Red Tomato Pies pizza is coming to Kamloops
Kamloops foodies are already reporting excitement over a new pizza restaurant due to open at the end of the year on the North Shore.
Red Tomato Pies offers homemade dough and deep dish, gluten free and thin crust pies, along with sides.
Jill Boucher is opening the new franchise alongside her husband Tyler, and she said they are excited to bring the chain, that originates in Williams Lake, to Kamloops.
“Living and raising our children in Williams Lake, we have always loved the pizza at Red Tomato Pies,” Jill said. “Over time we got to know to the owners and our kids went to school together. They are a community-minded business and we like their community focussed philosophy.”
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The pair initiated the new business just before the pandemic, and despite some setbacks said progress has been steady.
“The market is challenging and we needed to find a place that was big enough to make homemade dough,” Jill said. “The pandemic has caused a lot of delays as far as ordering supplies and the trades people for renovations are stretched thin, but we have connected with really good local contractors.”
Jill said they have experience in running businesses but this is the first time they are working in the pizza business.
“There is a learning curve here,” she said. “There is still more to learn. We are big pizza lovers and look for good pizza everywhere we travel. It is hard to top Red Tomato Pies. We want to continue the quality and we hope people will really like it.”
The menu boasts over 50 different pizzas, including 12 vegetarian pizzas, and offers sides of salad, pasta and wings.
Boucher said the move to Kamloops earlier this year has been a good one, with their musically-driven kids enjoying the arts and music opportunities here.
“Everyone here has been accommodating and helpful,” she said. “Our girls have made friends and are excited about arts school. They tell us they want to work in the family business but we’ll see how long that lasts.”
The restaurant is take-out and delivery only and is due to open in December, barring any unknown variables that come up.
“When we are at the shop people walking by come to talk to us and tell us how much they love Red Tomato Pies,” Jill said. “We are really looking forward to this venture.”
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