The Hut is shut: Pizza Hut closes its doors for good

The restaurant closed its doors for the final time on Monday night after COVID restrictions had forced the buffet to stay shut.

Store co-manager Nikesh Patel said the restaurant had been forced to go takeaway only in the past 12 months.

He said before COVID, takeaway provided 40 per cent of the store's revenue and in-person dining provided 60 per cent.

“On takeaway delivery (alone) we couldn't quite afford to pay rent,” he said.

Mr Patel said he and his co-manager had two other full-time employees on the books and "three or four casuals".

“It's a bit sad,” he said of the closure.

The building is being stripped and will be demolished in coming months.

It leaves Ballarat as the last remaining all-you-can-eat Pizza Hut buffet diner in Victoria, with several in NSW including Parkes and Orange, and a handful in Queensland.

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