Which brothers founded Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958?

Dan and Frank Carney founded Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958.

The brothers borrowed money from their mother and opened their first restaurant near Wichita State University. They chose the name Pizza Hut partly because the first building had a small sign with room for only eight letters, making “Pizza Hut” fit neatly.

Pizza Hut grew through franchising and became one of the best-known international pizza chains. Its early restaurants focused on sit-down service, rather than the delivery-heavy format many customers now associate with the brand.

The Carney brothers are sometimes confused with Tom and James Monaghan, who founded Domino’s. Another common mix-up is attributing Pizza Hut’s creation to a later corporate executive; the founding event belongs to the Carney brothers in 1958.