Copperhive Vintage
Address: 2709 South State Street
Telephone: 801-702-9884
Website: shopcopperhive.com
District: South Salt Lake
“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.
Jacqueline said she has always been aesthetically driven. “I liked when things looked nice - my version of beautiful.” She grew up in Phoenix, Arizona in a very "minimalistic" household. As she got older, she loved going to thrift stores, discovering vintage pieces, and slowly shaping her own style. “I started to realize I could create what my idea of beauty is.” Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, she wanted to be a marine biologist. “I’ve always loved nature and the earth.” Later, after entering the retail world, she began to learn more about lifestyle brands, merchandising, and how to translate aesthetics into business.
Jacqueline moved to Utah in 2008, landing first in Logan. "I was in the action sports industry and really good at selling snowboards in the desert, so they transferred me somewhere with actual snow," she joked. But Logan felt too small, so she made her way to Salt Lake City. It was there, while working a retail job, that she met her partner Logan, and the two began selling handmade goods and vintage items at art and flea markets.
What began as staging booths with vintage decor quickly turned into a vintage business of its own. Customers wanted to buy the old pieces Jacqueline had sourced to create a vibe, and she soon realized her true passion was in these colorful, storied objects. Together, she and Logan began selling out of a vintage trailer before opening their first storefront in Sugar House. They stayed for seven years. When the building was sold, they relocated to South Salt Lake, where Copperhive has been welcoming customers since 2022.
And what inspired them to come up with the name Copperhive? “We wanted to create an original name that both ties us to Utah, and a feeling of a collective spirit. We spent a lot of nights mix-matching words together, until we settled on this one.”
The shop specializes in vintage items from the 1940s through the 1970s: Pyrex bowls, brass figurines, floral tablecloths, Western boots, teacups, clocks, typewriters, and quirky trinkets. "Think kitschy, things that make us happy." There is also a thoughtfully curated collection of vintage clothing that leans feminine and floral, often evoking a 1950s homemaker aesthetic. “I love those bright prints, the florals, the housecoats,” Jacqueline said. “It’s kind of my dream style.”
In addition to vintage finds, the shop features work from indie artists - both local and national - including prints, stickers, T-shirts, and other goods that align with seasonal or themed displays. Jacqueline is intentional about these themes, creating small installations around ideas like gardening in the spring or picnicking in the summer. Copperhive also hosts outdoor markets in the parking lot several times a year, bringing in about thirty artists and makers to create a vibrant community event.
The store’s customer base is as eclectic as its inventory. College students, longtime vintage lovers, tourists, and local residents of all ages find their way to Copperhive, whether through social media, word of mouth, or simply by passing the eye-catching displays outside. Jacqueline takes pride in the fact that vintage shopping in Salt Lake City is approachable and inclusive. “There’s enough for everyone,” she said. “The scarcity mindset just isn’t real.”
Jacqueline sources all the vintage inventory herself, mainly from estate sales, auctions, and flea markets around Utah. Over time, she has come to know her "competition" well, and they often support each other. “If I go to a sale that isn’t my vibe, I might message someone else and let them know. We all help each other,” she explained.
Though Jacqueline never set out to build a business based on sustainability, the deeper she gets into the vintage world, the more she sees its value beyond aesthetics. “I started because I loved the beauty of these things,” she said. “But now I hope people build their own style over time, instead of chasing every new trend. These objects have a history. There’s meaning in that.”
The sense of timeless style is palpable in the shop - from the lovingly displayed mushroom figurines to the rotating cast of books, baskets, jewelry, and artwork. Logan, her partner, also plays a behind-the-scenes role, making light fixtures and managing Copperhive’s markets, while their employee Shanna helps run the store day-to-day.
“I always say vintage stores are like art galleries,” Jacqueline said. “Everyone reflects the perspective of the person curating it. I just hope the people who connect with my aesthetic find us and feel welcome when they do.”
