June 3rd will see the unveiling of SLC’s grandest liquor store concept yet

That was the news confirmed at this month’s DABS meeting that wrapped around lunchtime on Thursday. Located at Edison Street and 3rd South in downtown Salt Lake City, Monday, June 3rd is the official opening date for Utah’s fancy new downtown SLC liquor store. The existing store at 4th South is set to close for good on Saturday, June 1st at 10.00 p.m.

Come the following Monday at 11.00 a.m. the public can get a first look at what the DABS have been cooking up. The project draws on improvements seen at other recent openings, such as the 2023 debut of the Sandy store. The SLC opening looks set to move the needle even further, the store boasting retail products over two floors, a first for Utah. Much like the South Valley store, expect a Utah product-focused section, as well as an extensive cooled product area (with more than three dozen doors of refrigerated product). In total the store will offer double the inventory of its 4th South predecessor.

Commentators might tease that “only in Utah is a liquor store opening news” but I’ll take any positive news that sees the state continue to improve and advance. If you stop by, be sure to double-check the latest Drink In Utah report that highlights price increases and decreases happening right now. A quick side note – potential visitors should be aware that Edison Street is a one-way, North to South, with the rear of the store affording 27 parking lots.

What else from this month’s DABS meeting?

Bar licenses

Two full bar licenses were available this month, one through the surrender of an existing license and one through a population increase. Eight names appeared on the docket as follows:

• Blue Katz Rock N Roll Grill, St. George
• Riverhorse on Main, Park City
• The SunTrapp, Salt Lake City
• Manor F&B, Coalville
• Melancholy, Salt Lake City
• Sunday School, Salt Lake City
• The Break Sports Grill, Saratoga Springs
• Atma Prema, Cottonwood Heights

Blue Katz Rock N Roll Grill and Sun Trapp were the ultimate winners after a variety of businesses spoke to the commission about their credentials. A swathe of licenses is expected to be issued at next month’s meet, as more changes to our liquor laws come into force.

Full-service restaurant licenses (beer, wine, liquor)

Twenty-six licenses were available coming into the meeting with the following nine all being rubber-stamped:

• Cowboy Ranch House Restaurant, Brycen
• Still Steaks, Mexican Hat
• La Frontera, Midvale
• The Pub Spirits and Craft Kitchen, Cedar City
• Mariscos El Camaron Pelao, Salt Lake City
• Tacos El Robert Bar & Grill, Logan
• The Cheesecake Factory, Orem
• Two Bit Bistro, Ogden
• HandoSake, Salt Lake City

Limited-service restaurant licenses (beer, wine)

Three businesses this month secured a limited license:

• Yummy’s BBQ and Sushi, Provo
• Mumbai House Cuisine of India, Park City
• Uncle Jeffi’s, Holladay

Beer-only restaurant licenses

Three of these for May:

• Sergio’s, Park City
• Los Tapatios Taco Grill, West Jordan
• El Tigre, Kamas

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• 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.