LAKEVIEW — A California-based chain debuting by the Belmont "L" stop this week will be sweetening its opening with free pizza.
Blaze Pizza, a "fast-casual" chain akin to a Chipotle for pizza, will open Thursday at 953 W. Belmont Ave., according to a release. Fan the restaurant on Facebook and stop by on Friday between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. to pick up a free custom pizza, usually about a $7 value.
Diners choose their dough, including a gluten-free option, and then various sauces, veggies, meats and cheeses for the pizza. It's then cooked in two minutes.
The Lakeview location will also offer craft beer and wine.
Elise and Rick Wetzel of mall soft pretzel chain Wetzel's Pretzels started the pizza restaurant, and it's financially backed by big names like journalist Maria Shriver and Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner.
In Chicago, company Levy Family Partners plans to open 15 Blaze Pizzas, with Lakeview being the first location. Two other restaurants are being developed in the Loop, one at 555 W. Madison St. and the other at 227 E. Ontario St.
