The world’s largest Pizza Hut franchise will build a new Pizza Hut and Wing Street dine-in restaurant in northwest Emporia at 2920 West 18th Ave.
Construction is expected to begin within 30 days, according to Jim Villamaria, corporate counsel for National Pizza Corp. of Pittsburg, which operates the franchise here.
“We purchased the property yesterday,” Villamaria said in an interview on Tuesday. “Our development team looked at a number of locations and just felt that this was the best one for visibility, for service to our customers, as well as providing us sufficient amount of land in which to consturct and provide sufficient parking.”
The new restaurant will replace the existing Pizza Hut at 831 W. Sixth Ave., also owned by National Pizza. That restaurant will be closed, Villamaria said.
National Pizza bought the 18th Avenue property from Eagle Development through one of Eagle’s owners, Jim Pickert.
Villamaria estimated the restaurant could be completed in approximately 90 days. National Pizza works with several general contractors on its restaurants throughout the United States. One of those contractors is expected to oversee the project, using as many local subcontractors as possible.
“This is a prototype that we’ve used in many, many locations,” Villamaria said. “... At some point in time, customers appreciate the opportunity to go to a location that’s new and bright.”
Plans for the new building, currently under review by fire and zoning officials, include 3,794 square feet of floor space that will accommodate 106 people, according to Martin Peres, Emporia’s Chief of Code Services.
The company originally submitted plans for a slightly larger building that would seat 16 additional people, Peres said. Review of the new plans should be completed in about a week.
National Pizza has about 20 locations in Kansas, and approximately 875 Pizza Huts in 28 states.
peanutbutter (anonymous) says...
Just what we need, another pizza place. Can't we get something "different" around here??? Emporia doesn't want us to leave to shop or eat, but they don't provide us with any choices.
April 18, 2007 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wasp (anonymous) says...
I try to not go to that area of town unless I *absolutely* have to. Guess they will be loosing my business. I do not see how so many restaurants can cram into such a small area and survive. I do good to go out to eat once a week!
April 18, 2007 at 10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gazette_reader (anonymous) says...
I've heard business is better when there are several restaurants together. If there is just one restaurant in an area, the only time people travel there is when they know they want to go to that particular restaurant. If there are several together, you might wander out to an area where all of the restaurants are without an idea of what you want, and then decide what sounds good and whose parking lot isn't completely crowded.
Emporia has actually lost two pizza places in the past few months, and this place is replacing their Sixth Avenue restaurant. I'm wondering, though - does this mean that the delivery place will stay open?
April 19, 2007 at 3:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
If anybody puts 100k to 2 million in a business,I wish them a good return on their investment!Hire people-pay taxes and your vendors.40 and 50 years ago,we called 6th St "Hamburger Row".It's just extended quite a ways west of Prairie now..........Do you want a side of Thunderthighs with that? Seriously though,the new one will do well,and the old one will become a real estate or drive-thru-internet-legal office.Life goes on.
April 19, 2007 at 3:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Farmersdaughter (anonymous) says...
GOOD! We've not gone to the 6th street Pizza Hut in years because it is so dark and dirty. Our kids will love that they can use their "Book-Its" in Emporia now instead of driving to Council Grove.
((Love the "drive-thru- internet-legal office" comment!))
April 20, 2007 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
Hey Blulitespecial, are you sure the old one won't become a second-hand (junk) store? Or maybe a payday loan place? How about a used car dealer? Church? Bar?
That covers most of the new business the past few years...
June 4, 2007 at 12:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
I'd go with the bar idea,but the ceiling's too low-bad acoustics for music.NO! A Drive in church theatre! ....with a speaker and a wire hanging on your window.... 20 ft infatable screen....sorry-I've had a LOT of coffee!
June 4, 2007 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EuthanizeEmporia (anonymous) says...
blu and sci,
You have left out the ever popular Mexican restaurant.
June 6, 2007 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
dominga (anonymous) says...
Why would Emporia get another pizza place and why would they build it right next to pizza hut. Can't they get something other than what we already have. Lets see we got 3 micky d's had 2 wendy's had 2 burger kings a hardees 3 subways ect. you get the hint?..oh and EVERY PIZZA PLACE in the world a couple chinese places and a few mexican places is this all this city is ever going to have. No wonder everyone leaves and goes out of town. Who was the ediot that made this decision? Why can't we get a Spangles a Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday? Anything else but what we already have! What about the dump sites we have open downtown-the old Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy's, Pizza Hut Oh no we are going to build a brand new pizza place. I can't wait to move out of this town it gets worse every year!
September 17, 2008 at 12:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
dominga, do you like Italian food? How about opening up an Italian restaurant in the old Pizza Hut place? There's plenty of parking. Whatever you do, please don't serve pizza.
September 17, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
3 micky D's?? where is the 3rd one located? I know of 2. I do have to agree on "another pizza joint" how about Joe's Crab Shack????? YUM!
September 17, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
the third mcdonalds is about 5 miles out on the turnpike
September 17, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )