Local restaurant group set for massive expansion

Cupbop secures $1million

Not to say I told you so, but this month saw local K-Food superstars Cupbop begin their inevitable national expansion. The chain which has been busting out of the seems in Utah, secured a cool million bucks from Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban, and with it, the presumable funding and big-name connections to really begin coast to coast franchising. Cuban walked away with 5% equity in the business.

Appearing on the show, the owners confirmed that the 27 US stores (and associated food trucks) currently generate nearly $19 million per year in revenue (the last we heard was $10 million in 2017 through a SL Trib interview). As part of their televised pitch the brand was keen to underscore that in the national QSR space (Quick Service Restaurants ala Cafe Rio, Zupas and Zao) there is currently only one Asian name.

Comings and goings

Update: it has been reported this business is still open! Over on our food talk group this week, sad reports that Salt Lake staple Mi Lindo Nayarit has closed. One commenter noted, “so saddened to see that Mi Lindo Nayarit is gone! Just drove by and saw the sign has been taken down and everything. They had my favorite molcajete! Another one bites the dust.”

Another local to close this month, delivery company Chefpanzee, who took to Facebook to confirm a review of their current setup. The business wrote, “Chefpanzee will be pausing operations starting Friday, May 6th for an undetermined period. We are updating technology and re-evaluating various aspects of the services we currently provide, as well as services we plan to provide.”

One bright bit of news then, the return of South Salt Lake’s Navajo Hogan this month. If you’ve stopped by recently and been disappointed to find the doors closed, the business suffered an apparanet fire way back in January but has now surmounted the problems and the doors are back open. As one Facebook user wrote about the re-opening, this is a “real local treasure, operating since 1989.”

SLC airport dining expands

The expansion SLC’s dining options with more local names is set to continue. This month the airport confirmed a slew of new names for the phase 2 construction plans. The project encompasses a 22-gate extension of Concourse A and is set to open in Spring 2023, followed by 18 more gates in the Fall. That’s the the following new names should open up shop:

• Millcreek Coffee Roasters
• Hugo Coffee
• Red Rock Brewery
• Blue Iguana
• Vessel Kitchen
• Rockwell Ice Cream

Local names have been a key part of the airport operations since it’s redevelopment, with other notable names on the current roster including White Horse, Fillings & Emulsions, Gourmandise, Squatters and Wasatch Brew Pub.

City Brew Tours launches in Salt Lake City

If you’re interested in the following, consider this Groupon – as an affiliate we get a small kickback from every sale – and hey – you get nearly 30% off.

Via press release

Craft beer fans, rejoice! City Brew Tours announced today plans for a new educational craft brewery tour experience to launch in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 30th, with online bookings already live. City Brew Tours offers unforgettable all-inclusive tours and beer-focused experiences in some of the best beer cities throughout North America. Like its other cities, City Brew Tours Salt Lake City will blend history, beer knowledge, round-trip transportation, and beer and meal pairings with unrivaled access to the area’s top breweries. Some of the participating breweries include Saltfire Brewing Co, Level Crossing, Uinta Brewing, Bewilder Brewing, and Hopkins Brewing Company with plans to announce more in the coming months.

“There are too many reasons why Salt Lake City made sense for the next City Brew Tours destination,” said Chad Brodsky, Founder of City Brew Tours. “Salt Lake City is a craft beer mecca. It’s home to nationally recognized breweries like Uinta and two dozen regional breweries like Salt Fire and Level Crossing, who are churning out incredible beer. This coupled with its proximity to world-class skiing, hiking, and national parks, it checked all the boxes.”

The all-inclusive itineraries start at $75 for a Sip of Salt Lake, featuring private tastings at each brewery, round-trip transportation, and most importantly a dedicated local beer guide to share what makes Salt Lake’s craft beer scene special. At $99 for an Original Tour, you’ll get all of the above, plus a lunch or dinner pairing, with intricate details on how your food and beer work together to elevate all your senses! No matter what you are looking to do or celebrate while in Salt Lake City, City Brew Tours can help you pull it off, from birthday parties all the way to corporate outings, they do it all. A dedicated private tour specialist is always available to help you plan any event that is guaranteed to impress. 

City Brew Tours are a fun, interactive and inclusive way to learn more about local breweries, Salt Lake City and fellow tour attendees. Along the way, guides share beer facts, history and local insights to enhance the experience for well-versed enthusiasts and beer beginners alike. Each tour begins and ends at designated pick-up locations in downtown Salt Lake City. 

Harmons Daybreak opens

Via press release

Harmons at Daybreak opens Wednesday, April 27 at 4727 W. South Jordan Parkway in Daybreak. This newest Harmons Neighborhood Grocer, open every day from 7am to 10pm, marks an incredible milestone, the 20th location in Utah.  

“We are humbled by the continued support of our customers who have pushed us to open stores across this great state,” said Harmons’ co-owner and chairman for the customer, Bob Harmon. “After years of planning, we are excited to expand our Harmons family to the Daybreak community in South Jordan. Thank you to the amazing neighborhood, city and community leadership for collaborating with us.” 

Harmons Daybreak also features Just Burgers, Harmons custom burger bar. Its other Just Burgers restaurant is housed at the City Creek store. At 39,517 square feet, the store offers a full-service pharmacy, Kitchen department with chef-prepared cold and hot food items, bakery, meat service counter, fresh cut produce, café, and more. 

Unique design details found at the Daybreak location:

• European style glass cases, showcasing made-from-scratch offerings in the Bakery and Kitchen
• 9,507 square foot mezzanine with comfortable seating for customers and a view of Oquirrh Lake 
• Environmentally-conscious LED lighting housed in contemporary fixtures
• Stained and polished concrete floors bringing a clean, modern feel to the interior
• 100 pieces of glass on the store’s exterior, bathing the store in natural light

Most importantly, customers will find the same passion for fantastic food offerings including: 

• Chef-prepared salads, sides, dips and more created from scratch daily in our Kitchen
• Artisan bread, baked every morning by our skilled artisan bakers
• Fresh salad bar, soup bar and hot entrées, a favorite with the lunch and dinner crowd
• Gourmet cheese island and olive bar, with skilled cheese mongers to help you find your perfect selection
• House-made Italian gelato
• Coffee bar, featuring locally sourced coffee from Caffe Ibis 
• Certified organic produce 
• Dry-aged beef
• More than 2,600 local products (and counting!) 
• Harmons premium private label products 

In other news

• My search for the truth: Who invented Utah’s fry sauce
• I Stand All A-Maize-d
• Fenice, From the Ashes
• Long Live The Dodo 
• Spencer’s hiring new GM
• Bambara seeking new exec chef

Other useful links

• Free newsletter – signup and receive our weekly newsletter for free
• Food talk group – chew the fat with other like-minded Utah foodies over on Facebook.
• Best of SLC 2024 – what you can’t miss in the Beehive right now.

Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.

I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.   Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.

Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.