PIZZA Hut has shuttered eight locations across two states, leaving fans in a frenzy.
The abrupt closings caused uproar on Friday, with customers and staff claiming they were not warned.
2
2
Indiana and Ohio were the two affected states, according to what a Pizza Hut spokesperson confirmed to The U.S. Sun.
"A few locations in Columbus, OH have closed, but Pizza Hut remains committed to providing outstanding service and products to our valued customers in the area," they said.
"We are working to transition the Indiana locations and hope many of them to reopen soon."
The spokesperson added that customers can always find the nearest Pizza Hut using a locator tool on its website.
Read More on Pizza Hut
While there's hope for Indiana fans, several managers at the closing restaurants took to Facebook to provide an update on the situation.
INDIANA
The state's shuttering Pizza Huts include locations in Valparaiso, Crown Point, Griffith, and Hobart, according to posts from staff.
"It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that all Pizza Hut locations in NW Indiana, including our beloved Valparaiso store, have been closed," wrote a general manager on Pizza Hut's official Facebook account.
"Thank you all for your continued support. I hope one day to see you all again in some form or fashion."
Most read in Money
LADY LUCK Lottery player wins $15m from scratch-off but lost $9.6m by answering question
CLOSING TIME Cheesecake Factory shutting location sparking fear of more restaurant closures
SIGN OF THE TIMES Retail chain to close store after Walmart pulled out of city completely
POLICY PAINS Costco members say store policy change will cause 'chaos and long lines'
Another manager at Crown Point issued a similar message, noting "everyone has been let go."
"I'm not sure what will happen going forward..." they added.
Pizza Hut reinvents the burger after launching new menu item for first time ever and fans are calling it a must try
A former staffer at the Griffith and Hobart locations also said they were "in shock" after being notified about the closures and claimed there was "no warning at all to employees."
Pizza Hut is owned Yum Brands Inc.
The chain's nationwide locations are operated by several different franchisees.
One of the largest franchise owners in Indiana, EYM Group, would not confirm whether its locations were among the ones that closed.
Midwest Cities Affected by Pizza Hut Closures
The U.S. Sun has compiled a short list of the currently known cities affected by the Pizza Hut closures in Indiana and Ohio on Friday.
- Indiana
- 715 N Main Street, Crown Point
- 250 W Ridge Road, Griffith
- 7878 East Ridge Road, Hobart
- 2510 Laporte Avenue, Valparaiso
- Ohio
- 4514 Kenny Road, Columbus
- 1076 Parsons Avenue, Columbus
- 3643 South High Street, Columbus
- 5837 Sawmill Road, Dublin
Pizza Hut filed a lawsuit against EYM Group for breach of contract earlier this month, per court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun.
It's unclear whether or not the legal battle led to the closures.
Neither EYM Group or Yum Brands provided comment on the reasoning behind the axing of the Indiana locations.
OHIO
Ohio also saw four closures in Dublin, Arlington, Obetz, and Marion Village, per local NBC affiliate WCMH.
Each location in Ohio was removed from the Pizza Hut website, and voicemails at the restaurants noted the indefinite cease of operations.
Another Pizza Hut franchisee's bankruptcy filing in 2020 saw at least 300 locations axed.
The franchisee, NPC International, is one of the largest owners of the chain, at one time operating well-over 1,200 Pizza Huts.
Since last year, at least seven locations in New York have also closed, with the most recent being in March 2024.
A Pizza Hut spokesperson previously confirmed to The U.S. Sun that the New York closures were unrelated to NPC International's Chapter 11 filing.
Other pizza joints are also seeing shutdowns this year.
Read More on The US Sun
Mod Pizza confirmed 27 locations would be closing in April across California in what a former manager called a "disheartening" situation.
Pieology Pizzeria, famous for its build-your-own business model, also closed two locations in January.
