ISLAND CITY — A former favorite pizza spot has returned to Union County.

Pizza Hut quietly opened its new doors on April 7 in Island City, 11621 Island Ave., according to a press release from BML Public Relations. The restaurant, operated by Flynn Group, will host a grand opening April 25.

“We are excited to officially celebrate the highly anticipated grand opening of our new Pizza Hut location in La Grande,” Vice President of Marketing Jerrod Mitchell said.

In celebration of its new Island City location, Pizza Hut will give the first 25 customers in line on opening day free pizza for a year. Winners will receive two complimentary speciality or three-topping large pizzas per month for one year.

Flynn Group owns and operates more than 975 Pizza Huts across 27 states.

“More than just serving the iconic Pizza Hut favorites our guests love, Flynn Group views each of our locations as an investment in the local economy, through job creation and philanthropic initiatives,” Mitchell said. “We look forward to providing the reliable and value-driven dining experience Pizza Hut fans love while being an active business partner to the La Grande community.”

The plan is to staff the Island City location with about 15 employees, according to the press release. Flynn Group is looking to hire delivery drivers, team members and shift leaders, which can all be applied for online at flynn.com/your-career.

The 1,322-square-foot restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The old La Grande Pizza Hut, which was at 2602 Island Ave., shut its doors abruptly in 2020. NPC International, which at the time operated Pizza Hut and Wendy’s restaurants in the United States, shut 300 establishments as part of a deal with Pizza Hut owner Yum! Brands Inc after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.