NORTHBOROUGH – Blue Square Pizza is planning on moving into the former home of Texas BBQ Company on Main Street.
Founder Troy Sproul said the roof has been built, and the windows would be installed this week. Crews were hoping to begin interior work this week or next.
Blue Square Pizza is currently located at 30 Main St. in Hopkinton. The Northborough location would be the company’s second restaurant.
The idea for Blue Square Pizza sprung from Sproul’s exposure to Detroit-style in 2017. He said he was enamored with it.
“It was just so unique and different,” he recalled. “I have always said that if did get the opportunity, I would work on opening a Detroit-style concept myself.”
The name “Blue Square” is an homage the blue steel rectangular pans that Detroit-style pizzas are traditionally cooked in.
Sproul has been in the industry for about 16 years, and previously worked as a regional operations manager for OTTO Pizza, which had a dough facility in Lynn. Sproul had the idea that he could buy the dough from the OTTO facility and have it delivered to his unit.
He said he became serious about developing the Blue Square concept in early 2021. As he was researching the style, he realized that the dough that was produced for OTTO Pizza would not work for Blue Square as Detroit-style requires a specific type of dough with a certain weight and hydration.
So Sproul purchased a standing mixer and read as many books as possible on pizza. He created one to two batches of dough a week before he became happy with his dough that fall. He began to segue into bread baking and discovered sourdough; he created a sourdough starter and worked to adjust his recipes to accommodate sourdough.
Blue Square opened its doors in 2022. It offers several styles, including Detroit, New York, grandma, Chicago cracker thin and a proprietary style called The Blue Square.
“We’re super busy. In terms of industry standard, it’s insane volume in here, which is why I decided to look for a second location. Northborough, I’m hoping, will help ease some of the stress and demand that we have on this spot on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights,” said Sproul.
He said that Blue Square was serving a lot of customers already from the Northborough area; plus, diners come from across New England to get their pizza.
“We’re definitely a destination,” he said.
Sproul is eying an April opening date, depending on speed of the work and of the town when it comes to approving permits and inspections. According to Planning Director Laurie Connors, a pizza shop is a by-right use, and the project will not need to go before the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals.
For more information, visit https://bluesquarepizza.com/.
