WILMINGTON — A pizza chain that served diners in the northern part of town has shuttered.
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Blaze Pizza started in 2012 in Los Angeles and was financially backed by A-listers including LeBron James, Maria Shriver, and Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner. It opened in Wilmington’s Renaissance Market in December 2018 by franchisee Russell Hansen of Blazin’ Blue LLC and PluckyBird LLC — the latter which operates Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Hansen confirmed Blaze’s 915 Military Cutoff Dr. location had its last day of operation on Monday. A note pinned to the door indicated the group decided not to renew its lease.
“Inflation and other market factors have resulted in significantly increased rents the last few years,” Hansen said. “Unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye.”
The Blaze lease was set to expire Oct. 31, but Hansen said it would take a few weeks to clear the space. Though sorry to see Blaze exit the Port City, he added no other plans were in the works for opening the pizza shop elsewhere in the tri-county region.
“But we are always looking for good opportunities,” he said.
Hansen owns multiple Blaze Pizza operations, mostly in the Triangle. The website indicates there are 12 in total statewide.
Blaze was known for its affordable, made-to-order artisanal pies created on homemade dough, cooked in an open-flame oven. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant was located in a building in front of Total Wine and when it opened, it employed roughly 50 people.
A note pinned to the door Wednesday indicated most employees were moved to Dave’s Hot Chicken, located in front of Independence Mall on Oleander Drive. Hansen did not answer how many employees that included but he also operates the local Dave’s, which opened in 2022.
Hanse said the location is doing well in Wilmington.
“Dave’s is a very hot (no pun intended) and exciting brand that is expanding at an incredible rate,” he said.
Dave’s Hot Chicken signed a 2019 licensing agreement with Blaze Pizza investors and by 2022 there were 300 stores opened nationwide.
Though there aren’t plans to add another Dave’s location to the region yet, Hansen said he is preparing another store to open in Wake Forest next month. It’s part of a 10-store deal he signed to open more Dave’s Hot Chickens in the eastern and Triangle regions of the state.
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