Frank and Dan Carney

Brothers Frank and Dan Carney borrowed $600 from their mother in 1958 to open the first Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas, pioneering a standardized, family-friendly pizza concept that was highly scalable and deliverable.

Frank and Dan Carney, two young entrepreneurs from Wichita, Kansas, borrowed $600 from their mother in 1958 to purchase a used pizza oven and open a small, 25-seat restaurant. The name 'Pizza Hut' was suggested by a sign painter who noted the building’s roof resembled a hut and that there was only room for eight characters on the sign. The Carney brothers’ focus on a consistent, family-friendly dining experience and a standardized, deliverable product allowed Pizza Hut to expand rapidly, reaching 100 locations by 1968. They took the company public in 1969 before eventually selling it to PepsiCo in 1977, paving the way for its integration into what would become Yum! Brands.