Pizza Hut opened its first restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, in 1958. Brothers Dan and Frank Carney borrowed money from their mother to start the business near Wichita State University.
The brothers initially operated a small restaurant in a building whose exterior sign had room for only eight letters. “Pizza Hut” fit the available space, giving the company its name. The restaurant’s early success led to expansion through company-owned locations and franchising.
Pizza Hut became known for its pan pizza and later developed a large international restaurant network. Its first location was not a large standalone building like many later restaurants; it was a modest building in Wichita. That origin is why the chain is closely associated with the city.