Pizzeria to open third central Ohio eatery in former Pizza Hut
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio pizzeria is expanding with a third location inside a former Pizza Hut that closed earlier this year.
Halwani's Pizza and Stromboli will begin welcoming customers later this month to the new location at 5837 Sawmill Rd. in Dublin, the owners announced on social media. The Dublin eatery will mark the pizzeria's third location, the first at 1453 Ida Ave. in Fifth by Northwest and the second that opened earlier this year at 5425 Roberts Rd. in Hilliard.
The pizzeria is taking over the space most recently home to Pizza Hut, which abruptly closed in June along with three other central Ohio Pizza Hut locations. All four had been removed from Pizza Hut's site, and their voicemails repeated similar recorded messages when called, saying the eatery has shuttered.
At the time, Pizza Hut did not respond to NBC4's request for clarification on when exactly each restaurant shuttered and why the decision was made to close. Now, the Texas-based brand’s rolodex of central Ohio locations has dwindled to about 20 restaurants.
Halwani's is home to a series of specialty pizzas, like the Crazy Meat Pizza and the Chicken and Bacon Ranch Pizza, and Stromboli, like the Killer Veggie Stromboli and the Spinach Feta Stromboli. A selection of subs, salads, buffalo wings, pastas, appetizers and desserts round out the menu.
The Hilliard location is open 4 to 11 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, while the Fifth by Northwest eatery is open 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Sunday.