Our Story

When The Tomato Pizza burned down in the Fry Street Fire of 2007, it felt like a piece of Denton was gone forever. The original brick building that housed The Tomato and other small businesses was part of the Fry Street landscape for many years. The Tomato was more than just a pizza joint and it left a lasting impact on the community.

For over two decades, The Flying Tomato, later shortened to just The Tomato, was a quintessential college pizza hangout located across from the University of North Texas in Denton. Owned by Becky and Robert “Ski” Slusarski, the restaurant opened in 1984 and was part of a unique Fry Street era, known for its eccentricities and distinctive character. 

Michael Slusarski, Becky and Ski's son, has brought The Tomato back to life in the form of a food truck. He's taking on the challenge of continuing his parents' legacy, using the same recipes and techniques that made The Tomato so popular in the first place. The food truck is expected to serve pizza by the slice, personal-sized Chicago-style pizzas, sandwiches, and more. The truck is parked at Austin St. Truck Stop behind East Side Denton.

A message from the owner, Michael Slusarski -

“Ever since I was a kid, I thought The Tomato on Fry was my future. I wanted to work side by side with my parents providing tasty pizza for generations of Dentonites and helping out the community however we can. I also wanted my parents to be able to retire and know that someone would keep their legacy going. This is my opportunity to do just that. Having been in the service industry for over 16 years, I'm bringing experience in working, managing, and running all types of restaurants, all while keeping this dream in mind. Within the last four years, I have been researching and putting together business plans to prepare myself for this leap into ownership”

  • 1984

    After working for multiple locations in Illinois, the original owners asked Becky and Ski to help open and operate “The Flying Tomato Pizza in a Pan” on Fry Street in Denton, Texas.

  • 1996

    Original owners sell The Flying Tomato to the Slusarski family

  • 1998

    The Flying Tomato becomes “The Tomato”

  • 2006

    Becky and Ski were notified by their landlord that the entire Fry Street block was sold to a developer.

  • 2007

    The Tomato was forced to close their doors in May of 2007. On June 27, 2007 the Tomato was burned down with a Molotov Cocktail.

  • 2011

    After a brief hiatus, a group of ex-employees, along with Becky and Ski, put together some funds to reopen The Tomato in Sanger, Texas in 2011.

  • 2012

    The Sanger location proved that part of The Tomato charm was its proximity to Denton, forcing the doors closed once again after just 18 months.

  • 2023

    11 years later, Michael Slusarski, son of Becky and Ski, is picking back up where they left off with the The Tomato Pizza Food Truck!

Visit Us.

Located behind East Side Denton, Austin St Truck Stop is here to take your taste buds on a wild ride. Just a step away from bars and breweries, the space includes tons of outdoor seating so you can sit back, relax, and try all the unique eats that North Texas has to offer. It’s the perfect place to grab a beer and a slice.

AUSTIN STREET TRUCK STOP

208 N Austin St, Denton TX 76201