At seventeen years old, I was already something of a veteran in Salt Lake’s restaurant industry (or so I thought) after three dishwasher positions and bussing at Marie Callender's. The most humiliating time was my single evening working at Hot Rod Hundley’s Restaurant, where after just one hour, I was determined “unqualified” to wash dishes. That hurt. My longest stint had … [Read more...]
Running a Restaurant in a Pandemic — Spoiler: It’s Not All Bad News
Restaurants worldwide are facing huge challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands and thousands have closed permanently and many more are hanging by a thread. Others are doing better but have had to adjust the way they do business significantly in order to survive. Whoever thought Log Haven, for example, would be doing takeout curbside meals? Sadly, in SLC … [Read more...]
Reparadise: Cranking Out Off-The-Grid Rigs
For more than eight years, Brandon Zinninger and his team at Reparadise in West Valley City have been turning camper trailers — usually vintage Airstreams — into high-tech custom homes on wheels. But as the market has fluctuated — as well as the interests of Zinninger and his crew — Reparadise has found themselves spending more time in the shop crafting unique … [Read more...]
Utah’s COVID Conundrum: When to Reopen Critical “Essential” Local Businesses?
The Slippery Slope of Denying Businesses and Consumers Free Market Access Utah needs to allow restaurants and bars to operate under the same conditions in which they allow big-box stores and state liquor stores to operate. Nobody can dispute that the government measures regarding containment of the COVID-19 virus over the past month were completely necessary. Perhaps … [Read more...]
Referendum Organizers Cheer Repeal of Utah Tax Reform Law
Opponents of a tax reform bill that was approved by the Utah Legislature and signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert hoped to repeal the legislation at the polls this November. Instead, they won the fight without a single vote from the public. The governor and legislative leaders threw in the towel after organizers of the Tax Restructuring Revisions Referendum campaign said … [Read more...]
Beltex Meats Wins 2020 Good Food Award for Paté Forestier
Beltex Meats, Salt Lake City’s local head-to-tail butcher shop was a finalist for the Charcuterie category of the 2020 Good Food awards and is now a winner for their Paté Forestier. Beltex Meats, open since 2015, is located in the Liberty Park neighborhood at 511 E 900 S in a renovated old white brick home. Beltex proudly features exclusive locally sourced meat products for … [Read more...]
Five G or just Gee Whizz?
Vivint rolls out new home internet service promising 5G-like speed Vivint Internet, a spin-off of Lehi-based Vivint Smart Home, recently jumped in the race to bring 5G-class services to the public and an alternative to the monopolies and duopolies that dominate the Internet Service Provider (ISP) marketplace in most of the U.S. Utilizing a combination of newly developed … [Read more...]
The Suazo Business Center Offers Guidance, Education, Inspiration, & Hope
The Story of Marcela Lopez As Marcela Lopez skillfully handcrafts with paint and brush the look of marble above the fireplace of a customer’s home, she feels grateful for the business wisdom and expertise she acquired through the Suazo Business Center. The center, located in Salt Lake City, satisfied the tugging at her soul to be more than she was at that moment, two years … [Read more...]
Sip o’ the Week – 30 Years of Squatters
Founded in 1989 by partners Peter Cole and Jeff Polychronis, Squatters Craft Beers celebrated its 30th anniversary this past Sunday with a beer festival that took place in the parking lot adjacent to Squatters brewpub. It was a celebration of craft beers in general, not just of Squatters’ beers; and included a boatload of local breweries: Bohemian, Hopkins, Uinta, Red Rock, … [Read more...]
The Nerd Store
Just like any subculture, there are various elements/factions of Geek subculture. Just to name a few, there are Gaming Nerds, Dungeons and Dragon Nerds, Anime Nerds, the list goes on, too and, I'm sure, in much greater and succinct detail. The point is this: the nerd culture over the years (and what rough years those must've been) have gone from Zeros to Heroes; no longer … [Read more...]