STRONGSVILLE, Ohio– LeBron James-backed Blaze Pizza will not open in Strongsville, as reported earlier this week.
The City of Strongsville on Friday had posted on its Facebook page that the quick-bake pizza shop was expected to be in the Commons at SouthPark in Strongsville, next to CoreLife Eatery. The news, however, is not accurate, according to Blaze Pizza spokesperson Darla Bowen.
“While we have plans to open two locations in the Cleveland area very soon, with both our Canton location opening on February 27 and our Mentor location opening later this Spring, at the moment there are no plans to open a Strongsville location. We are thrilled to be expanding into the Cleveland market and look forward to providing a delicious, fast and affordable pizza option to Cleveland area residents.”
Other Blaze Pizza restaurants are coming soon to Mentor Avenue in Mentor and Dressler Road in Canton, the company said on its website.
James was an original investor in Blaze Pizza in 2012. According to Yahoo! Finance, the Cleveland Cavaliers power forward dropped his endorsement deal with McDonald’s to play a bigger role with the pizza company’s marketing campaign.
In April, Blaze Pizza released a video of James posing as an employee named Ron. A few customers didn’t realize they were talking to the 13-time NBA All-Star.
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(This story was updated to reflect the information from Blaze Pizza, which stated the chain would not open a restaurant in Strongsville.)