“I do not go anywhere without being asked about gardening.” LaRene Bautner says it with quiet certainty. The conversation takes place in what was once the Bautner family home, now one of the offices at Millcreek Gardens - tucked inside what her daughter laughingly calls “the scary closet.” It feels fitting. It is a place where past and present naturally meet. LaRene grew up on this property, raised her five children here, and today works alongside two of them, Heidi Orme and Chris Bautner. Together, they continue a garden center that has been part of Salt Lake City for seven decades.

“First, I want to thank God for everything, and I want to thank this country for giving me the opportunity to make my dream come true with my family.” That gratitude sits at the heart of El Potrero Market, the family business Ángel Juárez built through hard work, risk, and a clear sense of purpose.

“Life is hard enough that sometimes you just have to wake up and smile.” Giuseppe Mirenda says it easily, the words carried by the same warmth that greets guests walking through the doors of Antica Sicilia in Millcreek. For him, the restaurant business has never simply been about food. It is about people, family, and the quiet joy that comes from serving others well.

“Once we opened, I gave every minute, every second of my life to the restaurant to make sure that it would succeed.” For Giuseppe Mirenda, Sicilia Mia was never simply the opening of a restaurant. It was the realization of a family dream that began long before Salt Lake City, and long before he was old enough to sign a lease or speak English. The roots of that dream stretch back to Palermo, Sicily, where food was woven into daily life so completely that family, work, and cooking were inseparable.

“We wanted a name that could be trusted. We wanted a name that felt very established. Something that would be comfortable for people,” said Farmer & Chemist co-founder Jeffrey Dunn. Farmer & Chemist is a Utah-based wellness company built at the intersection of agriculture, science, and care for the human body. It is rooted in hemp and shaped by the people who came together to create it.

“I was born in Georgia but came here when I was two. So, this is all I know.” John Feldman’s parents were pulled west by the Olympics and became anchored, unexpectedly, by the mountains. “We came here in 2000. My dad has a PhD in medicinal chemistry. He worked for the Olympics in their drug wing, going from Atlanta for the summer games to Utah for the winter games.”

"You can count on change.” This is a line that Frank Granato's father, Sam, repeated often as Frank was growing up. And to this day, he has lived it. He began learning the ropes as a child and was instrumental in steering a seventy-eight-year-old family name through warehouses, delis, airports, and food halls. He grasped the importance of the Granato legacy and has been determined to keep the business moving forward - from generation to generation.

“When people walk through the doors of Sir Walter Candy Co., we want them to feel like they matter - like they are part of something warm, nostalgic, and joyful.” Alfonso Porras grew up in Mexico City, where a family connection unexpectedly changed the course of his life.