Former Fort Wayne Pizza Hut HQ repurposed

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — The former Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne Inc. headquarters now has a new purpose. The Kaizen Center, which was acquired by Fort Wayne-based Sweetwater Sound Inc. founder Chuck Surack earlier this year, is now available for use as a corporate meeting and business retreat space.

The 23,000-square-foot building, which sits on a 17-acre lot served as the Pizza Hut HQ for 30 years. Officials say the center has been updated with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment for business conferences and retreats, as well smaller functions and fundraisers.

Surack acquired the property in April for $2.2 million after Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne moved its headquarters to the city’s downtown.

The building was built by Dick Freeland, the former chairman of the restaurant franchise, who passed away in 2013. A spokesperson for Sweetwater says the family sold the building after determining it no longer needed that much space.