Historian and Retro Ontario founder Ed Conroy joins to trace the stuffed crust pizza back to 1995, the celebrity fast food wars that produced it, and why the nostalgia for that era says more about being a kid than it does about the pizza.

Pizza Hut brought back its dine-in restaurants after years of people posting throwback photos online and guaranteeing half a million views. Ed explains why it didn't work: the tablecloths came back, the Pepsi glasses came back, and everyone sat there staring at their phones. He also covers the open-air salad bar as a casualty of the COVID era, what happened to Mother's Pizza and Chicago deep dish in Toronto, and why fast food losing its price advantage is the real story of where the industry went wrong.

The restaurant you remember wasn't really about the pizza. It was about being twelve.

Topics: Pizza Hut nostalgia Canada, stuffed crust pizza history, 90s fast food wars, retro dining Canada, Ed Conroy Retro Ontario

GUEST: Ed Conroy | http://retrontario.com | @‌retrontario

Originally aired on 2026-06-25

Historian and Retro Ontario founder Ed Conroy joins to trace the stuffed crust pizza back to 1995, the celebrity fast food wars that produced it, and why the nostalgia for that era says more about being a kid than it does about the pizza.
Pizza Hut brought back its dine-in restaurants after years of people posting throwback photos online and guaranteeing half a million views. Ed explains why it didn't work: the tablecloths came back, the Pepsi glasses came back, and everyone sat there staring at their phones. He also covers the open-air salad bar as a casualty of the COVID era, what happened to Mother's Pizza and Chicago deep dish in Toronto, and why fast food losing its price advantage is the real story of where the industry went wrong.
The restaurant you remember wasn't really about the pizza. It was about being twelve.
Topics: Pizza Hut nostalgia Canada, stuffed crust pizza history, 90s fast food wars, retro dining Canada, Ed Conroy Retro Ontario
GUEST: Ed Conroy |<a href="http://retrontario.com"> http://retrontario.com</a> | @&zwnj;retrontario
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-06-25

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.