While working at a Denver pizzeria, I noticed that a delivery addressed to Chipotle sometimes ended up at our place. In such a case, an employee would offer to run the delivery to the Chipotle outpost next door. Management would claim that the confusion was due to uniforms emblazoned with Chipotle logos. During my time there, the uniforms were so covered in Chipotle tape that the employees had to remove them before anyone else could see them.
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza is a chain of fast-casual restaurants specializing in pizza. The concept is modeled after Chipotle’s made-to-order approach. Founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel, who also own Wetzel’s Pretzels, the restaurant specializes in various pizzas.
The fast-casual chain is known for its chef-driven recipes and casual, hip atmosphere. The new location is opening on March 9 across from Hobby Lobby. The restaurant will serve both carry-out and dine-in customers. In addition, customers can now place orders via contactless delivery.
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza is a new type of fast-casual pizza joint that combines quality with speed. Its unique process begins with fresh dough that is baked in 180 seconds. In addition to pizzas, you can also order signature salads, craft beer and wine, and even s’mores pies.
The company is expanding rapidly and is currently growing in several markets. Its first location in Wichita opened in 2014 and soon expanded to three locations. However, two of them closed after a short time. A third location in the Greenwich Place shopping center opened in September.
Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza restaurants feature an interactive open kitchen, and a build-your-own-pizza option allows customers to create a custom pizza that includes their favorite ingredients. These fast-fired pizzas are a quick way to enjoy pizza with friends and family, and their components are made with care. These restaurants even offer vegan cheese, tree-nut-free pesto, and gluten-free dough.
Blaze Pizza has recently introduced a new vegan topping: Spicy Chorizo. The company’s executive team came up with the fresh topping, which will be available on the menu soon. Blaze is committed to offering vegan and vegetarian options for its patrons. Fire will become a staple of the St. Louis dining scene with an expanding menu and a growing customer base.
Pizzeria Locale
Pizzeria Locale is a classic, basic pizzeria serving thin-crust pies and specialty pies. The chef makes his sauce and uses local produce. The pizzeria is small and cozy, with a welcoming atmosphere. The pies are served hot and fresh and are excellent value for the price.
The restaurant is similar to its Chicago-based competitor but has adapted many operational elements from Chipotle. Customers stand in a line and order pizza, then wait for it to be assembled in front of them. They can also order other items, such as salads, appetizers, desserts, and drinks.
Pizzeria Locale began as a full-service Neapolitan restaurant in 2011, but its new owners decided to go for a fast-casual concept. In December, news of the partnership broke, and sales began to increase. In 2013, the company partnered with Chipotle founder Steve Ells, who was interested in pizzeria Locale’s concept and decided to invest in the venture.
The Denver-based chain has partnered with the owners of Boulder’s Pizzeria Locale to open the first Pizzeria Locale restaurant. The two companies are now planning to expand the concept to other cities. They hope to open at least two more Pizzeria Locales in Denver.
Like Chipotle, Pizzeria Locale uses high-temperature gas ovens to distribute heat evenly throughout the pizza and make it ready to eat in under two minutes. Customers can customize their pies by choosing from an array of toppings. In addition to traditional pepperoni toppings, customers can also order meatballs. Its concept is similar to Chipotle’s expansion into Kansas City, which opened its first branch in 1998.
Chipotle has opened six locations in Washington, D.C., and is expanding to Los Angeles and Denver. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients and streamlined menus. Chipotle has an exciting business model and a growing reputation in the Chicago area. With this success, it is well-positioned to enter new markets and build on its current footprint.
The news of the new Pizzeria Locale Denver location has spread like wildfire. Although the owners were surprised, the new restaurant quickly became overcrowded. The news broke on December 18, and pizzeria Locale Denver staffed up for the onslaught. Thankfully, the company had taken precautions, as non-disclosure agreements bound its employees.
Pieology
Pieology is a restaurant in Aliso Viejo, California, focusing on a better pizza experience. The interior is modern, with bar-style seating next to the open-air exhibition kitchen. An expanded craft beer selection and signature pizzas are made in a dome-shaped Marra Forni Italian pizza oven. The staff encourages guests to take photos, leveraging social media to spread the brand.
In addition to its chipotle-inspired crockpot pizza, Pieology specializes in customizable pizzas. Customers can choose from 40 different toppings and create a pizza tailored to their tastes. A custom pizza can cost eight dollars or less. The dough is made in-house, and the company also promotes local sourcing. It uses Gilroy garlic, which is grown locally.
The company’s mission is to “create a better pizza experience” by giving customers a personalized experience. Chang was inspired to start Pieology after realizing the problems in the industry. Fast-casual chains were perceived as boring, and customers wanted more customization. Founded in 2011, Chang has since gone on to open 56 company-owned units and has commitments to open 500 locations within five or six years.
Despite the high-profile success of the pizza chain, they are still a tiny percentage of the $38 billion pizza industry in the U.S. But the company is gaining traction thanks to its unique business model and high-quality ingredients. The chain has also managed to secure two locations in New York City.
While Biology and Blaze have grown to more than 100 locations, Blaze plans to expand its chain to 1,000 outlets worldwide. Both restaurants offer custom pizzas. Blaze pizzas are baked in two to three minutes, while Pieology pizzas take about half a minute. Both places have servers who call out customers by name and bring their customized pizzas to their tables.
