Pizza dining chain, Pie Tap Pizza, surprised fans by closing its only Houston location in Houston, Texas, on March 6 after operating for less than a year. The restaurant did not specify a specific reason for the decision, nor did it plan to open another location in the city of Houston. The company did not disclose any plans to lay off employees or lay off any employees. The closure of Pie Tap was seen as a blow to smaller pizza chains like Pizza Hut and Papa John's who are closing hundreds of underperforming locations in the US this year. Baking Business data reveals that 25% of consumers are now eating more store-bought frozen pies than traditional steaming hot pizza parlor options due to the current economic downturn.