Pizza Hut franchisee converts locations into retro classics

Cris Tolomia

Mon, May 18, 2026 at 10:08 AM EDT 2 min read

Daland Corporation, a Kansas-based Pizza Hut franchisee, has converted 38 of its 93 locations into retro-styled "Pizza Hut Classic" restaurants modeled after the chain's dine-in format from the 1980s and 1990s, according to Inc.

Each converted location has been outfitted with period-appropriate details: Tiffany-style stained-glass overhead lighting, plastic checkered tablecloths, red vinyl booths, and a salad bar of the kind that once defined the chain's dining rooms. The locations also display materials for the long-running "Book It" program, through which Pizza Hut gives students a free personal pan pizza for hitting a monthly reading target — a promotion that remains active today.

Tim Sparks, the president of Daland Corporation, is leading the effort. According to Inc, his history with the brand goes back to 1983, when he took a job washing dishes at one of the restaurants and eventually worked his way up to a management role. The Classic format is his attempt to restore what he sees as the chain's core identity: a sit-down dining experience that distinguishes Pizza Hut from carryout and delivery-focused competitors.

Among the converted sites is a location in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, where the interior renovation is fully realized — right down to the salad bar that disappeared from most Pizza Huts long ago.

Pizza Hut has been the weakest-performing brand in the Yum Brands portfolio. The chain's U.S. same-store sales fell 4% in the most recent quarter, with global same-store sales flat and operating profit down 14%. Yum Brands said earlier this year it would explore strategic options for the chain, and has since recorded about $37 million in charges tied to that review. Apollo Global Management and Sycamore Partners are among the private equity firms that have emerged as potential acquirers, according to CNBC.

Daland's push toward a dine-in revival runs counter to a broader industry shift toward delivery and app-based ordering. Whether the nostalgia-driven model can attract customers at scale remains to be seen, but the franchisee has already committed to the format across more than a third of its locations.