restaurant Archives - One Delightful Life

Do you have fond memories of dining at Pizza Hut as a kid?

Just thinking of hanging out at Pizza Hut brings back fond memories for me. I’ll never forget the time my neighborhood friends and I were old enough to dine there without our parents. We pooled our money together and bought a pizza to share. We were living the dream.

Today, I still can’t believe that the internationally known pizza restaurant was founded in my home city, Wichita. In 1958, two Wichita State University students, Dan and Frank Carney, opened the first restaurant located on the east side of town staffed by family, fellow fraternity brothers, and friends. What started as a humble side hustle for a couple of college students has grown to 18,000 Pizza Hut restaurants in over 100 countries (Source: Yum! Brands, 2021).

Pizza Hut enthusiasts will get a kick out of visiting the Pizza Hut Museum on Wichita State University’s Innovation campus – the original “Home of the Hut.” It is the actual original Pizza Hut building! Open to the public and free to tour, the interactive museum showcases everything you love about the business from authentic artifacts to chronological timelines.

How did it all start? The Carney brothers borrowed $600 from their mom to open the first restaurant location at Kellogg and Bluff streets. When they eventually sold the business to Pepsi Company in 1977, it was worth $300,000,000. Now, that’s how you build a business! As they say, “no one loves pizza more than Pizza Hut.” To read more about the company’s growth, visit their blog page.

Recognize the dining chairs and Tiffany-style lamp? Hessco Manufacturing, located in Hesston, Kansas, made the furniture for the restaurant chain from the 1960s to-1970s.

Over the years, the brand has evolved to align with pop culture trends. (Does anyone remember the commercials featuring celebrities?) They made history as the first company to deliver food to space. Additionally, they influenced childrens’ love of reading. I was a product of the BOOK IT program, a literacy initiative that encouraged students to read and helped kids get access to books. After I finished reading a book, I was awarded a gold star sticker to place on my Pizza Hut BOOK IT button. Once I completed all five stars on the button, I earned a Personal Pan Pizza®! Perhaps that explains my love of reading and why I eventually became a high school English teacher?

What Pizza Hut merchandise did you own as a kid?

Pizza Hut’s influence can be seen as you tour the museum. You’ll appreciate the interactive space offering visitors a chance to take a walk down memory (pizza!) lane. You’re encouraged to experience the Tactile Library and take a selfie with the restaurant chain’s original mascot, Pizza Pete. Warning: By the time you exit the building, you’ll crave a slice of pizza. What will you order for dine-in or delivery?

Speaking of delivery, did you know that Pizza Hut delivered pizzas to The White House in 1989 after First Lady Barbara Bush decided to host a pizza party? A favorite meal choice of Americans, the company launched online ordering in 1994 making getting a pie delivered to your door that much easier.

Pizza Pete, a one-time mascot for the franchise, was once made into a kids toy.

Don’t forget! The Pizza Hut Museum is open to the public and admission is free! Review the museum’s hours and plan your visit to the original Home of the Hut. Consider yourself the ultimate Pizza Hut fan? Stay up to date to learn about product releases and campaign launches via their Press Room page. Perhaps you can’t make it to Wichita to visit the museum? Take a virtual journey here.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a Meat Lover’s® pizza to order.

On a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma my boyfriend mentioned,”Hey, do you want to stop at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile?” I answered, “YES!” Then, I wondered if he could read my thoughts. How did he know I already researched it and wanted to visit?

View from the stairs that lead to the bakery.

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma is more than just a general store or simple, country retail store. It’s an experience! Complete with a restaurant and an upstairs bakery, “The Merc” attracts visitors from all over. Having done my homework, I knew there could be a line leading from the front door and down the sidewalk but to my surprise there were less than six people in line when we arrived! Maybe it was because it was a Friday at 11:15am. Maybe it was because it was raining. Maybe it was just my lucky day. Either way, I would recommend visiting even if you see a line when you pass by the building.

An employee greeted each person waiting in line with a big smile and a welcoming “How are you guys doin’?” Within minutes we were ushered inside by our hostess and led into The Deli to an oversized, distressed wood table adorned with gingham cloth napkins and menus.

Speaking of the menu, you’ll love the food options ranging from sandwiches stacked tall with flavorful meats and veggies to hearty, big plate dinner entrees. The food is wonderful, the waitstaff is incredibly friendly, and the overall dining experience was amazing. It’s obvious that Ree Drummond has put considerable effort into every detail of your experience from the menu options to the red gingham employee shirts. Reminder: Make sure to plan enough time during your visit to enjoy a meal from the restaurant – and bring your appetite!

What did we eat for lunch? We shared two sandwiches: Ladd’s Favorite Chicken Sandwich and the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Each were delicious in their own right, but we decided that Ladd, Ree’s husband, was on to something when he added bacon, cheddar, and honey mustard to a grilled chicken sandwich. YUM! View the menu here. We splurged and added a side of baked macaroni-and-cheese, which may have been more than enough food. I didn’t care. I finished off the cheesy pasta in no time. (No surprise there!)

Don’t forget to ask for thick, zesty ranch dressing to dip your fries (or peppered potato chips) into!

After finishing our meal, we walked over to The Merc and I was immediately overwhelmed with delightful feeling that only comes from “retail therapy.” In fact, another female shopper heard me say, “I’m not responsible for the amount of shopping I may or may not do in this store,” and then we shared a giggle. Then, my boyfriend rolled his eyes and laughed (nervously?) as I located a shopping basket.

The retail store includes everything you can imagine from whimsical, classic toys to leather handbags to colorful kitchenware. You’ll be hard-pressed to leave The Merc without at least buying a t-shirt or decorative plate – I did!

Don’t forget to head upstairs to check out The Bakery. I recognized the space from an episode of The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network. Less crowded than the downstairs areas, you’ll appreciate taking the time to savor a homemade cookie or a few pieces of retro candy.

You can make a day of your visit to Pawhuska. Many people make it a weekend and stay at one of the town’s bed and breakfasts and then shopping downtown. Next time, We’ll be sure to make time to visit P-Town Pizza, another Drummond family restaurant.

Not wanting to give away too many details, I would just say this about our time at The Merc – we had so much fun! We’ll definitely return to The Merc (and any other businesses she decides to open) in the charming little town. I know you would enjoy the visit as well.

Have you traveled to Oklahoma? Are you a fan of The Pioneer Woman? Feel free to ask me travel questions in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you!

Catch more of my travels and recipe posts on Instagram and Twitter. Have a delightful day!

Putt Putt to the Pizza Hut Museum

Visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma