"Sweet Tomatoes originated in the early 1990s as a sister company to Souplantation, which had been a beloved Southern California buffet since 1978. It was famous for its amazingly plentiful salad bar, as well as its pastas, soups, and bread. After the popular restaurant chain suddenly shut down in 2020, customers were left bereft. Now there may be cause to celebrate, albeit cautiously, for a bigger comeback."
"On December 7, 2025, Sweet Tomatoes announced via Facebook that it plans to open a new location in Florida, saying, "The wait is over, magic fans! Your favorite salads and soups are returning to Ft. Myers, Florida!" Like the restaurant's return to one of its original Tucson properties, the Fort Myers location is also the site of a former Sweet Tomatoes, previously opened in 1997. An official opening date has not been announced, but the property will undergo renovations and rebranding before its reopening."
Sweet Tomatoes closed all 97 locations and filed for bankruptcy in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions. The chain reopened one Tucson, Arizona location in 2024 after being purchased by ST Three LLC (renamed ST Four LLC). Plans call for a second revival location in Fort Myers, Florida, at a former 1997 Sweet Tomatoes site, with renovations and rebranding before reopening and a cashless payment model. Fans generated petitions and social media campaigns pushing for additional locations. An official Fort Myers opening date has not been announced, and the company emphasizes convenience in its post-COVID operations.
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