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In 1958, brothers and Wichita University students Frank and Dan Carney
started what they thought was going to be a small pizza joint at the
corner of Bluff and Kellogg in Wichita. The business, staffed by friends
and family, served the newest food trend in America. The business thrived
instantly and the company took off when its first franchised restaurant
opened in Topeka. Now, it is the largest pizza company in the world with
more than 11,000 restaurants in 90 countries. In 1986, the original Pizza
Hut building found a fitting home on Wichita State University’s campus. It
served as a landmark and a source of pride for students. In 2017, the
building was moved again, but this time to the east side of WSU’s campus.
By turning the building into a museum, it can be enjoyed by all in an
interactive way. This story of the pizza place started by two brothers
perfectly exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of Shockers and Kansans.
We hope it will inspire future generations of dreamers and entrepreneurs.
We are proud to be the Home of the Hut.
At the beginning of Pizza
Hut’s rise to fame, the brothers decided the business needed a mascot. The
iconic Pizza Pete represented the restaurant. Pete wore a checkered
neckerchief, apron, hat and mustache. The famous cartoon first appeared on
advertisements, cups, bags and on restaurant exteriors and signs. Pete is
remembered by Pizza Hut fans today and his likeness is a permanent fixture
in the museum where guests can get a picture with the mustached mascot.