Claremont’s newest pizzeria, Blaze Pizza, has opened its doors and is ready to win over local diners. 

The eatery, located at 1 N. Indian Hill Blvd. in Village West, will celebrate with a free pizza day on Thursday, December 1 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Anyone who stops by—and who follows Blaze Pizza on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook—will get a whole free build-your-own artisanal pizza. 

Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza is a fast-casual artisanal pizza concept with a chef-driven menu. Along with the main course, the franchise is known for freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s’more pies.

Each restaurant features an interactive open-kitchen format that allows guests to customize one of the menu’s signature pizzas or create their own, choosing from a wide selection of fresh, artisanal ingredients—all for about $8. 

The generously-sized personal pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-flame oven, the centerpiece of the restaurant, where dedicated pizzasmiths ensure the thin-crust pies are fast-fired and ready to eat in just 180 seconds.

Restaurants make their own dough from scratch using a recipe developed by critically-acclaimed chef Bradford Kent, aka the “Pizza Whisperer,” which requires a 24-hour fermentation period to produce his signature light-as-air, crisp crust. 

For pizza fans with specific dietary needs, Blaze Pizza offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese. The new Claremont restaurant will also feature a selection of wine and draft beer.

The restaurant is constructed with recycled and sustainable materials, uses eco-friendly packaging and features energy-efficient LED lighting.