Numerous Iowa Pizza Hut Locations Closing For Good
UPDATE: Several other small town Pizza Hut locations have also closed including Maquoketa, Vinton, Iowa Falls, Boone, Tipton, and Grundy Center.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Several weeks ago, news broke that up to 300 Pizza Hut restaurant locations would be closing after one of it's largest franchisees went bankrupt. CNN reported that NPC International agreed with Yum! Brands to close nearly a quarter of it's Pizza Hut locations and then sell off the remaining locations. At the time, specific restaurants and the timing of the closures were not known. Well, on Tuesday, we got specifics.
KMCH reports that several area Pizza Hut locations closed their doors for good on Tuesday. Those locations include restaurants in Manchester, Dyersville, Independence, and Oelwein. Phone calls were made to each of the four locations and the caller received this recorded message.
Thank you for calling Pizza Hut. We're sorry, but this restaurant has closed. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please visit PizzaHut.com for a location near you.
CNN reported that Pizza Hut stated this summer that the 300 stores that would be closed were significantly underperforming compared to other stores in the country. Employees will be offered other jobs at nearby restaurants if possible. Pizza Hut has been shifting away from from opening restaurants, and operating ones that have dining areas. They encourage customers to order pick-up, or like my family typically does, order food through the Pizza Hut app.
Pizza Hut still has locations in Cedar Rapids on J Street SW, Mt Vernon Road SE, Edgewood Road NW, and Blairs Forest Way. They also have a store on 7th Ave. in Marion, and Pacha Parkway in North Liberty.