How much does Fresno love Sweet Tomatoes?
A lot — but not enough to drive more than four hours just to go to one.
We recently told you about Sweet Tomatoes coming back to California — technically its sister restaurant Souplantation — with the announcement of plans to reopen its popular buffet south of Los Angeles in 2027.
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And since Fresno went crazy when rumors surfaced about Sweet Tomatoes possibly reopening in Fresno (they were false), we asked Bee readers in a poll if they were willing to drive the four hours and 15 minutes, or even 4.5 hours through L.A. traffic GoogleMaps says it takes to get there.
Most people — 49% — said no, they’re not willing to drive that far just to go to Sweet Tomatoes. Another 34% of readers said they would drive that far, but only if they were in southern California already as part of another trip.
And 18% of Sweet Tomatoes fans are apparently diehards who would drive more than four hours to graze upon that buffet.
Poll results for Fresnans’ willingness to travel to a new Sweet Tomatoes. Screenshot
The Fresno Bee
Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.
