Originally Published by PMQ Pizza Magazine
Blaze Pizza, the fast-casual chain based out of Southern California, just opened its 200th restaurant, setting a record for the fastest start in the history of the foodservice business, according to research firm Technomic. Founded by Rick and Elise Wetzel and fueled by the star power of celebrity investor and spokesman LeBron James, Blaze began five years ago with two stores in Irvine and Pasadena, California, and hit the 200 mark last week with its new store in Mentor, Ohio.