Bars, Barbers, Boba and Burritos

BY JOSH JONES

We’re breaking news about what’s new and coming soon to downtown!

From the folks behind THE PEOPLE’S COFFEE and right across the street (inside THE RANDI ) comes THE BLOCK BARBERSHOP. This newest edition at Second and Second only adds to the vibrancy of the neighborhood–especially with that awesome neon! Road construction is finished, there are a ton of interesting shops, bars, and restaurants, and the liquor store is months away. Dare we say 2nd and 2nd is the new 9th and 9th?

Private event space, THE TASTING ROOM near The Gateway on 200 South has applied for a conditional use permit to switch to a bar and operate under the same name. Intriguing… imagine what you could do with the 1900’s Goodyear Rubber Factory, with all that exposed brick and wood.

A stone’s throw up the street, the previous FINCA/GEORGE property is getting some love from a venerable Park City restaurateur. The location in Park City has four stars from Forbes and is a longtime holder of Triple AAA’s Four Diamonds award. We might live across the street from these two additions, but we will try to keep our excitement contained.

HOTEL MONACO has finished its top-to-bottom renovation, including one of our favorite bars, THE VAULT. The once-tiny bar is a bit bigger, amping up the sophistication but retaining all the charm of its former self. And, all you blue-cheesepotato-chip fans, Chef Patrick LeBeau updated the dish with fresh-fried Idaho potato chips accompanying a smoked blue cheese monterey jack dip. (It’s delish).

We will keep an eye on this one. A sign appeared this week inside the Judge Building on the corner of Broadway and Main Street: “NEW YORK PIZZA KITCHEN , coming spring 2024.” Killer — we mean killer — location; this place should print money when they open.

Down the street between CUPBOP and KAZE SUSHI, another ‘coming soon’ wrap has appeared for BOBA TEA.

Next to Main Street’s 222 Building, MALI THAI is sometimes overlooked. It has been rebranded as SHIM . Check them out–the lunch specials offer some delicious curries.

We’re burying this one a bit. CITIZEN is still in a soft opening, but that’s not the reason we put it at the end of our column. It is a charming little neighborhood bar inside the new LOTUS REPUBLIC on 300 East near South Temple. Views of downtown from the patio are picturesque, the bar itself is gorgeous, and very kind bartenders are interested and interesting. See why we’d want to keep it to ourselves?