ANN ARBOR, MI -- Ann Arbor's newest pizzeria opens Monday, August 22, 2016, when Blaze Pizza starts welcoming guests.

Crews have been working at the LeBron James-backed pizza chain's first Ann Arbor location for the last week preparing for the grand opening and to introduce customers to its fast-casual style of pizza.

Blaze Pizza is located in the newly renovated Washtenaw Commons shopping center at 3500 Washtenaw Ave. in Ann Arbor. Doors open at 11 a.m. Monday.

On Tuesday, the restaurant is offering free pizza to all guests who dine in between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. If the restaurant gives away 1,000 free pizzas, it will donate $5,000 to Washtenaw County-based food bank Food Gatherers.

The restaurant serves 11-inch pizzas that are cooked in less than three minutes in the signature open-flame oven. The pizzas are custom built in front of the customer in an assembly line. Customers can order their own creations or choose from Blaze's signature pizzas.

Blaze also offer gluten-free crust options and vegan cheese for customers. A pizza cost $7.95 plus tax, but the menu also includes salads and dessert pizzas.

The 2,600 square-foot restaurant has seating for 60 customer inside and 22 seats on an outdoor patio. Garage doors have been installed as well that can be opened up to turn a portion of the restaurant into an outdoor dining experience on days when the weather cooperates.

The pizza chain operates 138 restaurants in 29 states and Canada. Earlier this year, Darla Bowen, the marketing director for Blaze Midwest Inc., a franchisee of Blaze Pizza said the company is looking into opening a second location in Ann Arbor.

"Ideally we would have one where we're at right now and of course who wouldn't want to be near the university?" Bowen said.