Downtown Salt Lake City bar announces March 22nd closure

Alibi

Taking to Instagram this week, this cocktail-forward bar (pictured top) signed off, writing, “Alibi will be permanently closing its doors on Saturday, March 22nd. This is not easy news, and we have loved serving you, making memories with you, and being a part of what makes the Salt Lake City bar scene so special.

We hope to see everyone in the coming days to say goodbye & get a few more of your favorite classic Alibi cocktails, and a couple more selfies in the bathroom (we’ll miss the wallpaper.)

We love and appreciate each and every person who’s spent time inside our space, and have some exciting news about what’s next for 369 Main Street coming soon!”

Alibi opened in the Fall of 2018, bookending the South end of this stretch of Main Street – a hot spot for restaurants and bars. Per the business’s farewell note, it does sound like something new may be in the works for the spot, though perhaps from new owners.

In this piece by Axios, co-owner Mike Askerlund confirmed the space has been sold to new owners. The Axios piece also underlined that other businesses in the group would go on unaffected; The Green Room (another bar in downtown SLC), and The Pearl (still cranking our impeccable cuisine courtesy of chef Tommy Nguyen). The Pearl recently scooped a prestigious dining award from SL Mag.

Beard Papas

This national brand with two Utah locations also announced its closure. A social media post explains, “Utah friends we are sad to announce that we have closed our Utah locations. We had a great time serving you up with delicious cream puffs! Thank you for trying us we truly appreciated it!” The Japanese-based chain, known for its cream puffs, had two locations in the state – Sugar House and South Jordan.

Happy Teriyaki

A reader sent me news of this one writing, “the Happy Teriyaki in South Jordan has closed, and a business called Maru Sushi and Donburi is taking its place (according to a sign on the door). This is in the building just to the west of the Snelgrove’s currently under construction.”

A quick scan of both Google and Yelp profiles double confirms the business’s South Jordan location has permanently closed. The brand which operates multiple stores in Idaho, remains in Utah with a Plesant Grove outlet.

Red Tacos Lehi

Also slimming down, this Utah-based taco name. The following Instagram announcement explained the closure of their Lehi location, today, March 15th:

“We want to thank you lehi city for all the love and support but we have decided to close store after months of going back and forth ❤️. Orem and Lindon will remain open normal hours. Lehi City last day will be March 15 2025 🌮”

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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.