The Flying Tomato at Prestonwood in Dallas
1983 - 1991
Description — Permanently Closed
The first Flying Tomato location in Texas opened in 1983 in the original Prestonwood Town Center in Dallas,1 an indoor shopping center commonly called “Prestonwood Mall” that was later rebuilt as an outdoor shopping center.2 Pizza by the slice and individual pizza in a pan were relatively new concepts to mall shoppers in the early 1980s.3
In 1971 a small piece published in The Daily Illini announced that Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan was born on Saturday, April 17 measuring 15 inches and weighing 4 pounds, 6 ounces.4 Over the next several years the “Flying Tomato Brothers”5 Ralph Senn and Joe Ream grew an innovative, cleverly-marketed pizza parlor at the University of Illinois into a multi-state college and shopping mall tradition.6 The two soon literally became the Flying Tomato Brothers as they incorporated hot-air balloon rides and other balloon-related promotions into their business.7 As Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan expanded, “Flying Tomato” was chosen as the restaurant name in southern states.8
In the 2000s business was tough for the Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan and Flying Tomato restaurants, and many of the locations shut down. Today, only a small number remain in operation.9 10
Unfortunately, this location of Flying Tomato closed in 1991.
References
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Article: A Decade After the Fry Street Fire: An Oral History of The Tomato, The Dentonite, Jun 27, 2017 ↩
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Article: Retail center planned for former Prestonwood mall site, Dallas Business Journal, Feb 23, 2004 ↩
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Ad: The Evolution of Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan, Herald and Review, Mar 19, 1993 ↩
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Ad: A Blessed Event, The Daily Illini, Apr 23, 1971 ↩
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Article: A slice of tradition, The Illio, 1982 ↩
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Ad: Would you ride in a balloon with these two?, The Decatur Herald, Nov 9, 1979 ↩
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Ad: Now Open!!, The North Texas Daily, Sep 4, 1984 ↩
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Guide: Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan - 313 N Mattis Ave, Champaign, IL, Yelp ↩
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Guide: Garcia’s Pizza - 1099 W Main St, Decatur, IL, Yelp ↩
FAQ
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Is The Flying Tomato at Prestonwood in Dallas
really gone?
Yes, it really is. -
It’s permanently closed?
Yes. Sorry. -
Do you understand my pain right now?
Just try to remember the good times.