Rapidly-Expanding National Pizza Chain Targets Vestal

A Vestal Parkway site that once was eyed for a medical marijuana dispensary now is being transformed into the first Southern Tier pizza joint for a fast-growing national chain.

NYVA Restaurant Group of Queens is preparing to open a Blaze Pizza restaurant at 3714 Vestal Parkway East.

The property decades ago was the location of one of Broome County's first McDonald's restaurants. Several other businesses have operated there in recent years.

Construction crews began working inside the building about two weeks ago.

The California-based Blaze Pizza chain was founded about seven years ago. The company now has more than 200 restaurants in the United States and Canada.

NYVA Restaurant Group now operates Blaze Pizza units in Albany and Niskayuna. The company is planning to open five other franchise operations in upstate New York.

A Blaze Pizza manager said the Vestal restaurant is expected to open in April or May.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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