Chicago’s First Blaze Pizza Opening Beneath Belmont ‘L’ Tracks

The California-based pizza chain Blaze Pizza is headed to Lake View, with organizers saying they plan to open their first store in Illinois next to the Belmont “L” station.

Formerly Never Mind clothing boutique, the storefront at 935 W. Belmont Ave. is just one of what will be 15 Blaze Pizza locations planned for Chicago, DNAinfo reports. The company is hoping to open in October, according to Will Crowden, vice president of Baum Realty Group LLC.

The pizza chain is similar to the recently shuttered Lake View restaurant Pizza Persona, formerly at 614 W. Diversey Pkwy. Much like other fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle, customers direct servers behind a counter as to what they’d like on their pizza, and its assembled to order.

Blaze Pizza’s website says the personal dish is cooked in 120 seconds, with specialty recipes like the “white top”—made using white cream sauce with mozzarella, applewood bacon, chopped garlic, oregano, arugula—on the menu.

The storefront is part of the building formerly ravaged by a late-night fire. Chicago Bagel Authority is planning a summer-reopening, as well as its upstairs neighbors Milo’s Hair Salon and Ultimate Exposure Tanning.

Crowden says the lease for the space on Belmont has yet to be signed, but he told DNAinfo "all indicators are pointing to 'all systems go.’”

The company is expanding elsewhere, too, with new locations expected in Wisconsin, as well as other states nationwide.