If you grew up eating at the old-school Pizza Hut restaurants with the red roofs and classic decor, get ready for a big dose of nostalgia.

The big picture: There's been a wave of conversions in recent years as owners have gone retro, transforming restaurants back to the "Pizza Hut Classic" version with checkered tablecloths, Tiffany lamps, red cups and other old-school features.

• 144 Pizza Huts have been converted into Classics since 2019 as part of a partnership between the company and its franchisees, the New York Times reported in March.
• And the trend is coming to Arizona soon, Axios has learned.

State of play: Emerge Inc., which owns nearly 30 Pizza Hut restaurants in the state, mostly in southern Arizona, plans to convert three of them to Classic locations, vice president of operations Rachel Robinson told Axios.

• They'll be in Tucson, Willcox and Yuma.
• The company hasn't determined which Tucson and Yuma locations will be retro-ified, but it expects to complete the conversions within the next six weeks, Robinson said.

It's unclear if more Classic conversions are planned by other Pizza Hut owners in the Phoenix area or elsewhere in the state.

• We were unable to speak with Desert De Oro Foods, owner of many Valley Pizza Hut franchises, about it.

The intrigue: In recent days, there were several erroneous reports that Kansas-based Daland Corp. had acquired 80 Pizza Hut locations and planned to convert them to the Classic design.

• Daland Corp. president Tim Sparks told us that his company has 92 Pizza Hut restaurants in seven states, including 39 Classic locations.
• But the company hasn't acquired new locations, Sparks said.

What they're saying: Sparks said his Classic restaurants "do very well" and he hopes to see more conversions.

• "I think I got a lot of people's attention, so you probably will start to see these things pop up again," he said.

Remember pizzas past

Thanks to our readers for all the thoughtful responses about the future of central Phoenix's reverse "suicide" lanes.

The intrigue: We got quite a few strongly-worded urgings to do away with the lanes, citing the confusion they cause to newcomers and tourists.

• And we got similarly impassioned responses from those who fear traffic would become untenable if the lanes go away.

Zoom in: Reader Charlotte Shaff noted that extra police enforcement may help educate drivers.

• "When I first moved to central Phoenix, I turned left on Northern and 7th Street during rush hour and got pulled over by a motorcycle cop who informed me of the rules and I never made that mistake again," she said.

Catch up quick: Phoenix is conducting a Midtown Core Transportation Study to examine traffic and transportation needs in central Phoenix.

• As part of that study, the Street Transportation Department is studying possible changes to the infamous suicide lanes that run along the sevens.

In the meantime, we encourage you all to adopt reader Christine Davis' level-headed approach:

• "When another driver errs, I don't lose my cool and lay on my horn. I don't know if they are confused or self-interested, so I just wait it out. Life is too short to get excited in traffic."

🎓 ASU will offer a new master's degree in war and strategy in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. (AZcentral)

⚖️ A judge struck down Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller's 287(g) agreement with ICE, ruling that he had no authority to enter into it without the approval of the county's Board of Supervisors. (Arizona Mirror)

⚡ The Corporation Commission began a six-week hearing yesterday for a proposed APS rate hike. (KJZZ)

🌭 Ted's Hot Dogs will open its second Arizona location in Chandler this Saturday. (Phoenix New Times)

Terrible's is bringing its gas stations, convenience stores and unforgettable name to the Valley.

The big picture: Terrible's — known for decades as Terrible Herbst until a recent name change — is a southern Nevada institution that's spread throughout the West.

• The "deliberately different" chain is known for its patriotic red, white and blue color scheme, prominently displayed American flags, memorable name and mustachioed Mr. Terrible mascot, called "the best bad guy in the West."

State of play: Terrible's gas stations are under construction in Phoenix at 23rd and Northern avenues and in Peoria at 71st and Olive avenues.

• Diversified Partners in March announced that a Terrible's convenience store and gas station will anchor a development at Bella Vista and Gantzel roads in San Tan Valley, per KTAR.
• Two other locations are also proposed for the area, according to santanvalley.com.
• And the chain is looking to open two locations in Maricopa, per inMaricopa.

Zoom out: This is Terrible's first foray in the Valley, but the chain is no stranger to Arizona.

• There are locations in Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Parker, Quartzsite and White Hills.

What's next: It's unclear when any of the planned Valley locations will open.

Get terrible