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Fast casual pizza expands across country

Residents of New York, California and Indiana will soon see fast casual pizza expand throughout their state with several openings expected through October.

July 22, 2015

Residents of New York, California and Indiana will soon see fast casual pizza expand throughout their state with several openings expected through October.

Fast casual concept 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza restaurant of Cupertino, California, is set to be the second of many franchised locations to open across the state over the next 18 months, the company announced. Located at the Homestead Square community shopping center on Homestead Road and De Anza Boulevard, 1000 Degrees is looking to open this October.

Also scheduled for October, Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza will soon open a new restaurant in Schenectady, New York, in the Mohawk Commons Shopping Center (400 Balltown Rd.).

The anticipated opening marks the third New York location for Blaze Pizza, which debuted in West Babylon's Great Bay Shopping Center (1047 West Montauk Highway) in July 2014, followed by a second location in Bay Shore at the Westfield South Shore Mall (1701 Sunrise Highway), in January.

The newest location will feature a 2,400-square-foot interior with seating for 50. Design architect Ana Henton has added several modern touches, including an oversized wall graphic custom-built to suit the space. In support of the company's commitment to "Intelligent Choices for Our Pizzas, People & Planet", the Schenectady restaurant will use recycled, sustainable materials and energy-efficient LED lighting, and will feature eco-friendly, compostable packaging.

Blaze will also open a new location on Notre Dame's campus, in South Bend, Indiana, on Thursday, July 23rd. To celebrate the grand opening, the restaurant will offer FREE build-your-own artisanal pizzas on Friday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to anyone who follows Blaze Pizza on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. The opening is the third Indiana location for Blaze Pizza, which debuted in Indianapolis in February 2014.

Like the Schenectady location, the restaurant is constructed with recycled and sustainable materials, energy-efficient LED lighting and uses eco-friendly packaging. The restaurant's unconventional design elements were inspired by the company's celebration of individual expression, including an oversized wall graphic featuring a local photographer's image of a current Notre Dame student, which was custom-designed for the South Bend space.