Blaze Pizza to Open State’s First Location in Scarborough, Maine, This Fall

Just a few years ago, it looked like Blaze Pizza was about to take over America with how fast the chain was growing. In 2017, they were deemed the fastest-growing restaurant chain in America, and seemed poised to be operating in every state in the nation within five years.

Nearly two years ago, it seemed as though Maine was set to be the next state with a handful of Blaze Pizza locations. The chain had announced their venture into Vacationland with three proposed cities for their first locations: Portland, Westbrook, and Brunswick.

Fast forward more than 20 months later, and there hasn't been a single grand opening of a Blaze Pizza location anywhere in the state. That is set to change very soon, just not in any of the cities where Blaze expected to open.

According to Boulos, Blaze Pizza will open its first Maine location at 451 Payne Road in Scarborough. That address is the home of a new commercial development in the Marden's parking lot. There is already a new Starbucks location there, and now, Blaze Pizza will join them there.

Blaze Pizza's concept was developed by the family behind Wetzel's Pretzels. They serve made-to-order pizzas that average a three-minute cooking time. Think of Blaze as a Chipotle-style restaurant that serves pizza instead.

The fast-fired pizza chain's migration into the northeast has been slow. While Massachusetts has five locations, both New Hampshire and Rhode Island are only home to one Blaze Pizza location each. Maine and Vermont are yet to get their first.

Work is ongoing at both the new Blaze Pizza location as well as the parking lot to meet the expected demand. Both projects are expected to be done by the early fall with a grand opening date for Blaze Pizza announced soon.