National Pizza Chain Could Close Locations in IA, IL, and WI

News that Pizza Hut will be closing hundreds of locations across the country got me thinking: whatever happened to the old Pizza Hut? You might remember it. It was a full-fledged experience with a spacious dining room, a salad bar, arcade games, including Pac-Man and bubble hockey (my personal favorite), and a culture unto itself.

I wonder if Pizza Hut owner Yum! Brands, who also owns Taco Bell and KFC, would be able to revive those dine-in pizzerias on a small-scale and whether or not it would be a lucrative move. My guess is I'm viewing this through nostalgia-colored glasses; most people want to pick up a pizza and take it home. However, with the smothering sameness aesthetic taking over every fast food joint in the modern day, I long for the days when restaurants had some personality.

Pizza Hut is Closing Hundreds of Locations:

This week, it was announced that Yum! Brands will be closing 250 "underperforming" Pizza Hut locations, which amounts to roughly 3% of its total volume of American stores. There's the possibility that some locations in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin will begin to disappear, however, at this time, a specific list of locations wasn't released.

This moves comes after Pizza Hut launched a "formal review of strategic options" back in November, with the possibility of the company going up for sale, per CNN. When compared to their rival Domino's, Pizza Hut has struggled, with another decline in same-store sales for its US location. The chain has pivoted to focus on value, including a $5 pizza, but the gains haven't been what the company has expected.

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Yum! Brands' Taco Bell has seen a leap in same-store sales (7%) for the quarter, and they're a company that's constantly adding new items to their menu. Meanwhile, KFC's same-store sales continue to lag behind at roughly 1%. The future of Pizza Hut, at this moment in time, looks and feels bleak. We shall see if they close any locations in/around the Tri-States.

Read more about Pizza Hut closing 250 locations on CNN's website.