PLANO, Texas — Remember the red-roofed Pizza Hut restaurants of your youth? Yeah, this is not that.
The North Texas-based pizza giant has debuted a whole new concept and building style at a location in Plano. The new spot at 8605 Ohio Drive includes self-service kiosks for ordering, a contactless pick-up window and a drive-thru lane dubbed the "Hut Lane," which features ready-made offerings from Pizza Hut's "Hut 'N Go" menu.
And the building has a decidedly different aesthetic from what most fans of Pizza Hut are familiar with, with white brick a black and red facade, and a more narrow build to accommodate the drive-thru lane.
This is the first U.S. location with the revamped look, but Pizza Hut officials say the concept is already operating in 80 markets worldwide. While the Plano location will feature the new drive-thru lane, the restaurant will still offer dine-in, carry-out, call-ahead and delivery options.
Here's what Pizza Hut CEO Aaron Powell had to say about the restaurant:
"From its physical layout to its modern design and digital-forward capabilities, this new restaurant showcases Pizza Hut's legacy of innovation and unique ability to meet changing guest needs in ways that are distinctive to our brand. Beyond just serving delicious pizza, which we do very well, it's equally as critical that our guests enjoy a seamless experience with us that feels personalized to their tastes and needs. This restaurant format harnesses the power of these priorities and, as a result, creates magic that only Pizza Hut can offer."
Pizza Hut, which was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kan., is now under the Yum! Brands company, which also owns fast food chains KFC and Taco Bell. Pizza Hut's corporate headquarters is located in Plano, near Legacy Drive and the Dallas North Tollway.
