News
After nine months the Hot Tomato Cafe and Pizzeria in Fruita is about to be reborn.
In June, owners Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller closed the cafe at 201 E. Aspen after a dispute with the landlord regarding rent and building improvements.
Customers helped wage a “Save the Tomato” campaign but Zeuner and Keller decided to not renew the lease while they considered other options. Since opening in 2005, the Hot Tomato had become a popular Fruita fixture with everyone, from school kids to city officials.
They wanted to purchase a property and reopen around the corner at 124 N. Mulberry, but discovered a chemical contamination there first had to undergo a costly EPA cleanup. The site used to be a dry cleaning business.
Zeuner and Keller traveled to the Northwest for five weeks to talk things over. While traveling they received e-mails from friends and loyal customers urging them to reopen. Many offered to help.
“We were hiking in Montana discussing: Do we really want to do this?” Zeuner said. After the hike, “we came back to the van and there was a Hot Tomato sticker on the car next to our van.”
It was like an omen, and they knew, “we gotta do it,” Zeuner said.
The sticker was starting to peel away, and Zeuner left a new one on the car's windshield.
By Thanksgiving, the EPA had issued its final clean-up report, and Zeuner and Keller attempted again to secure a loan to purchase the building.
“We went to three different banks, they all said no, even with a proven business plan. We'd been a thriving business in a small town,” Zeuner said. “We were completely disheartened.”
Ultimately, U.S. Bank loaned them the money and the women and their crew went to work rebuilding the place. One of the commercial loan officers was a regular customer of the Hot Tomato.
An architect friend from Ridgway who specializes in green build construction designed the new addition. Hughes Insulation, a family-owned Loma business installed energy-efficient, healthy R-value insulation. Energy-efficient fluorescent compact bulbs provide the lighting.
The cafe will also be partially solar powered by panels installed by High Noon Solar.
The Hot Tomato will reopen around the corner from its former location at 124 N. Mulberry, Saturday, April 17. The city is closing off the street to celebrate the opening with live music planned for most of the day. The cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Musicians lined up for the day include Honey Don't from Paonia, Flat Top Reed, and the 17th Street Band.
While Zeuner and Keller spend long days overseeing their work crew, trying to complete the remodel in time for opening in two weeks, friends offer to walk their dogs and bring them dinner.
“Every day, (since January) people have stopped by asking how to help,” Zeuner said.
“That part has been overwhelming — seeing people come together. It's like a Tomato-raising.”
“Cars drive by and yell ‘we love you guys,'” and little kids walking home from school stop and give us a hug, Zeuner said.
“It makes you feel good about a community.”
Both the city and Mesa County have been helpful every step of the way, Zeuner said. “(Mayor) Ken Henry checks on us every week,” Zeuner said.
Friends have added their artistic touches to the new Hot Tomato.
Cullen Purser built the restaurant's entrance portico out of cedar, and a metal sun-star mosaic for the floor.
John Rizzo built all new tables out of beetle-killed wood. Rizzo also built an 8-foot tall sculpture from a 1924 Schwinn bicycle frame that sits in front of the cafe.
John Baron built the bar, and is currently working on the patio and shingling. And Jonathan Cooley created the original sign which matches everything, Zeuner said.
The new place will serve the same menu as before — all-handmade pizza, salads, calzones and strombolis. There will also be eight taps of beer from New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins.
Seven out of their 11 former employees are coming back — the other four are away at college, Zeuner said.
With a new 60-foot patio they'll be able to host live music outside, Zeuner said.
“We created this place for something for all of us to do in Fruita,” Zeuner said.
“We had no idea we'd be so popular. All we wanted was to make some pizzas, and ride our bikes and have fun.”
In June, owners Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller closed the cafe at 201 E. Aspen after a dispute with the landlord regarding rent and building improvements.
Customers helped wage a “Save the Tomato” campaign but Zeuner and Keller decided to not renew the lease while they considered other options. Since opening in 2005, the Hot Tomato had become a popular Fruita fixture with everyone, from school kids to city officials.
They wanted to purchase a property and reopen around the corner at 124 N. Mulberry, but discovered a chemical contamination there first had to undergo a costly EPA cleanup. The site used to be a dry cleaning business.
Zeuner and Keller traveled to the Northwest for five weeks to talk things over. While traveling they received e-mails from friends and loyal customers urging them to reopen. Many offered to help.
“We were hiking in Montana discussing: Do we really want to do this?” Zeuner said. After the hike, “we came back to the van and there was a Hot Tomato sticker on the car next to our van.”
It was like an omen, and they knew, “we gotta do it,” Zeuner said.
The sticker was starting to peel away, and Zeuner left a new one on the car's windshield.
By Thanksgiving, the EPA had issued its final clean-up report, and Zeuner and Keller attempted again to secure a loan to purchase the building.
“We went to three different banks, they all said no, even with a proven business plan. We'd been a thriving business in a small town,” Zeuner said. “We were completely disheartened.”
Ultimately, U.S. Bank loaned them the money and the women and their crew went to work rebuilding the place. One of the commercial loan officers was a regular customer of the Hot Tomato.
An architect friend from Ridgway who specializes in green build construction designed the new addition. Hughes Insulation, a family-owned Loma business installed energy-efficient, healthy R-value insulation. Energy-efficient fluorescent compact bulbs provide the lighting.
The cafe will also be partially solar powered by panels installed by High Noon Solar.
The Hot Tomato will reopen around the corner from its former location at 124 N. Mulberry, Saturday, April 17. The city is closing off the street to celebrate the opening with live music planned for most of the day. The cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Musicians lined up for the day include Honey Don't from Paonia, Flat Top Reed, and the 17th Street Band.
While Zeuner and Keller spend long days overseeing their work crew, trying to complete the remodel in time for opening in two weeks, friends offer to walk their dogs and bring them dinner.
“Every day, (since January) people have stopped by asking how to help,” Zeuner said.
“That part has been overwhelming — seeing people come together. It's like a Tomato-raising.”
“Cars drive by and yell ‘we love you guys,'” and little kids walking home from school stop and give us a hug, Zeuner said.
“It makes you feel good about a community.”
Both the city and Mesa County have been helpful every step of the way, Zeuner said. “(Mayor) Ken Henry checks on us every week,” Zeuner said.
Friends have added their artistic touches to the new Hot Tomato.
Cullen Purser built the restaurant's entrance portico out of cedar, and a metal sun-star mosaic for the floor.
John Rizzo built all new tables out of beetle-killed wood. Rizzo also built an 8-foot tall sculpture from a 1924 Schwinn bicycle frame that sits in front of the cafe.
John Baron built the bar, and is currently working on the patio and shingling. And Jonathan Cooley created the original sign which matches everything, Zeuner said.
The new place will serve the same menu as before — all-handmade pizza, salads, calzones and strombolis. There will also be eight taps of beer from New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins.
Seven out of their 11 former employees are coming back — the other four are away at college, Zeuner said.
With a new 60-foot patio they'll be able to host live music outside, Zeuner said.
“We created this place for something for all of us to do in Fruita,” Zeuner said.
“We had no idea we'd be so popular. All we wanted was to make some pizzas, and ride our bikes and have fun.”
