https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaze_Pizza
Blaze Pizza was founded in Pasadena, California by Rick and Elise Wetzel in 2011. The fast-fired, customizable pizza concept debuted with their first location in Irvine, California in August 2012[8] which was quickly followed two months later by the opening of their second, and flagship, location in October 2012 in Pasadena.[9] In 2014, Zagat noted Blaze Pizza as “One of 10 innovative restaurants around Los Angeles.”[10] During the first year of operation, the Irvine location did about $1.8 million and the Pasadena location did about $2.5 million.[11] The concept’s popularity has been fueled by its obsessive attention to food, design and its unique service culture.[12]
The 10 Blaze locations open throughout 2014 posted $1.55 million average unit volume. By the end of 2014 Blaze had 50 locations in 15 states.[13] Of those 50 locations, only three were company-owned with the rest being owned by franchise operators.[14] Blaze opened its first Chicago location in December 2013.[15] The company opened its first East Coast location in New York in July 2014.[16] In July 2015 the company announced its 80th location and said that it operates in 20 states including the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, New York City, Cincinnati, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami & Washington D.C.[12] The company's first Northern California location was opened in San Francisco in March 2015.[17] By December 2015, the company opened its 100th location in Indianapolis.[18] In April 2016, the company announced that they had 124 locations in 28 states plus Canada.[19] In August 2016, the 150th location was opened at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.[20] During the first half of 2016, a new Blaze Pizza location was opened approximately every five days, while a new opening occurred once every seven days during the previous year. In July 2017, the 200th location was opened in Mentor, Ohio.