Blaze Pizza will celebrate the new store opening with free pizza, music, games and prizes tomorrow in the University Station shopping center.

On Nov. 5, in-store customers can receive a free 11” pizza. Along with that, there will be live music and other vendors to welcome guests to Statesboro’s latest addition, located at 301 Tormenta Way.

This past Saturday, they held a family and friends preview day to showcase what is in store. Grant Watkins, the franchise owner, was born and raised in Statesboro, and he explained that opening this location feels like he’s returning home.

Although this location is new, this is Watkins’ third Blaze location in Georgia. “I’ve been with Blaze for about eight years,” Watkins explained. “We have a location in Brunswick, Valdosta, and now here, and it’s nice being in a new development.”

Blaze Pizza was founded in 2011, and since then it has spread across the country, totaling over 340 locations. The chain is known for its make-your-own pizza style, and that is what Watkins loves the most about the company.

“I love its individuality,” he said. “Normally when you have pizza, you have to share it with other people, but here, you can make it however you want. Here, you can get your own personalized pizza for $12 with unlimited toppings.”

Over the last couple of months, Watkins has been hard at work trying to spread the word and advertising wherever it’s possible.

“I really wanted to be involved with the community, and I feel like it makes it so much easier since we are right across from the Georgia Southern campus,” he explained. “We have had advertisements at the football games, and we work with some pretty cool fundraisers here in town that are good for the community which is nice.”