The build-your-own pizza chain Blaze Pizza is fit for a king — King LeBron James, that is.
In 2015, the basketball legend walked away from a $14 million endorsement deal with McDonald's to become part of Blaze Pizza's marketing campaigns. He's also an early investor in the Chipotle-style pizza chain.
James' selection of an unknown upstart over an established brand appears to have paid off. Blaze was recently named the fastest-growing chain in history after opening its 200th location in Mentor, Ohio, on Tuesday. Revenue is on track to hit $300 million in 2017, according to a company representative.
We visited Blaze in Fremont, California, to see whether the pizza could meet the hype.
SEE ALSO: A pizza chain created by a former Starbucks exec should worry Pizza Hut and Domino's
On a weekday night, I stopped by Blaze Pizza's sunny Fremont, California, location.
The chain's blend of industrial design pieces and reclaimed wood was influenced by its fast-casual competitor Chipotle, according to Blaze Pizza's CEO and president, Jim Mizes.
Executive chef and cofounder Bradford Kent greeted us at the door. Blaze Pizza's founders enlisted the help of the "Pizza Whisperer" at the start.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider