Pizza Hut reopening soon

Final inspections ended Thursday at the refurbished Pizza Hut on North Main Street, and the restaurant may open as early as next week.

John Sheppard, overseeing construction at the site, said town permits must be finalized before announcing an opening date.

In August, an apparent electrical fire gutted the restaurant, damaging most of its interior but leaving the exterior intact.

In mid-January, almost four years after the town had approved plans for a renovated Pizza Hut, the rebuilding began.

Though talk of updating the restaurant had circulated for years, the fire served as the impetus for renovation.

Shawn Mitchell of Maryland-based Vito Construction said the interior looks completely different.

“You’ve basically got a new building inside of the original brick shell,” he said. “Nothing was reused. All the equipment, furnishings, bathrooms — all new.”

The restaurant includes the addition of Wings Street, a Buffalo-style wings brand. Other additions to the menu have yet to be finalized.