The Catalyst

By Tanner Chapin, Reporter

School is back in session again, but the students of Fruita Monument have noticed a big difference. There is an incredible aroma in downtown Fruita that has been missing since summer. The Hot Tomato, one of Fruita’s pizza hot spots closed due to an issue with the poor state of the building and the increasing rent. One thing is for sure, their great pizza, Stromboli’s, salads, and fair prices will be missed by the Fruita Monument students that experienced it over the course of their high school careers.

However, it’s not over yet. According to www.hottomatocafe.com, the search is on for a new location. “Yes, we are trying to buy ourselves a building, and yes it will still be in Fruita,” proclaims their website. They also talked about some of the differences in the new buildings they are looking at. First, they want to own the building so they can govern themselves. Second, they want air conditioning and heating in the new building, something the old location lacked. Finally, they want to have a nice outdoor patio that they, and not the City of Fruita, own. This means they can decorate it their way and make their own rules for it. For now, all the “Hot Tomatoers” have to wait and keep hoping that the Hot Tomato eventually returns to Fruita.