Torrance has a new spot for New York-style slices. Prime Pizza celebrated the grand opening of its Torrance location at 3720 Sepulveda Blvd. on October 3.
The Torrance shop had already been quietly serving customers since a soft opening in mid-September, according to a Facebook post from the chain, before last weekend's full celebration. The new storefront marks Prime Pizza's 12th location overall, according to the Los Angeles Daily News, joining existing shops in Pasadena, Burbank, El Segundo, Brea and Mission Viejo as the brand pushes further into the South Bay.
Prime Pizza was founded by Zak Fishman and James Starr, whose families both hail from New York, per the same Daily News report. The chain is known for round and square New York-style pizzas, including classics like cheese, pepperoni and vodka pies alongside the Grandma, a Brooklyn-style square pizza topped with mozzarella and grandma sauce. The menu also stretches to hot subs, baked pastas, salads, garlic knots, vegan and gluten-free pizza options, and a churro knots dessert, the paper notes.
Roots Go Back to a Tiny Fairfax Storefront
Prime Pizza's story began in October 2014, when the chain opened its original storefront on Fairfax Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Times. Co-founder James Starr had previously helped create other notable Los Angeles dining spots, including gastropub The Golden State, Cofax coffee shop and Bludso's Bar-&-Que, according to kevinEats.
To nail down the dough, Fishman consulted Brooklyn pizzaiolo Frank Pinello, owner of Best Pizza and host of Vice's “The Pizza Show,” the Los Angeles Times reported in a separate piece covering the brand's Burbank opening. That dough is still made fresh daily using King Arthur flour, Stanislaus tomatoes, Grande cheese and Corto olive oil sourced from Central California, according to a GlobeNewswire release.
Collaborations With L.A.'s Food and Culture Scene
Prime Pizza has built a reputation for teaming up with other local names. The chain worked with Guelaguetza on a Mojo Rojo pie featuring Mexican mole, with Badmaash on a butter chicken pie, and with Bludso's BBQ on a Hawaiian pie, per the Daily News. In January, it partnered with Los Angeles rapper and producer Earl Sweatshirt on a limited-edition “Heat Check” pizza loaded with Ezzo beef pepperoni, Bludso's beef hot link, spicy beef sausage, grandma sauce and roasted jalapeño-cilantro ranch, according to the GlobeNewswire release.
The brand's standing in the region's pizza scene was also on display when Prime Pizza joined roughly 40 Southern California pizzerias at the fourth annual Pizza City Fest at L.A. LIVE in April, an event Hoodline covered as pizzerias showcased everything from Detroit and Neapolitan styles to New York and Tavern pies.
More Openings Planned Across the Region
Torrance is far from the end of the road. Prime Pizza plans to open three additional locations in Rancho Cucamonga, Northridge and Thousand Oaks later this year, per the Daily News report. The planned Rancho Cucamonga shop would mark the brand's entry into San Bernardino County.
Prime Pizza also plans a Thousand Oaks location.
The suburban push beyond Los Angeles County started with a Mission Viejo store that opened in November 2025, followed by a Brea location in early 2026, according to PMQ Pizza. Prime Pizza is also bringing a location to Huntington Beach, as detailed in earlier Hoodline coverage.
