One of the most popular pizza joints in the Grand Valley may have to close up shop very soon.

The Hot Tomato in Fruita is facing a hike in rent, and they say they can't afford it.

Owner Jen Zeuner told 11 News they are going to be proactive. They are trying to get support from local businesses and the community to help raise some money to stay open, and hopefully get the attention of the landlords to let them stay put.

It may be a tough road ahead of them however.

Zeuner and her co-owner Anne were going to all the stores, posting "Save the Tomato" signs, their downtown pizza joint on the verge of being kicked out of their building by June 30. The restaurant and the landlords are in a standoff, Zeuner says their $900 a month lease is up, and she says the landlords want to increase it to around $2000 per month.

"They wanted to double our rent and have us pay the increase on taxes annually and fix all the maintenance that needs to go on," said Zeuner, "We told him we just can't afford that."

Now they are asking for the community's help, from the people that love their pizza pies, to raise enough money to relocate or to buy the building from their current landlords.

The building is currently priced at more than $500,000. Zeuner is asking for any type of donation, "If anyone has an extra half million, we'd really appreciate it."

11 News was able to talk to the landlord of the building on the phone. He says he has been giving the pizza shop a good deal on rent, and he raised it to what he should have charged them in the first place.
We were then deferred to his attorney who has not gotten back to 11 News at this time.

If you want to help the pizza place, they are setting up a benefit concert at their restaurant on June 20th, to raise enough money for a new location. They say they may need about $10,000for the move and a new lease.

You can head to their website on the link below, to contact them for a donation, or sign their online petition which they hope to send to their landlords and the Fruita City Council.