What happened to Pizza Hut? They ruled in the 80s and 90s. Going there for a sit down meal was a treat. One time as a kid, while sleeping over at a friend’s house, the host parents let us order whatever we wanted from Pizza Hut. I thought that was the neatest thing (and the ultimate status symbol for a 10 year-old). I think their downfall may be due to changing consumer tastes and competition from non-pizza restaurants. Fast casual places like Qdoba, Chipotle, Panera, or Noodles were rare in the 80s and early 90s.