“My grandma Rosa made everything with love. Watching her cook was like watching someone do magic with their hands - and it stuck with me.” Chris Blatchford, owner of Blatch’s BBQ, might not have realized it at the time, but those early years in San Diego watching his grandmother create Mexican dishes from scratch left a lasting impression.

“The devil is in the details but that is also where the magic happens. I believe if you marry food, service, and music just right, people can feel the love in the space.” Loren Bell, owner of Contento Cafe, never imagined that grief would be the bridge to his dream.

“I’ve always loved the hunt - finding special pieces that nobody else has. There’s something about older furniture, the soul it carries, the quality, the story behind it.” Emily Read, the owner of Post Trading Company, has been drawn to collecting vintage furniture for as long as she can remember. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, she moved to Salt Lake City in 2013, bringing with her a lifelong love for design and a deep appreciation for unique, well-crafted pieces.

“There’s never a day I walk into the brewery and do not smile - no matter what’s going on in life, when I walk through those doors, I light up,” beamed Mark Medura, owner of Level Crossing Brewing Company.

“I am not going anywhere. I will grow old right here.” Azar Farajnedad, a warm, sweet woman sat at one of the small tables inside Best Chicken and Ribs Greek Food, her husband Asghar working just a few feet away in the kitchen they have shared for over two decades. The couple opened their South Salt Lake City restaurant in May 2002, and from the very beginning, the support of their community has never wavered.

“Owning a small business is joy and/or terror, depending on the day,” Jacqueline Whitmore said with a laugh. And yet, it is clear to anyone who walks through the doors of Copperhive Vintage that joy has the upper hand. A kaleidoscope of color, texture, and nostalgia, her store is more than a place to shop. It is a personal expression, a gathering space, and a curated love letter to the past.

“Books are the repositories of human hopes and dreams and learning," proclaimed Tony Weller, owner of Weller Book Works. Walking into this shop is like stepping into a world of literary discovery. With its vast collection of new, used, and rare books, the store is an oasis for book lovers, a place where stories of the past and present converge. But behind the shelves lined with countless volumes, the story of Weller Book Works is itself an epic one, spanning multiple generations.

“We’ve carved out a little niche. It’s not flashy. But it’s ours. And there’s meaning in that.” Phil Sherburne, owner of Signed & Numbered, grew up building things. Raised in the Salt Lake City suburbs when they were still open fields and construction sites, he remembers gathering leftover scraps and hammering them into forts, boxes, and chairs. “I think I was five when I made a little chair for my sisters,” he said. “Building just became a part of who I am.” That instinct, passed down through generations - his family came to Utah to work the railroads around the turn of the last century - has guided Phil’s entire life.

“I get here at two in the morning, start baking, and by five, there’s already a line. But every day, I feel grateful. I see the same smiling faces, and they make me smile, too.” Brenda Le’s joy behind the counter at Fresh Donuts & Deli is unmistakable.

“We want to be everyone’s friend. If you make stuff, we want to see it, support it, and tell you how you can do this too.” That is the heart of Atelier, a small, thoughtfully curated shop on Pierpont Avenue in downtown Salt Lake City, run by best friends Malinda Fisher and Olivia Henrie.

"This restaurant is our love letter to the community," Jennifer Hannon said, seated at a table in the lounge at the back of Laziz Kitchen. "We want people to feel safe, welcome, and fed with care."

“We want to be a positive influence on people. We are open to sharing our story with all kinds of groups because if someone is stuck, maybe it will inspire them to change. That is what we live for now,” shared Robyn, co-owner of an unusually named motorcycle shop; the name came to Robyn one day and she simply blurted it out, “Sims Motorcycle Monkeys.” It was “unique, quirky and cute,” Matthew admitted, as she used to jokingly call her husband and their dog “my little monkeys.” But the moment she said it aloud, Matthew looked at her and nodded. That was it. After six months of thinking through name after name, they had landed on the one that felt right.

"I have always had a vision for this restaurant," Tim Rammell reveals. "I put in the work, learned from the best, and took notes. When the opportunity came, I knew I was ready." Tim and his younger brother - by one year and one week - Joe, share a journey to opening Drunken Kitchen that is rooted in determination, friendship, and an unwavering passion for food.

“I’ve always believed in the power of art to inspire, to challenge, and to bring people together,” said Shalee Cooper, director of Modern West. That belief is at the core of the gallery’s mission established under the vision of its founder, Diane Stewart.

“I came here in 2013 as a refugee because I wanted a future for my kids. My country wasn’t safe. The war - everything - made it impossible to stay.” Owning Karim Bakery was never part of Sarah Abduljabbar’s plan, but life has a way of leading people down unexpected paths.

"If you don’t do what you love when you’re twenty-five, you’re never going to do it in your life." These words from Matteo Sogne perfectly encapsulate his journey from Modena, Italy, to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he now shares his passion for food at Matteo Ristorante Italiano.

“We offer good quality cleaning and pressing at a good price. That’s what keeps people coming back.” Dennis Jardine has spent decades building Jardine’s Professional Dry Cleaners into a trusted name in Salt Lake City. Located in the Marmalade district, this dry-cleaning business has been a neighborhood staple since 1988, thriving on customer loyalty and word of mouth rather than traditional advertising.

“I had $500 and an idea.” Ron Green’s journey to founding The Green Ant was not meticulously planned. It unfolded naturally, shaped by his love for vintage furniture and an unexpected turn in his career.

“When you do what you love, it’s no longer a job. This restaurant, this food, it’s my story, my memories, my family. Every dish has a piece of my past in it.”

“We really pride ourselves on doing honest work at a good price. We’re never going to do anything that isn’t right for the customer.” For over two decades, The Quad & Cycle Shop has been a trusted name in Salt Lake City, offering a wide range of motorcycles, ATVs, and accessories while building a loyal customer base.