Lebron James-Backed Pizza Chain Opens Cambridge Location Tomorrow

CAMBRIDGE, MA - The new pizza chain backed by LeBron James and Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner is opening in Cambridge Thursday.

To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant will offer free build-your-own artisanal pizzas on Friday, June 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to anyone who follows Blaze Pizza on social media. The restaurant, which features a 2,700 square foot interior and an outside patio, is located at 1 Canal Park, between Lechmere Station and Cambridgeside Galleria.

“I’m thrilled that Blaze is bringing their custom-built pizzas to Boston,” said Tom Werner, Blaze Pizza investor and Red Sox co-owner. “Blaze has been a home run around the country, and I am convinced that our city is really going to enjoy this new approach to fast-casual. Blaze is redefining the way people think about and eat pizza, and I’m proud to be a part of this game-changing brand.”

Blaze Pizza is a modern day “pizza joint” serving up artisanal pizzas that are both fast and affordable. 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 fresh, artisanal ingredients – all for about $8. The personal 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.

Restaurants make their 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, according to a release. Almost all of the pizza and salad ingredients are free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and fillers and for pizza fans with specific dietary needs, Blaze Pizza offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese, according to a release.

“Our mission at Blaze is really simple – we’re taking pizza back to its roots, “said Jim Mizes, president & COO of Blaze Pizza. “By making dough in-house, carefully sourcing ingredients, and cooking by fire, we’re giving guests a great way to enjoy artisanal pizza without the wait.”