Sweet Tomatoes is Making a Comeback in 2026 with Florida Location
Sweet Tomatoes is planning to make a comeback with its Fort Myers spot in 2026. The location at 14080 S Tamiami Trail was a favorite dining choice before the pandemic….
Sweet Tomatoes is planning to make a comeback with its Fort Myers spot in 2026. The location at 14080 S Tamiami Trail was a favorite dining choice before the pandemic. The restaurant was situated in South Fort Myers until it shut down in 2020.
The Fort Myers location is undergoing a facelift by TWT Restaurant Design, Construction & Development Co., based in Tampa. These updates will take about two to four months, aiming for a Spring 2026 launch. TWT works on restaurant projects across Florida, hinting at more than just basic improvements.
Back in May 2020, Sweet Tomatoes closed all its locations nationwide, including those in Florida, because of COVID-19 concerns, particularly about buffets and salad bars. The chain had temporarily closed 97 locations in March 2020 before deciding to cease all operations.
Sweet Tomatoes has been a part of Florida's dining landscape since opening its first restaurant in Palm Harbor in 1990. It had outlets in the Tampa Bay area, Orlando, and Southwest Florida. Reopening in Fort Myers is a comeback for a chain that was once a big player in Florida.
ST Three LLC, based out of Winter Park, purchased the brand's assets during the liquidation process. The first revived location opened in Tucson, Arizona, in April 2024. This spot had been one of the chain’s top performers.
The company is expanding slowly, trying out operations and collecting feedback in Tucson before deciding on further expansion. Although Fort Myers has a set reopening year, other more detailed plans are being kept under wraps. As of now, there's no specific timeline for opening other Florida locations beyond the 2026 Fort Myers target.
Sweet Tomatoes' leaders are being careful about making promises regarding new openings. They want to keep information about other locations private, focusing on Tucson's success and overseeing the project in Fort Myers.
In Southwest Florida, people are talking about Sweet Tomatoes' return, wondering if Naples is next. This shows the restaurant’s past influence and the thoughtful approach to bringing the brand back. Hopefully a Tampa Bay location (or two) is also planned for the future!
