills Plaza in Torrance, Calif. Scheduled to open in late June, the new 65-seat restaurant will be located at 2625 Pacific Coast Highway in the Rolling Hills Plaza near Whole Foods, Veggie Grill and AMC Rolling Hills 20 theatre. Blaze Pizza uses an assembly line format (similar to Chipotle Mexican Grill®), that lets guests customize one of the menu’s signature pizzas or create one of their own, choosing from a wide selection of fresh, artisanal toppings – all for about $7. The generously sized personal pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-hearth oven—the centerpiece of the restaurant -- where dedicated pizzasmiths ensure that the thin-crust pies are “fast-fire’d” in less than 120 seconds. Blaze Pizza makes its own dough from scratch using a recipe developed by critically-acclaimed Executive Chef Brad Kent (“The Pizza Whisperer”), which requires a 24-hour fermentation period to produce his signature light-as-air, crisp crust. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients ranging from inventive to classic, and its menu also features signature salads, fresh lemonades, craft beer & wine and house-made S’more Pies. For pizza fans with specific dietary needs, Blaze Pizza offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese. The restaurant will offer online ordering and will feature an outdoor patio for afternoon and evening dining. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to take the years I’ve spent developing my dough recipe and now bring it to a broader audience,” says Chef Kent. “I am really looking forward to introducing Blaze Pizza to the Torrance community.” To create its “comfortably hip” interior and exterior, Blaze Pizza teamed with principal designer Ana Henton of Los Angeles’ MASS Architecture and Design (Intellegentsia, Lukshon, Breadbar). Designed to be both casual and current, Henton used urban architectural notes inspired by fire and foundries. Additionally, the restaurant has gone to great lengths to see that its packaging is eco-friendly -- made in the USA from post-consumer recycled and/or sustainable materials. Blaze Pizza - Torrance will be operated by Rolling Hills BP, LLC, a franchise group controlled by Peter Koral, founder of premium denim brand “Seven for All Mankind,” and entrepreneur Daniel Driz, Koral’s business partner for over 35 years. Experienced restaurateur Chris Heyman, founder of Table 8, is also involved in the franchise venture. About Blaze Pizza: A creation of Elise and Rick Wetzel (founder of Wetzel's Pretzels), the concept is backed by investors including Maria Shriver, movie producer John Davis and Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner, and includes the talents of highly acclaimed Executive Chef Bradford Kent, owner of Los Angeles' top rated Olio Pizzeria & Cafe (Zagat's #2 pizza in Los Angeles). The company, which Forbes.com named a “Hot New Restaurant Chain from an Established Brand,” is currently accepting applications to develop franchise stores across the country. For more information, please visit www.blazepizza.com or www.facebook.com/blazepizza.
