Don't call it a comeback....yet. A former Sweet Tomatoes location is slated to reopen this month but the company has made no firm commitment regarding any additional expansion.
Published reports indicate that the restaurant is being opened by "ST Three, LLC," an entity reportedly unaffiliated with former owner Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp but one that is led by former Garden Fresh executive Mike Malone. According to his LinkedIn profile, beginning in 1987, Malone spent more than three decades with Garden Fresh before the company's liquidation in 2020. Malone went on to hold executive roles with a Wendy's franchisee as well as with Dave's Hot Chicken before becoming Chief Operating Officer at ST Three dba Sweet Tomatoes in September 2022.
The planned reopening in Tucson has been in the works since at least last last March when it was reported that ST Three had signed a lease to reopen in one of the former Sweet Tomatoes restaurants.
The Sweet Tomatoes Instagram and Facebook pages, silent since May 8, 2020, came back to life on February 23 and February 26, respectively, to announce that the company is hiring for hourly positions at the new Tucson restaurant.
ST Three purchased the exclusive rights and all intellectual property associated with the Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation brands, according to CBRE, who represented the landlord in Tucson.
The chain previously operated four locations in metro Atlanta with one now demolished and replaced with new shops and restaurants, one occupied by new restaurants, and two others vacant.
In Kennesaw (1125 Ernest Barrett Parkway) the former Sweet Tomatoes was demolished and reopened in 2022 as new locations of Maple Street Biscuit Company, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Viva Chicken, Paradise Grills, Pacific Dental, and Five Star Nutrition.
In Duluth (3505 Mall Boulevard) the former Sweet Tomatoes was located on "Ring Road," around the perimeter of the troubled Gwinnett Place Mall. When we were last at the building, there was work underway to renovate it into a new brunch eatery but those plans reportedly fell through and real estate sources indicate the building is vacant.
In Sandy Springs (6340 Peachtree Dunwoody Road), the former Sweet Tomatoes was renovated and reopened in November 2022 as Top Korean BBQ and Hot Pot.
In Alpharetta (950 North Point Drive) the former Sweet Tomatoes sits atop a hill in a less than prime location and as a result, has seen limited interest and remains vacant. but is currently being renovated into Chow One Korean Steakhouse.
The area around the former Duluth restaurant has also changed plenty, both since the restaurant first opened and since they closed, making it unlikely it will be appealing to ST Three if and when they elect to open more locations outside of Tucson.
Even if limited for now, are you excited to hear about the return of Sweet Tomatoes? What was your favorite offering from Sweet Tomatoes? If Sweet Tomatoes does return and is prepared to open a new restaurant rather than reopening a former location, where do you think they should open?
Please share your thoughts below.