This Fast-Growing Pizza Chain Blazes Onto Comm. Ave

Blaze Pizza at CityPlace. / Lena Mirisola Photography / @lenamirisola

Typically we’d advise avoiding Comm. Ave. this week—but there’s free pizza to be had. Blaze Pizza is quickly spreading in the Boston area, and it opens it fourth local outpost near Boston University—at the edge of this summer’s bridge construction project—on Thursday, August 3.

To celebrate its grand opening, build-your-own pies at the latest location are on the house all day this Friday, August 4.

Blaze’s fast-fired, made-to-order pizzas are topped with fresh ingredients, like artichokes, chopped garlic, ricotta, and mozzarella atop the specialty Art Lover. It also offers salads, house-made drinks, like blood orange lemonade; and desserts includes s’mores pie, and olive oil brownies. The healthy-ish, affordable, customizable menu has the attention of some deep-pocketed investors: LeBron James, Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner, and Maria Shriver and Patrick Schwarzenegger are helping fund the company’s rapid growth.

The company debuted in 2012, and opened its first area location in Cambridge last summer. It now has restaurants in Fenway, and near the Boston Common, too. On Comm. Ave., it has a 3,000-square foot storefront, with seating for 56. It’s right across from the Pleasant Street Green Line stop.

Blaze will be open daily from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Seek it out on social media—you have to show the “pizzasmiths” you’re a follower to get your free pie this Friday.

961 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, blazepizza.com.