Pizza Hut Marion announces it will permanently close by the end of the month
Bill Lianos explains why he’s closing down SA’s last remaining dine-in Pizza Hut, as a former employee speaks of his fondness for the franchisee.
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South Australia’s last dine-in Pizza Hut will close at the end of the month, sparking widespread devastation for nostalgic pizza lovers and a rush on bookings.
Pizza Hut Marion announced “with great sadness” on Facebook late Wednesday night it would close its doors permanently from June 27, causing a social-media frenzy.
Franchisee and store manager Bill Lianos said Thursday had been frantic and 200 people had called by 1pm looking to book before doors closed. He said spots were filling fast.
“It’s just been nostalgic, I guess,” Mr Lianos told The Advertiser.
The Somerton Park man has been involved with Pizza Hut brand for 44 years and took over full-time operation of the store three years ago.
Westfield owns the land the store sits on and is planning an unknown redevelopment that may affect the area.
Mr Lianos said “it was just time” to close the store.
“It’s sad ... but moving forward the Pizza Hut brand is expanding big time,” he said.
“But the way of the world today is delivery and the digital space and aggregators like Uber Eats, that’s what people want, the convenience of getting food delivered to them.
“Obviously like everyone else Covid had an impact on the business … but it was primarily my decision to move on.”
About 30 part-time and casual staff will lose their job at the end of the month, with some gaining work at other stores.
Mr Lianos said he wasn’t sure if he was retiring, or moving on to a new venture.
Adam Lobb, 46, began working for Mr Lianos at the Salisbury Pizza Hut back in 1992, when he was just 16 years old.
Mr Lobb, who went on to run his own award-winning pizza bar, Riverside Pizza House, said his former boss inspired him to get into the industry.
“Bill was exceptionally good to work for. He always had an eye for people who had good customer service skills and that was one thing he said about me,” Mr Lobb said.
The 46-year-old said he was sad to hear the Marion store would be closing and reminisced on the “good old days” of Adelaide’s pizza scene.
“They were fun times back then. The pizza business was booming and a lot of things were family-oriented,” Mr Lobb said.
Despite the swathes of pizza enthusiasts likely to flock to the store in coming weeks, Mr Lobb hoped to make a booking and visit Mr Lianos before doors closed.
“He’s probably going to be very busy now … but I’d like to wish Bill and his family all the best,” he said.
Thanking past employees and customers, Pizza Hut Marion’s Facebook post prompted a huge outcry.
They urged customers to continue bookings for the final three weeks the store remained open.
The post attracted nearly 3000 comments and more than 800 shares by lunchtime Thursday where people posted comments expressing their disappointment.
“Is this a joke?” one woman said.
“Devastating news, special place for our family,” another man said.
“Definitely an end of an era, had many birthday parties here and a school excursion making my own pizza,” a person said.
Many reminisced about childhood memories at the restaurant.
“No, I have been going there since I was a kid, now I go with my daughter and grandson.” one woman said.
Phone lines for the franchise were engaged since it opened at 11 on Thursday, as people began calling to make bookings.
There are just 12 remaining dine-in Pizza Hut stores across the country including in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.
It comes after two Adelaide restaurants recently announced they would close, including Pranzo in the CBD three months after a refurbishment and reopening with new owners.
Sushi Train in the Central Market is also closing after 18 years of operation.
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