2022 is bringing more new food options to SLC

BY JOSH JONES

The Down town class of 2021 is in the books, and we are impressed with the freshman class that included 14 new retail shops and 22 new restaurants and bars. We applaud these merchants’ chutzpah! We too are bullish on the downtown economy: the downtown residential community will double by 2025 and employers are growing and relocating to downtown. The momentum continues, we count another dozen businesses opening soon in 2022 … including:

BOURBON HOUSE GROUP is delighting us once again with the announcement that Edison, a petite street packed with potential, will be the newest addition to their storied collection of restaurants. Across from BRICK & MORTAR, THE WARHOL, a renovated warehouse offering luxury rentals, will house the new concept on the ground floor. With the new liquor store expected to break ground soon, and the existing ROCTACO, COPPER COMMON, DIABOLICAL RECORDS, and MORTAR & PESTLE, this lusty little lane is going to get even more loads of love from us.

Congratulazioni to SALT AND OLIVE, opening between UNDER CURRENT and GOURMANDISE. One roof, two concepts: a cafe/bodega opens every day from 8am– 8pm, and a restaurant opens 11:30am–11:30pm. Don’t you just love consistency? Stop in for an espresso and croissant in the morning; return for a leisure lunch over chianti and a hand-tossed Margherita pizza; swing in later and say, “Ciao!” with bucatini and linger longer with a semifreddo affogato! Bellissima!

We’ve been sitting on this for a few months, so we’re delighted to share that Salt Lake’s second food hall is under construction at the AVIA on 300 East 400 South. THE LOCAL MAR- KET & BAR will bring seven concepts and one bar with Chef Akhtar Nawab at the helm. This guy is kind of a big deal and it says a lot about SLC that we nabbed him. A Kentucky-born chef who was a protege of Tom Colicchio and mentor to David Chang, he has an Indian heritage and embraces Mexican cuisine. You can imagine his flavors are complex and innovative. He’s consulted around the world, opened restaurants around the world, and his next is in your backyard.

We love dark wood-paneled walls with white table cloths, so we’ll be first to make those rezys at the long-awaited THE CAPITAL GRILLE when it opens in the next four months.

Another top-secret high-end steak restaurant is expected in this same neighborhood later this year, that is in addition to Scott Evans’ new meat-centric creation coming to HOPE GALLERY… this area is quickly becoming Carnivore Country.

Looking to open a restaurant? Hines, the owner of the historic, handsome and newly renovated Kearns Building is looking for a restauranteur for the ground floor that once was home to Jos. A. Banks. This soaring sanctuary would be a sublime shrine for a supreme star — with sweeping views of SLC’s Main Streets and literally seconds from the Eccles. Going once, going twice?

Another available retail space is opening up at 272 South 200 East, Misc Boutique, the well-edited vintage clothing boutique on Broadway is adjusting its business model and owner Missy Baber reports the landlord is great to work with.

Got a tip about coming retail or restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City? Drop me a line: josh@downtownslc.org