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Childhood of Frank
Frank was one of seven children. Dan was his older brother and their mother made a promise to their father that all would finish collage. -
Death of Father
Frank and Dans father died when Frank was only 10 years old -
End of High School Beginning of Collage
After high school Frank began collage at university of Wichita. Frank began being so involved in a business venture that he dropped out of collage. -
The beginning
The business venture that eventually forced Carney out of college was the launch in 1958 of a little pizza business Frank and Dan Carney called Pizza Hut. -
Getting Started
Borrowing $600 from their mother, the Carney brothers located a vacant store, not far from the family's grocery business. Neither Frank nor Dan knew anything about making pizza -
A New Mascot
The beginning of Pizza Hut’s rise to fame, the brothers decided the business needed a mascot. The iconic Pizza Pete represented the restaurant. Pete wore a checkered neckerchief, apron, hat and mustache. The famous cartoon first appeared on advertisements, cups, bags and on restaurant exteriors and signs. Pete is remembered by Pizza Hut fans today and his likeness is a permanent fixture in the museum where guests can get a picture with the mustached mascot. -
Bringing in The Money
The local Kansas market had never really seen pizza like the Carneys were selling with fresh toppings and plenty of herbs the business took off quickly. Allowing Frank and Dan to open five more outlets by the end of their first year. The first store was pulling in weekly sales of about $1,500. -
trouble
it was difficult for Carney and his brother to expand their business beyond the area of the Kansas City where they opened their first stores. The brothers' idea of franchising the operation won little sympathy from Wichita bankers. Eventually they began franchising the Pizza Hut name for an initial fee of $100 and a monthly royalty of $100. Some of the college friends who had helped out in the first of the Carney's Pizza Hut outlets later decided to become franchisees themselves -
New Title
Frank was named president of Pizza Hut -
New Chains
Pizza Hut opened several other chains to diversify its menu. These included the fast-food Mexican eatery Taco Kid; hamburger restaurant Next Door; steakhouse Flaming Steer; and barbecue restaurant Sutphen's. All four ventures were unsuccessful and closed by the end of the decade -
Sold
Carney brothers sold Pizza Hut to PepsiCo for $320 million. -
New Homes
The original Pizza Hut building found a fitting home on Wichita State University’s campus. It served as a landmark and a source of pride for students. -
New Ways to Order
Pizza Hut and the Santa Cruz Operation announced PizzaNet, a pilot program in the Santa Cruz area that allowed consumers to use their own computer to order pizza delivery from a local Pizza Hut restaurant, with connection being made over the Internet to a central Pizza Hut server in Wichita, Kansas -
New Types
Pizza Hut introduced PizzaNet in 1994,an early internet ordering experiment, and continued innovation with offerings like stuffed crust pizza -
Bankruptcy
Pizza Hut announced it would be closing up to 300 restaurants after the bankruptcy of NPC International, one of its largest franchisees. In March 2021, Flynn Restaurant Group acquired NPC's 937 Pizza Hut locations.