Pizza Hut has tried a few experiments over the years, but one of its most intriguing—and largely forgotten—ventures was Next Door Restaurant in the early 1970s. This short-lived chain was an ambitious attempt to expand beyond pizza and into the world of sit-down American comfort food.
What Was Next Door Restaurant?
Next Door was Pizza Hut‘s answer to the growing demand for casual dining that went beyond pizza. The restaurants featured a menu of charcoal broiled quarter-pound burgers, steaks, shrimp dinners, spaghetti, and chili, all served in a unique setting that leaned into an Americana theme.
One of its quirks? Each table had a red telephone, allowing customers to call in their orders directly to the kitchen—a novelty at the time. The restaurant’s Revolutionary War-inspired decor included dark wood paneling, red leather booths, and colonial-era artwork, creating a cozy but distinctive dining experience.
The Rise and Fall of Next Door
Pizza Hut opened its first Next Door prototype in Wichita, Kansas, in the early ’70s. Encouraged by the initial response, the company quickly expanded, launching locations in Atlanta, Culver City, Jacksonville, Louisville, and Fort Worth.
Despite its promise, the chain struggled to find its footing. Competition in the casual dining space was fierce, and the concept never gained the traction Pizza Hut hoped for. By the mid-1970s, the Next Door experiment had quietly faded into history.
Why It Still Matters
While Next Door Restaurant didn’t last, it remains a fascinating part of Pizza Hut‘s history—an early example of a major brand trying to diversify its offerings and move beyond its core product. Today, with fast-casual dining evolving and brands constantly reinventing themselves, the story of Next Door serves as a reminder that even the biggest names in food have their share of can’t-miss bold ideas that don’t work.
Did you enjoy this post? Should I also write about Pizza Hut’s other short-lived concepts, Flaming Steer Steakhouse, and Sutphen’s Barbecue and Taco Kid (Taco Boy)?
Do you remember Next Door Restaurant? Drop a comment below and share your memories!
