Customers hoping to get their hands on a Meat Lover's pizza will be met with disappointment if they visit one of 15 Pizza Hut locations that recently shuttered without warning. According to the New York Post, Pizza Hut has closed over a dozen restaurants across the Midwest. To make matters worse, an additional 120 Pizza Huts are now in danger of closing.
News of the closures comes as Pizza Hut is in the midst of a legal dispute with EYM Group, one of its franchisees. The company is accused of defaulting on millions of dollars in payments owed to Pizza Hut.
The claims were the result of a countersuit made by Pizza Hut earlier this month. Prior to the countersuit, EYM Group sued Pizza Hut in March 2023 over breach of contract. The company claimed that Pizza Hut failed to modernize its menu and digital ordering system, therefore putting its restaurants at a disadvantage.
There is some good news for pan pizza lovers: In a statement obtained by Eat This, Not That!, Pizza Hut revealed that some of the closed locations will reopen soon.
"While a few EYM franchise-operated restaurants in Indiana have temporarily closed, Pizza Hut remains committed to providing outstanding service and products to our valued customers. The company is working to transition these locations and expects many of them will reopen soon. Other restaurants operated by the franchisee outside the Indiana market remain open," the statement read.
