Pizza Hut Is Returning To Its ‘Retro Red Roof Era’
Find out if there’s a classic location near you.
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty
For many millennials, there’s a certain je ne se quois to the magical wonder of a Pizza Hut in the ’90s. For me, there was virtually nothing more appealing: the salad bar, the “Book It!” challenges, the lamps, the ever-present red throughout the dining room, the exterior “red roof” design, the pebbled cups (more than likely brimming with effervescent Coca-Cola) — it all added up to a joyful, celebratory experience that, when looking back, is akin to some of the most wonderful highlights on my childhood. And I know that I’m not alone in that.
So, to that end, Pizza Hut is now tapping into that wonder of nostalgia, stepping back in time in an attempt to make the brand equally memorable and iconic for a whole new generation.
What are classic Pizza Hut locations?
Most current Pizza Hut locations throughout the United States are not exactly dine-in. While one can order with a cashier and sit down at a booth, there's no tableside service. When I last ate at my local Pizza Hut, I was basically handed a pizza in a cardboard box with some paper plates and had to make do. The bulk of these establishments are limited to delivery and takeout only and are typically sterile, unfriendly and unremarkable, with none of the panache of Pizza Hut in the '90s — boisterous, convivial, exciting, somewhere where you would go out with family for a meal and run into friends and classmates.
Now, the chain is trying to harken back to the old days. Called "classic locations" on a page on the official website titled "Bringing Back the Retro Red Roof Era," these locations are marked by the iconic standbys of the cherished '80s and '90s Pizza Hut brand aesthetics — "classic red roofs, cozy vinyl booths, red checkered tablecloths, [and] Tiffany-style lamps" — to name a few, plus jukeboxes, arcade games and much more.
"These classic elements represent more than decor," owner Yum Brands states in a press release, offering "comfort, emotional grounding, and a sense of control” in a family-friendly environment that brings to mind happier, earlier times. Pizza Hut is now the latest chain delving into the nostalgia realm in order to recapture previous customers as well as (ideally) bring in some brand new ones, too.
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty
What makes classic Pizza Hut locations different from the rest?
For many, the food itself wasn't even the best part of old-school Pizza Hut — though you can't argue with the salad bar, outrageous breadsticks (that seasoning!) and the iconic stuffed crust. The ambiance and energy at an average Pizza Hut on a weekday evening 30-some years ago was unbeatable.
So, instead of merely another food establishment offering only takeout and delivery, this change puts Pizza Hut on the map as a destination restaurant — somewhere to go with loved ones and enjoy great food in a communal, positive, nostalgia-driven setting. And Pizza Hut is hoping that emotion-based appeal and shift will signal a boost in sales and dining.
"From TikTok to Instagram, pilgrimages to these nostalgic locations are driving comments and conversation," Yum Brands says in the press release. "Families are traveling from neighboring towns and sometimes neighboring states, to experience the retro-inspired restaurants firsthand."
The long-ago joy of Pizza Hut may soon be able to be experienced by more and more people, spreading the wonder that Pizza Hut once represented to so many to a younger generation and perhaps even a whole new customer base. And I think that that’s something we can all be happy about.
What else is Pizza Hut bringing back?
Another standout aspect of that era of Pizza Hut is, of course, the Book It! Program, which is also returning this summer.
Where can I find a Pizza Hut classic location?
There are now 155 retro Pizza Huts across 20 states. You can find the full list here.
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