For years, the building now occupied by Tomato Bros has carried a reputation larger than the restaurant itself. Ask around town and you’ll hear the stories. Some true, some exaggerated, and others repeated so often they’ve become accepted as fact. But the real history of Tomato Bros is far more interesting than rumors. Long before it became the place locals know today, the building passed through multiple identities, from TJ’s Pantry to Henry’s, surviving ownership changes, financial hardships, and chapters many residents barely remember. In this month’s special edition, we wanted to uncover the real story behind Tomato Bros and find out which local legends actually hold up.
The building’s earliest history remains difficult to trace. While records surrounding its construction date and earliest occupants remain unclear, the earliest confirmed restaurant to occupy the space was TJ’s Pantry. The Lewiston Tribune Newspaper archives from the 1970s describe TJ’s Pantry as a family-style restaurant operated by Hagadone Hospitality Corp., known for home-cooked meals and oversized cinnamon rolls. In 1986, Manager Jay Cortes made a public statement regarding the closure of TJ’s. He went on to say they were going to reopen as Henry’s, another restaurant identity owned by Hagadone. The plan for the new restaurant included a lounge on the east side of the building, an outdoor deck, and a limited-service bar. Cortes stated that the new interior “is not going to be too much like what it is right now – it will have a whole lot nicer appearance.” The hospitality group had already had great success with their first two Henry’s locations in Coeur d’Alene and Richland, WA, so they gradually began remodeling their TJ’s Pantry’s into Henry’s.
The first few years were booming, but in 1991, Henry’s closed its doors from January through October due to bankruptcy. When they reopened, they boasted about fine wines, new espresso drinks, and daily specials resuming. The menu also included a favorite dessert, Mud Pie. Despite the reopening, Henry’s closed for good the following year and Bruce Finch moved in with Tomato Bros. Much of the local speculation surrounding Tomato Bros begins here, but to understand why, it helps to first understand where the concept originated. The first Tomato Bros was opened in Coeur d’Alene in 1993. Dean Haynes had the idea for an Italian style restaurant with an upbeat family environment similar to Cyrus O’ Leary’s. He brought this idea to Cyrus O Leary’s owners, Cyrus Vaughn and Erkki Oranen, and they agreed. The Coeur d’Alene location previously housed a handful of Cyrus Vaughn’s other restaurants and was built by Charles Finch, Bruce’s father. So, when they wanted to open Tomato Bros there, they asked Bruce Finch if he would like to invest. Bruce agreed and invested in the restaurant, and to this day he remains a silent part investor and still owns the building.
As part of the investment deal with Cyrus, Bruce was able to bring the concept to the Valley. So, 6 months later, Clarkston had its own Tomato Bros. One long-standing local rumor claims that the concept for Tomato Bros was stolen from Spokane’s Tomato Street. Historical records, however, point to a much more intertwined story. The original concept actually began as Tomato Bros. Due to the already existing Tomato Bros restaurant in Michigan, the Spokane area locations changed their name after a few years to Tomato Street to allow franchising. Bruce had no interest in franchising here, so he was able to keep the name. The similarities between Tomato Bros and Tomato Street are no coincidence. The paper tablecloths, fun hats, and iconic décor are all shared traits, due to the fact that both were built on the same concept. Shortly after its success in Coeur d’Alene and Clarkston, the Division Street location in Spokane was also created.
Finch partnered with Sam Worrell to open the Clarkston Tomato Bros. Sam worked as the general manager of Zany’s and with this new venture, became part-owner and manager of Tomato Bros. In the early days of Tomato Bros, food was kept as low priced as possible. Prices peaked at $8.95, and for that you could eat seafood fettuccine, chicken parmesan, chicken marsala, or several kinds of pizza. Lunch and dinner were Italian, but they also served breakfast, which was strictly American food. The restaurant was open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and strived for a working-class Italian feel. Red-and-white checkered tablecloths, hearty meals, and house wine helped shape the atmosphere. In the restaurant’s earliest years, bottles of Chianti wine sat directly on the tables, operating largely on the honor system. Guests simply let their server know how much they had poured by the end of the meal. Even the small details reflected Tomato Bros’ playful family spirit, including noodle necklace supplies where children could string together different pasta shapes while waiting for their food.
A lot of the restaurant’s unique atmosphere actually came from local artists and designers. Linda Mallet of Lewiston, who also played a part in Zany’s décor, created a tomato arbor on the ceiling and a grape arbor in another section. Local artist Jon Dawley, owner of Nez Perce Signs, painted the infamous Mona Lisa holding a fork wrapped in spaghetti. His paintings also adorn the restroom entryways and a few other corners of the restaurant. Kevin Beeson, the pastor at River City Church whose art has been displayed in Mystic Café since January 2026, also added his touch throughout the building.
The restaurant had a lounge that served hard liquor as well as a variety of micro-beers on tap. It also served as the only smoking area in the restaurant. The architect for the Tomato Bros project, Don L. Bott of Lewiston, was also the architect for Zany’s. The extensive remodel before opening included 3 new patios, an additional kitchen visible to guests, and intricate design elements. Not everything from Henry’s disappeared, however. The restaurant’s main exterior sign was repurposed for Tomato Bros, and the hanging cocktail sign remained as a quiet piece of the building’s earlier history. The menu and décor differed from that of the original location in Coeur d’Alene, even though Bruce has a financial interest in that one as well. It’s easy to see how the misconception of a ‘stolen restaurant’ came to be in our community, but at the end of the day, it comes down to passionate restaurateurs who fell in love with the same idea.
More than three decades after arriving in Clarkston, Tomato Bros remains one of those rare local places woven into the memories of the people who grew up here. Behind all the local myths is a story shaped by local artists, longtime restaurateurs, and unexpected partnerships. Those familiar with Bruce Finch’s approach to business often describe it as deeply centered less on expansion for expansion’s sake and more on reinvesting into the restaurants and spaces that already serve the Lewis-Clark Valley. In many ways, Tomato Bros has always reflected that philosophy. For a building surrounded by rumor, the real story turns out to be far more exciting.
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