No new owner in sight for former Pizza Hut
Staff writer
A former restaurant north of US-56 in Marion still sits empty four months after its sudden closure.
Pizza Hut, owned by Grand Island, Nebraska-based Staab Management Co., had done business 22 years in Marion.
President Dave Staab said the building is listed for sale with a McPherson real estate agent. Staab declined to say the name of the real estate agent.
However, prospective buyers might overlook the site if they are using conventional means to search for a location.
Sherri Barnes, association executive for Hutchinson-based Prairieland Realtors, said the property is not included on multiple list services used by real estate agencies.
After checking, Barnes said the building also is not listed on Loopnet, a commercial real estate website.
“Loopnet is seen nationally,” Barnes said.
Marion real estate agent Lori Heery said MLS listings help sell property quickly because online real estate websites can access them and include the property on their own sites.
No real estate sign is visible on the property.
“Normally a building like that would have a sign up,” Heery said. “I have not heard of it being listed. If it’s going to be listed I would certainly guess it would be on MLS.”
Staab said although he’s sure the building will be occupied later, he’s not sure how long that will take.
“I’m sure somebody will come up and see it as an opportunity,” Staab said.
Marion economic development director Randy Collett said he envisions a convenience store or fast food business taking up shop there. Travelers are not likely to stop long enough for a sit-down meal, he said.
“From a 10,000-foot view, in order to attract, we’re counting on the traffic going by on US-56,” Collett said. “The attraction is to get them to pull off the highway. My thought would be, that would be the best thing for the next business in there, something more along the line of a grab and go, get out business.”