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Pizza Hut opens nostalgic Personal Pan Pizza popupPizza Hut opens nostalgic Personal Pan Pizza popup

The one-person restaurants inspired by Pizza Hut sit-down versions of yesteryear are popping up in New York this month

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

October 16, 2024

2 Min Read
Pizza Hut's pan pizza tiny personal restaurant
Pizza Hut is leaning into the nostalgia of its former sit-down-style restaurants.Pizza Hut

Joanna Fantozzi

Pizza Hut announced Wednesday the arrival of a new tiny popup restaurant in New York City to celebrate the six-inch Personal Pan Pizza. The phone booth-like nostalgic popups are an effort to boost sales and show off Pizza Hut’s new toppings introduced this summer, including Pesto Swirl, Spicy Sauce, Chicken Sausage, Fresh Diced Garlic, and Caramelized Onion.

"Our Personal Pan Pizza is a fan favorite, and we are excited to introduce a new way to enjoy it to pizza enthusiasts," Melissa Friebe, chief marketing officer of Pizza Hut, said in a statement "We're not just serving pizza—we're reimagining how our guests can experience the Personal Pan Pizza in an innovative, modern, and, of course, personalized way.”

The popup — which will only be available in Astoria, Queens, on Oct. 22 and 23 — is specifically meant to evoke the red roof-style dine-in Pizza Huts of yesteryear, complete with Tiffany-style lamps, red checkered tablecloths, and the red plastic cups for soft drinks.  

“It's a fun and fresh take on celebrating one of our most iconic offerings, fusing together what our guests have always loved about our brand with what they are excited about with our future: modern toppings and recipes, innovative concepts, and Instagram-worthy experiences,” Friebe said.

Related:Pizza Hut introduces Chicago-style tavern pies and eight new toppings

This isn’t the first time Pizza Hut has drawn on nostalgic marketing tactics: last year, the Yum Brands company introduced a merch line of hats that look like the Pizza Hut lamps. Pizza Hut also brought back The Big New Yorker pizza last year after a two-decade hiatus. 

The Personal Pan Pizza Hut will be open on Oct. 22 from 3-5 p.m. ET and Oct. 23 from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET. Reservations will be available via Tock starting Oct. 17.

Contact Joanna at [email protected]

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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