Fri
May 18 2012
08:52 am
Tomato Head comes clean
By: R. Neal

The owners of Tomato Head had previously given vague reasons for moving their store from Downtown Maryville to West Knoxville. Today they have released a statement on Facebook explaining it in more detail. As suspected, they weren't making money (or at least as much as they thought they should) in Maryville.

They and others seem surprised by this. It isn't all that hard to figure out. They just weren't a good fit for Blount County. The menu is too "exotic" for the meat 'n taters clientele. ("Tofu? Soy cheese? WTF?") And their prices were likely perceived as too high. (The last time we were there, a takeout pizza and a couple of slices of pie came to about $30 before tip.) And people in Blount Co. want $1-$2 Bud/PBR drafts, not $4-$5 craft beers.

Another problem is that the hipster vibe doesn't translate from Market Square to Downtown Maryville. To the good ol' boys of Blount Co., their staff probably comes off as condescending at best and surly at worst. (And all those tattoos and piercings, oh my!) My guess is that most of Tomato Head's Maryville business came by way of Maryville College. Beyond that, most people in Blount Co. aren't much interested in hipster chic. They want cheap food and lots of it.

(Go around the corner and down a couple of blocks to Hot Rod's Diner to see exhibit A: The Country Fried Burger, a 10oz. burger topped with a 4oz. country fried steak on a giant bun with a side of gravy. At $9.99 it's the second most expensive item on their menu, right behind "The King," a 20oz. "double decker monster" burger for $10.99.)

On the other hand, Downtown Maryville can support nice, well run restaurants. Sullivan's is a decent place with decent service just down the street. Foothills Milling is one of the best restaurants in East Tennessee, just a couple of blocks away. And they are not cheap.

Anyway, we will miss Tomato Head. It was the only pizza worth the trouble any more in Blount County. You get what you pay for.

Topics:
bizgrrl's picture

In previous articles they

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 9:03am.

In previous articles they said they couldn't keep enough employees in the Maryville location (the owners had to fill the gaps too often) and they felt they didn't have the human resources to manage three locations. As you said later in your article, Maryville/Blount County can support better restaurants. And, due to the success of Starbucks in Alcoa, everyone there is not cheap.

I'm thinking they learned something from the owners of Bliss, early adopters in downtown Knoxville. A large Bliss store is in the same shopping center where the new Tomato Head will be located. I like this location for Bliss, not that I am a big buyer of furniture, but I do like to browse. I hope Bliss continues their success and also hope Tomato Head gets out of West Knoxville what they did not get in Maryville.

bizgrrl's picture

Here's hoping the absence of

Submitted by bizgrrl on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 9:29am.

Here's hoping the absence of Tomato Head will help ensure Sweet Celebrations will stay around. They have been offering Dinner on the Run on Thursdays.

Every Thursday evening Sweet Celebrations is offering a variety of freshly prepared dinner offerings available for you to pick-up, take home and enjoy with your friends and family.
This week the featured Low Country Shrimp and Grits @ $9.99 per person.

Although, Sweet Celebrations doesn't stay open after 6 PM, nor do they sell beer.

Melissa's picture

Get real

Submitted by Melissa (not verified) on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 9:40am.

As someone who you are labeling as a " To the good ol' boys of Blount Co." I am great offended by your assumptions. I have followed every statement they have made and having used to work for the owners I can think your accusations are outrageous! I can't believe you think these things about the people of Blount County/Maryville. Sounds to be that you are talking about yourself as you mention it costing too much on your visit for a pizza. Get real!!!!

R. Neal's picture

Your outrage is duly noted.

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 10:26am.

Your outrage is duly noted.

Normally I would ignore it, but I'm curious. Are you the same Melissa who said on the above referenced Facebook page "My girls n I will always have fond memories of eating there in between ballet and tap classes at Van Metre."

If so, I rest my case.

Unless, assuming it's your remark, that you are seriously trying to argue that yours is the typical Blount County demographic? Or perhaps you also dine at at Hot Rod's, in which case I'll just be confused.

P.S. I didn't say their pizza cost too much. I just said what it cost. I also said you get what you pay for. Carry on.

R. Neal's picture

I wonder if having a captive

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 9:54am.

I wonder if having a captive audience when they first opened downtown which was a key ingredient to they success v. just their great food. That wasn't the case in Maryville and it certainly won't be the case in West Knoxville. They seemed to try to clone the Market Sq. menu in Maryville. Wonder if they will be flexible and adjust to new locations?

fischbobber's picture

Captive audience

Submitted by fischbobber on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 11:17pm.

If you consider the screaming street preacher and four homeless guys that were the market square consumers when she first opened Tomato Head a captive audience, then, I guess you're right.

Seriously, give them their due. They had a vision and built their market. Market square was affordable then because , well, people like the woman who founded Tomato Head whose name continually escapes me because not only am I horrible with names, I've never even attempted to rhyme hers with something for in the early days when we would venture there to hear the Cartwrights and eat strange pizza because it was cool that someone was doing something different without making money , and in the later days I didn't like the crowds so I merely took pride in being there in the beginning, back when Market Square was homeless, preachers and T.V.A. people. People saw her vision and built off of it.

Vision and quality were more important than the captive audience. Kind of like this blog.

bizgrrl's picture

Not to be nitpicky, for those

Submitted by bizgrrl on Sat, 2012/05/19 - 7:03am.

Not to be nitpicky, for those of you who don't remember, before there were people living in condos downtown or visiting for an event there were people working 9-5 downtown. This, of course, was after downtown had lots of visitors for the shopping, etc. and before everything closed up. When was that? Sometime in the 80s. Oh, yes, during the last great recession.

The captive audience were the TVA employees, Knox News Sentinel employees, and other workers downtown. They had very few choices for going out to lunch.

fischbobber's picture

Captives

Submitted by fischbobber on Sat, 2012/05/19 - 11:16am.

You make a great point on the lunch crowd, but it should be noted that the owner didn't take a salary for quite some time and didn't start making money to speak of until the dinner business picked up. I was thinking the restaurant opened up in the early nineties, but I've been wrong about my ancient history a couple times lately so don't quote me.

Rachel's picture

The captive audience were the

Submitted by Rachel on Sat, 2012/05/19 - 2:16pm.

The captive audience were the TVA employees, Knox News Sentinel employees, and other workers downtown. They had very few choices for going out to lunch.

Downtown was pretty much a wasteland after 5 up until the late 90s.

However, I worked at TVA from 82-96 and there were tons of places to eat lunch. They just all closed up at 2.

Bbeanster's picture

Downtown was pretty much a

Submitted by Bbeanster on Sun, 2012/05/20 - 10:49am.

Downtown was pretty much a wasteland after 5 up until the late 90s.

Not so.
The Old City was hopping in the late 80s and early 1990s, much moreso than now. Lucille's, the Black Sheep, Manhattan's and Sullivans, Melting Pot. The Complex and that little market downstairs, Little Sister's, the Mexican place (Tres Amigos?)

The area suffered when city redevelopment efforts were redirected to Market Square.

Average Guy's picture

A few more gone but not forgotten

Submitted by Average Guy on Sun, 2012/05/20 - 11:21am.

Ella Guru's, Hoo-Rays, Bullfrogs..

fischbobber's picture

Ella's

Submitted by fischbobber on Sun, 2012/05/20 - 8:31pm.

I saw Loudon Wainwright III at the pre grand opening of Ella's. Great show, great venue. Great graffiti.

"Life is time, death is space" in the mens room.

and the all time great Flannery O'Conner word play "A hard man is good to find" in the women's room.

Odd how after all those years, I remember the time, yet the people have moved on. For the life of me, I can't put a face with the female that clued me to the ladies room.

The other great one in the men's room that night was "BAD SPELLERS OF THE WORLD, UNTIE!!!!!!!" The oddest things stand out in my mind.

Rachel's picture

Ok, yeah, I forgot the Old

Submitted by Rachel on Sun, 2012/05/20 - 8:13pm.

Ok, yeah, I forgot the Old City. The picture in my mind is leaving the TVA towers after work and looking down Market Square.

The REST of downtown was a wasteland after 5 up until the late 90s.

Nelle's picture

Not the only reason

Submitted by Nelle on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 1:11pm.

They are looking to start franchises. It's the only reason for getting a bakery of that size.

Or they're selling baked goods to retail stores. Which I believe is in the works. So, no, franchising is not the only reason for the bakery.

fischbobber's picture

Hogan's

Submitted by fischbobber on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 11:20pm.

I believe Hogan's went under and there was an opening in the market.

Stan R. Mitchell's picture

I feel for them

Submitted by Stan R. Mitchell on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 11:27am.

Hell, I feel for all small businesses.

The restaurant biz has to be one of the toughest gigs to get in -- maybe even tougher than publishing, which I guess doesn't say much for my intelligence...

michael kaplan's picture

As an aside, Harry's on Gay

Submitted by michael kaplan on Sat, 2012/05/19 - 1:14pm.

As an aside, Harry's on Gay Street has closed, and I Love New York Pizza on Chapman Highway has been sold. Same recipes, but without Ted's "Greetings!" when you arrive.

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