New restaurant celebrates grand opening in North Auburn

Good times are ahead as Trailblazer Craft Pizza and Brews celebrates its grand opening next weekend. Trailblazer was launched after a pizza-shop romance inspired Zachary and Suri Everhart to open their own place in Alta Sierra (Grass Valley) with the goal of creating a space for people to gather, relax and feel at home, according to the restaurant's backstory. Trailblazer is continuing that goal with the opening of its second location in North Auburn at 2500 Bell Road, the site of the former Applebee's. "The community seems to be happy that we're locally owned; that we're here in the community," Mike Bergland, general manager for Trailblazer, told the Auburn Journal in an interview Wednesday. "They like the welcoming environment from the staff and the homey feeling that we've created as far as the ambience in the restaurant." Although pizza and brews are in the name, Trailblazer's menu offers something for everyone with tacos and burgers like the Cowboy Burger, which includes bacon, onion rings and mad sauce. Bergland said pasta was also added to the menu when the North Auburn location opened. Although the restaurant has been open since the end of May, Trailblazer will host the grand-opening celebration Thursday, Oct. 16, through Sunday, Oct. 19. Bergland said he wanted the Auburn opening to mirror the way Trailblazer celebrates the anniversary of the Grass Valley location every year, which is a four-day party with multiple events. The opening kicks off Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the South Nevada County Chamber of Commerce at 4:30 p.m. and swag bags. Festivities continue into the evening with live music, performed by Kai Schauer, from 5-8:30 p.m. On Friday, Trailblazer will host a family dance night from 7-10 p.m. featuring DJ Latino Hits. The weekend will include trivia night at 6 p.m. Saturday and a cornhole tournament beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday. "My goal with our patio space is to make it more of an event center and offer things that North Auburn doesn't have," Bergland said. "Eventually, we'll do karaoke, so that's why I'm including the trivia night because there's nothing like that right now on the North Auburn side." According to Bergland, patrons can look forward to raffle prizes, like gift cards, T-shirts and pint glasses, throughout the weekend. Opportunities to win prizes will also be available on Trailblazer's Facebook (facebook.com/trailblazerauburn) and Instagram (@trailblazerauburn). The community is invited to check out Trailblazer Craft Pizza and Brews, and join in on celebrating its new home in Auburn. "We're happy to be a part of the Auburn community, and we look forward to supporting the community as they support us," Bergland said.