Just off US Highway 41 in Schererville, Indiana, Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery has built a devoted following by treating pizza less like a quick bite and more like a small culinary obsession.
Founded by a husband-and-wife team with an actual hospitality degree behind the counter, this locally owned pizzeria has turned stone-baked pies, oven-baked wings, and a surprisingly deep vegan menu into a genuine Regional favorite.
This is how craft beer, in-house vegan sausage, and a pizza named after a movie villain. 🍕🔥
How Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery won Schererville’s hearts
Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery got its start in March 2013 in Valparaiso, Indiana, before expanding to a second location on US Highway 41 in Schererville in November 2014.
Co-owner Cory Muro built his path into the business the hard way, working restaurant jobs across Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Honduras before settling down to open his own place.
His wife and co-owner, Blair Muro, brought serious industry training to the partnership, holding a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management from Purdue University, while business partner Jeff Stykowski rounded out the original ownership group.
Together, the team built something that felt intentionally different from typical pizzeria fare.
The stone-baked pies and oven-baked wings became instant regulars’ favorites, and the restaurant leaned into playful branding, naming specialty pizzas things like Rufio, Soulchaser, and The Buff, turning the menu itself into a bit of a conversation piece.
Word of mouth spread through the Region, and the Good Ole’ Boy in particular became a customer favorite, showing up again and again as one of the most talked-about pizzas on the menu.
More recently, the business has moved under new ownership as part of Razzle Dazzle Hospitality, formerly known as Heritage Restaurant Group, with original co-owners Cory Muro and Jeff Stykowski now joined by new ownership partner Dave Kepperling to guide the brand’s next chapter.
That transition has kept the same playful, team-driven culture intact, since the new ownership group has continued leaning into the same hospitality-first approach that built the brand in the first place. 🤝
The restaurant’s ownership has also stayed focused on building genuine relationships with the surrounding community, treating both staff and customers as part of one larger culture built on high standards and good manners.
That approach clearly worked, because both the Valparaiso original and the Schererville location have kept a loyal, repeat customer base coming back for stone-baked pizza and craft beer for over a decade. 🍺
Food Highlights
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Good Ole’ Boy: A red sauce base topped with mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, mushrooms, red onion, pineapple, and jalapeño peppers.
- Meatgazer: A red sauce pie stacked with mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, smoked ham, ground beef, Italian sausage, and hardwood-smoked bacon.
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Heavy Soul: Built on a BBQ sauce base with mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, chicken, red onions, and hardwood-smoked bacon for a smoky, tangy finish.
- She’s a Beaut, Clark: A nacho cheese base topped with mozzarella, provolone, ghost pepper steak, a jalapeño ranch swirl, and a crunchy finish of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
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Soulchaser: A red sauce pie piled with mozzarella, provolone, pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, black olives, Roma tomatoes, ham, and hardwood-smoked bacon.
- The Reef: A pesto base topped with mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, chicken, ham, hardwood-smoked bacon, pineapple, banana peppers, and a jerk sauce swirl.
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Magic Potion: A red sauce base with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, mozzarella, provolone, feta, Italian sausage, Roma tomatoes, and a pesto swirl finish.
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The Buff: A buffalo sauce base with chicken, cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, green onions, hardwood-smoked bacon, and a ranch swirl on top.
Atmosphere
Tomato Bar keeps things casual and community-driven, with a laid-back counter-service setup that fits its Region roots. 🎸
Craft beer plays a big role in the vibe here, with the bakery pouring what it considers some of the best regional selections to pair with its stone-baked pizzas.
The space stays approachable and unpretentious, drawing families, craft beer fans, and vegan diners alike without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard.
It’s the kind of spot where regulars know the staff by name, and that neighborhood feel is baked into every visit.
Bottom Line
An evolving ownership story, over a decade of stone-baked pizza in the Region, playful specialty pies like the Good Ole’ Boy and Rufio, genuine vegan and gluten-free options, and a strong craft beer lineup make Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery a Schererville favorite worth the drive. 🍕✨
Address:
79 US Hwy 41, Schererville, IN 46375
📞 (219) 322-3885
🕔 Open Sun–Thu 11 AM–9 PM, Fri–Sat 11 AM–10 PM