Pizza Hut Wing Street Promotes Quality Indoor Dining

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Customized race memorabilia lines the interior.

The wooden bar cabinets were custom built on site.

The Supremo is one of six sandwiches available.

Team Leader Jazzimine Jones
Photos by Jay Thompson

(posted Jan 30)

It starts tomorrow, January 31, the grand opening of the Pizza Hut Wing Street at 6111 Crawfordsville Road. The exterior city scape design has interior amenities of 12  televisions, a bar, and a décor that reminds out-of-town guests they are in Speedway. Director of Operations Steve Burge said there are four Pizza Hut Wing Street restaurants in Indianapolis, but "this is the king."

The Wing Street version is bringing the customer back to indoor dining as it did in the 1970s. No longer will Pizza Hut consider its competitors to be Papa John's, Domino's and other delivery pizzas as it did in the 1980s. It now deems its competitors as Applebee's, Hooters, and BW-3 Buffalo Wild Wings.

Burge explained three more televisions were added after the company president's visit where he sat at every table and booth to see how well a customer could view a TV. He found some tables with blocked views and ordered the additional TVs to be installed. Burge plans to entice people to dine during March Madness, the race, and next year's college and other professional sports with all of the televisions. The restaurant will be open for Super Bowl Sunday, but the liquor license will not be transferred until Feb 5.

Doug Denham, area coach, said part of the alcohol menu will include wine base daiquiris and margaritas. He also emphasized the six new hot sandwiches are listed on the menu to capture the lunch crowd. The sandwiches are plated with curly seasoned fries. Burge added that the cooking oils contain no trans fat, noting that he is concerned with his dietary intake of trans fat since he is training for his first mini-marathon. The menu also offers salads, spaghetti and the variety of ways to make a pizza.

The January 30 VIP night provided employees with a special training night to discover any glitches that could disrupt quality service. The servers are to review the menu with customers. Jazzimine was no exception. She promoted the cinnamon sticks and hot cinnamon apple pie as something to "die for." She also reviewed different sauces and methods to cook the wings. Cajun Spicy, Spicy Asian, Honey BBQ, Burn'in Hot, Medium and Mild, Extremely Spicy, Very Spicy and Spicy are part of choices a customer will have to deliberate before ordering.

Connie Stephenson, general manager, said some of the 35 employees from the Pizza Hut delivery on High School Road and Pizza Hut restaurant farther east on Crawfordsville Road transferred to the new location. January 30 is the last business day for the old dine in location.

Stephenson said LaRaza Franchise owner has a staff of 60 employees to operate the store, and if business projections are correct she expects to hire an additional 10 to 15 more employees.

The store will also resume pizza delivery since the closing of the High School Road carry out unit.