Whether you are looking for guacamole or ghost stories, you can find it all at one of Salt Lake City’s oldest and most popular restaurants – the Rio Grande Café (270 S. Rio Grande St). Nestled in the historic Rio Grande Train Depot (300 S. Rio Grande St), the café combines the best of early 20th century architecture with a hip, young vibe. The vintage surroundings take you back to an earlier time when train passengers rushed in for a “blue plate special” before catching the cross-country California Zephyr.

Locally-made neon signs beckon you into the café with promises of “trackside dining” and “air conditioning.” A circular oak counter stands in the center of the restaurant, just as it stood when the café opened more than 100 years ago. Only now, it has a toy train hovering overhead on a specially-mounted track. When you take a seat at the bar, you will notice the original oak stools, each stenciled on the back with the name of a long-time patron.

“These are just the names of some of the café’s most loyal regulars,” explains Abby, a server who enjoys the camaraderie of the familiar lunch crowd. The sound of the antique jukebox echoes against the high ceiling while customers linger over their chips and signature salsa.

The Rio Grande Café – originally known as the Rio Grande Coffee Shop – opened the same year as the massive train depot in 1910 and was operated by the train company at first. But during World War II, the wartime crowds grew too big and in 1944 the café was leased out to locals Dale Moss and George and Nelda Busby.

“It was busy,” Nelda told an interviewer in 1982. “The train company couldn’t handle the constant traffic of the troop trains. We were open twenty-four hours a day and the place was constantly full. The troop trains would come in, and because the diner cars hadn’t been able to accommodate all of them, the soldiers would spill into the café. When we couldn’t move them through fast enough, the soldiers would bus the tables and wash the dishes so everyone got a chance to eat.”

Over the kitchen door still hangs an old-fashioned numbers board that used to light up when each order was ready for pick-up, a reminder of long ago. Moss and his partners operated the restaurant for more than 35 years, during which time it remained popular even when train traffic waned.

In 1979, the entire train depot was purchased by the Utah Historical Society and the Rio Grande Coffee Shop closed with the retirement of Moss and his partners. It was soon reincarnated as the Rio Grande Café serving Mexican food with its trademark salsas and specialty margaritas. Fortunately, the historic décor was saved and, even today, the original oak paneling, antique oak chairs and linoleum-topped tables add rich atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the old train tracks where diners awaited their train arrivals. The last trains stopped running in the 1980s but the clock on the café wall still glows “Zephyr’ in bright turquoise neon.

Behind the counter sit timeless wooden refrigerators with glass doors and an authentic phone booth is down the hall. Tasty enchiladas are served on old-fashioned plates; watch for one of the original “blue plates” still circulating at the café. Just when you feel you might actually be back in the 1950s you will catch sight of the giant papier-mache taco hanging from the ceiling! This fascinating art sculpture (done by a University of Utah student in the 1980s) is entitled “Chick-In-Taco” – pun intended!

Beyond the delicious food and vintage vibe, you can also visit the café in search of the famous ghost of the Purple Lady. Abby, the server, tells me there are many versions of the tragic tale, all involving love and death. “In the one I heard, the lady dressed in purple sends her lover off to war on the train right out there – I think it is during World War I – and she waits for him to return. Instead of seeing him get off the train at the end of the war, she finds out he was killed and she throws herself on the tracks in her uncontrollable grief. They carried her body to the ladies’ restroom and people still see her ghost wandering through there today!”

Pete Henderson and his family ran the café from the 1980s until recently, when it was sold to local restaurateurs Byron Lovell, Matt Bourgeois and Bryan O’Meara. They are known for fabulous restorations of other historic buildings, most recently bringing their Porcupine Pub and Grille to the old fire station by the University of Utah. The Rio Grande Café’s storied past and evocative décor keep this excellent restaurant thriving today as a community icon.

Salt Lake City’s recent boom in downtown apartment living echoes a similar heyday that took place 100 years ago. Between 1910 and 1940 the city’s population increased from 92,000 to 140,000 and investments in amenities like streetcars and paved sidewalks fueled a bustling business district. Construction of the city’s first apartment buildings soon following and were completed in two general phases: the first from 1904 through the start of World War I, and then another flurry from the early 1920s until World War II.

These new urban dwellings boasted luxuries that many rural Utahns had never before experienced: innovative frills such as “disappearing” Murphy beds, Frigidaire refrigerators, electric ranges and on-site laundry machines. The interiors were upscale for the time, with glass interior doors, hardwood floors, casement windows, chandeliers and tiled bathrooms. “There’s always somebody home in an apartment,” advertised the Apartment House Association of Utah. “It’s nice to return at night to well-lighted corridors and know that help if needed can be quietly summoned.”

The early apartment buildings were designed as either walk-ups with one or two entrances on each landing or as a double-loaded corridor plan with multiple entrances along a central hall. Architects took advantage of Salt Lake’s deep blocks, fitting the long, narrow apartment buildings on lots where a home and a garden or corral where located previously. After growing up on farms or pioneer homes, downtown apartment living represented an exciting new approach to residential life that everyone from young married couples to recent immigrants were interested in. Fortunately, many of these beautiful vintage apartment buildings still line our streets, reminding of us of the elegance of a bygone era. 

The Pauline apartment building at 278 E. 100 South was one of the first to be built in 1904, closely followed by the La France at 246 W. 300 South and the twin buildings of the Altadena and Sampson, at the corner of 300 South and 300 East.

Walk down 300 East today and you will see other lovely historic apartment buildings, with their leaded glass windows, Colonial Revival balconies and ornate entrances. Keep strolling over to 235 S. 200 East and you’ll happen upon the Woodruff apartments, a luxury for the time it was built in 1908. “The building will be steam-heated, you will have hot water ready at all times of day or night, as well as free janitor and night watchman service, telephone and gas range … you will save on coal bills, water, telephone, streetcar fares and other incidentals, will reduce your costs of living, and you will have all the comforts besides,” read a 1908 newspaper ad for the Woodruff. It advertised specifically to “young men looking for desirable apartments close to their work.” Abe Gross and his young wife, Vera, lived in Unit 60 at the Woodruff in 1930 when they first moved to Salt Lake from Chicago. They spoke Polish and English; Abe worked as a truck driver and cattle buyer. Sadly, Abe was killed in a truck accident in 1935 shortly after their son was born, after which Vera moved back to Chicago.

The decorative elements of the turn-of-the-century apartments are striking. Most have the original light posts and fixtures, doors and tiled entries. Note the French door balconies, intricate brick patterns and neon sign at the Embassy Arms, 120 S. 300 East. Venture over to the Piccardy at 115 S. 300 East and you will find a Jacobethan Revival style with twisting columns and large finials, arched windows and an imposing sign over the door. Often the buildings were given creative names to convey sophisticated style, such as the Belvedere (29 S. State), the Hollywood (204 East 100 South) and the Silverado (243 South 300 East).

The Los Gables, built in 1929, occupies nearly half a block at 135 S. 300 East, making it one of the largest early complexes. Note the Moorish arched entrances, stonework and unusual timbering detail around some of the upper windows. Newly married couple Larry and Rosalee Hunt lived in Unit 605 during 1959 when they came from St. George so Larry could serve in the Army at Fort Douglas. The rooms were advertised as “an address to be proud of” with “reasonable monthly rents” of $40.

The investors who started Salt Lake’s first apartment boom included local families such as the Coveys, Downings and Sampsons, along with out-of-state financers from California. Several prominent builders constructed most of Salt Lake City’s original apartment buildings, such as W.C.A. (Andy) Vissing, who came to Salt Lake City from Denmark as a 14-year-old, formed his own contracting company and made his fortune by building more than 20 apartment buildings over the course of his career.

The Covey family, led by entrepreneur brothers A.A. Covey, S.M. Covey and H.T. Covey, built apartments to last. All of their early-twentieth-century buildings are still standing and used today—the La France, Hillcrest, New Hillcrest, Kensington, Buckingham and Covey. The Covey Apartments on South Temple were considered the most elegant of the group, even featuring a passenger elevator to serve the seven floors. As you walk by the Covey entrance at 239 East S. Temple, relish the brickwork, gargoyles and wrought-iron balconies. Imagine the first tenants moving into the nearby Hillcrest apartments on First Avenue with its windowed sleeping porches, beautifully-landscaped interior courtyard and private garages out back. The Coveys expected their on-site managers to do everything from mopping hallway floors to delivering ice to residents’ kitchen iceboxes.





With the advent of The Depression, funding for new construction evaporated. And then, after World War II residents wanted cozy bungalows in the suburbs, which were suddenly more affordable with federal loans. Downtown apartment construction declined further and the occupancy patterns changed dramatically. 

By the turn of the twenty-first century, some of these grand old buildings became stylish condominiums, while others serve as low-income or affordable housing. Owners are taking care to maintain the unique architectural features and advertise the historic beauty of the structures. At least 73 of the downtown apartment buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2014, the city adopted design guidelines for the buildings to emphasize their “distinctive urban scale and presence.” The more than 100 historic apartment buildings still in use today are a vivid reminder of the boldness and style with which Salt Lake City entered the twentieth century.

The street signs on the sleepy corridor of 100 South between 300 West and 200 West read “Japantown.” This corridor is home to the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, the Japanese Church of Christ--who are celebrating their 100th anniversary, the vibrant Nihon Matsuri, Obon, and other street festivals, and a small, meditative Japanese-style garden. But what these street signs don’t convey is the long history and struggle of the neighborhood they mark, as the current iteration of Salt Lake’s Japantown has seen many changes to the downtown community they have called home for more than 130 years.  

In the late 1880s, Utah received its first generation of Japanese immigrants—known as Issei—who answered the call for labor demands in Utah’s mining and railroads industries. In 1902, Edward Daigoro established the E.D. Hashimoto Company one block north of what would become Japantown. Daigoro provided coordination between Utah industries and Japanese laborers, also providing the Issei with various supplies, Japanese food, payroll, and intermediary services with the local government.

By 1910, the Utah Japanese population was more than 2,000 strong, and many families made their way to Daigoro’s emerging Salt Lake City neighborhood. This area, defined by the boundaries of South Temple to State Street, 400 South to 700 West, quickly developed as the core of the Issei community. The neighborhood boasted noodle houses, hotels, bustling cafes, apartments, bathhouses, variety stores, grocery stores, confectioners and fish markets. 1912 saw the construction of Salt Lake’s first Buddhist temple, located at 250 West South Temple and, in 1918, the Japanese Church of Christ was built across the street. Two newspapers—The Utah Nippo and Rocky Mountain Times—served the Japanese community, offering both Christian and Buddhist perspectives. The Utah Nippo bought the Rocky Mountain Times, and in 1931, began publishing the front page in English to accommodate the Nisei, or second-generation residents, who were becoming less fluent in the Japanese language.

World War II Community Impacts

Before World War II, the residents of Japantown developed a strong, compassionate community that continued to grow, thrive, and benefit Salt Lake. But this environment drastically changed, as the American mindset was altered after the actions of World War II, with the adoption of policies that had major impact on the community of Japantown. As some families were able to stay in their homes, though under intense F.B.I. scrutiny, many of Japantown’s community leaders were harassed, detained, and sent to internment camps. The Topaz internment camp in Millard County was home to approximately 8,000 Japanese persons.

The community in Salt Lake’s Japantown empathetically donated thousands of dollars in books, equipment and resources for educating the children interned at Topaz. Under federal orders, both the advocacy organization Japanese American Citizens League (J.A.C.L.) and the headquarters of the Buddhist Missions of North America, originally based in California, temporarily found refuge in Salt Lake. This atmosphere also saw The Utah Nippo develop as a crucial voice for Japanese Americans across the country, having wide distribution among internment camps and more than 7,000 subscribers in peak war years.

Life after Topaz saw many Japanese—previously living in California—joining the community in Japantown, as well as a number of the soldiers from the U.S. Army’s majority Japanese 442nd Infantry Regiment who, while being treated in Utah hospitals, experienced the hospitality of this community. In 1950, the first of the Issei received their American citizenship. As new generations of Japanese Americans found themselves engrained in communities throughout Salt Lake City, these Issei remained the primary residents of a neighborhood still housing bustling retail shops and two cultural hubs—the Buddhist and Christian churches.

With urban renewal on the minds of Salt Lake developers in 1964, a bond to build a new Salt Palace was publically approved. The identified corridor for the new development was in the heart of Japantown, a dense and bustling area home to many cafes, social clubs, apartments, businesses, markets, hotels, and a movie theatre. Preservation committees formed with the interest of protecting the neighborhood, but ultimately could not gain enough support to save Japantown or influence developers and city leaders to find an alternate location. The construction of the new Salt Palace displaced many residents and businesses of Japantown and ultimately destroyed their vibrant community and sense of identity and belonging. Plans to reestablish and support the newly displaced community and businesses—such as Salt Lake City developing a “Little Tokyo” or the local Japanese-American community establishing a Far East Cultural Center—never materialized, causing those displaced to either start over in new parts of Salt Lake or close their businesses permanently.

Japantown Recognition

Fast-forward 40 years and Japantown finally received some deserved recognition. In 2007, the corridor of 100 South between 300 West and 200 West was ceremoniously named “Japantown Street” and, located east of the Japanese Church of Christ, a small, Japanese-style garden paying homage to Japanese community leaders was included in the Salt Palace expansion of that same year. Though it’s vitality can never be restored, as further Salt Palace development has squeezed the areas around both Japantown churches, community leaders are working to advocate for and reimagine Japantown. Sen. Jani Iwamoto, D-Holladay, and retired 3rd District Judge Ray Uno formed the Japanese Community Preservation Committee to preserve the legacy, contributions and voice of Japantown, and to ensure that this history is respected as new commercial and residential developments in this area pose a possible further encroachment upon both the Buddhist and Christian churches and the future of their Nihon Matsuri and Obon street festivals.

Obon & Nihon Matsuri Celebrations

In 1936, at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, the community held its first Obon celebration. The Obon holiday is a Japanese Festival of Joy similar to Memorial Day, with people visiting their hometowns, their families and the graves of loved ones. This first celebration united the local Japanese population, attracted outside interest, and raised funds for community projects. Now in its 82nd year, this free, annual tradition—taking place this year on July 14th—will feature Japanese food, vendor booths selling kimonos, umbrellas and other Japanese items from the temple's newly opened bookstore, the popular Taiko drum performers, and the celebratory community dance.

Another beloved Salt Lake event is the Nihon Matsuri. This free and open to the public annual festival celebrates Japanese and Japanese American culture, history, traditions, and the legacy and contributions of the Japantown community. April 28th will see the corridor of 100 South activated with a day full of live performances—featuring an exclusive fashion show presenting traditional and contemporary kimonos designed by Sueko Oshimoto of KimonoSK, special musical guests the Taikoza Group, amazing food, tea ceremonies, vendors with traditional Japanese clothing, decorations and gift items, alongside historical and cultural exhibits, and a cosplay contest. There will also be free children’s activities like face painting, coloring pages, kite making and more.

Concurrent with Nihon Matsuri is the Raymond S. Uno Celebration, which takes place on Thursday, April 26. Presented by the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections, University of Utah and The Raymond S. Uno Legacy Celebration Committee, this annual celebration pays tribute to Judge Raymond S. Uno’s lifetime of efforts as an advocate of human and civil rights, especially social justice for all persons, regardless of racial, cultural, gender identity and religious difference. The evening will feature a dinner and a special presentation by Mr. Dale Minami, a partner with Minami Tamaki LLP, who was involved in the civil rights litigation of Asian Pacific Americans including the Korematsu vs. United States lawsuit that overturned a 40-year old conviction for refusal to obey exclusion orders aired at Japanese Americans during WWII. Special achievement awards will also be presented to Archie Archuleta, J. Boyer Jarvis and Margaret Yee.

With the gaining popularity and reach of its various festivals and celebrations, the informative and influential workshops, outreach, and faith services offered both by the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple and the Japanese Church of Christ, alongside an increased public awareness of Japantown’s role in Utah’s history, a stronger stance on advocacy and support for this community in the proposed new commercial and residential developments in this corridor need to be taken. Japantown’s legacy and impact in Salt Lake should finally be recognized and celebrated, not forgotten.

Al fresco dining in downtown will get a taste of old world charm as Caffé Molise and BTG Wine Bar open the doors to their new location at the historic Eagle Building this summer. Partners Fred Moesinger and Aimee Sterling purchased the building, commonly referred to as “the Bay” by locals, after a three-year search for a downtown location to fit the needs of their established, popular businesses. The restaurant and wine bar’s current location is slated for future redevelopment, necessitating a move. With the purchase and renovation of the Eagle Building, Fred and Aimee are creating an iconic gathering space that blends the building’s neo-renaissance style with the celebrated fresh Italian cuisine, warm service and a bright future.

A Tall Order to Update a Historic Building

The Eagle Building had sat for some time in disrepair, and Moesinger’s excitement is palpable as the challenging project approaches the finish line. “It’s a grand old place,” says Moesinger. “Aimee and I are excited to be restoring it to former glory. We’ve been looking to buy a building for over three years, but nothing we saw met all of our needs.” It was important for Moesinger and Sterling to have a downtown location, a building with charm and also a patio—their former patio on 100 South was routinely voted a top patio in the city. “We feel fortunate to have found all those qualities in the Eagle Building,” says Moesinger. “Our business has grown, thanks to the support of our customers over the last 25 years, and we look forward to better serve them in our new space.” The Eagle Building has immense historical significance to the city, listed on both the Salt Lake City Landmark List and the National Historic Register. Upgrades to the building require design review to preserve the historical integrity of the space. The building is chock full of fine details and grand features that characterize its neo-renaissance style, with a nod to Italian roots. Visible markers of the style are the grand staircase, arched windows and openings, exposed brick, Egyptian-style pillars, and its three stories separated by horizontal ‘belts.’

Renovations Moesinger and Sterling had to make include adding an elevator for improved ADA access and service, landscaping and design of the balconies and patio for outdoor seating, and creating separate commercial kitchens for the dedicated menus at each business. The grand staircase on West Temple leads to the main dining room for Caffé Molise; and BTG Wine Bar’s separate entrance on 400 South, under the original antique awning, descends to the three-quarter basement. The upper level includes space for expanded seating, private events and banquets. With a grand patio and two balconies designed with shade and natural finishes, outdoor dining will be available to both restaurant and wine bar patrons. This promises to be an incredible space to while away the summer nights.

Maintaining A Storied History

When it comes to bringing people together over food and drinks, the Eagle Building has a long and varied history in Salt Lake City. Built from 1915 – 1916 to house the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the building was designed by renowned architect Nils Edward Lilienberg. The Order was a social club founded by theater owners in Seattle for those working in the industry to organize, recreate and party while touring the country’s theater cities. Eagle buildings appeared across the country in cities with vibrant theater scenes, including Salt Lake City—home to 12 operating independent theaters, including the Orpheum, Utah Theater and Capitol Theatre. While the Order worked on timely issues, such as labor laws and medical services, it was also known for boisterous parties frequented by touring Vaudeville actors. One can imagine the scene here as the night unfolded with flowing drinks, dancing, card games and underground boxing matches. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles left the building during the Great Depression, then from the 1950s – 1980s, it was home to Equitable Life & Casualty Insurance Company. In the 1990s, the building went through a major renovation becoming the Bay, followed by a decade of revolving dance clubs. Remember Club Vortex and the swimming pool built for Club Splash? Before Fred and Aimee purchased the building, it sat vacant for several years, a ghost of good times past lurking on the corner of 400 S and West Temple.

The Eagle Building was not originally a stand-alone building, as it was part of a vibrant city block, across the street from the famed Newhouse Hotel. The building is a rare survivor from that block and a colorful era in Salt Lake City history. “We are thrilled to see the building renovated and readapted for new use,” David Amott, preservation programs director of Preservations Utah notes. “Improving the future of the building adds to the color and context of the city.”

Menus

The core menu at Caffé Molise will remain the same, featuring fresh Italian cuisine inspired by the Molise region of northern Italy. Look for daily and seasonal specials to supplement the existing offerings. With a commitment to local ingredients and handmade regional specialties, the restaurant has welcomed casual diners, convention goers and groups celebrating special occasions for 25 years in Downtown SLC. BTG Wine Bar will be able to spread its wings and expand offerings in this new location. A Wine Spectator-recognized bar, BTG Wine Bar has an incredible selection of wines managed by sommelier Louis Koppel. Wine is offered by the two-ounce taste, by the glass or by the bottle, in addition to a full bar with crafted cocktails and beer. This is Salt Lake City’s grown-up place to relax for wine snobs and novices alike. In its new space, BTG will have a dedicated kitchen offering an expanded menu of bites and meals. The additional space will host wine pairing dinners, tasting events and wine education.

With construction nearly complete and finishing touches coming together, the project is slated to open this summer. Join the locals and visitors gathering here to embrace old world cuisine in a building brimming with old world charm. May we raise our glasses with a celebratory “Saluti” and enjoy the pleasantries of a Salt Lake City summer night.

404 S. West Temple

Caffé Molise
M-Th 11:30 am – 9 pm
F-Sa 11:30 am – 10 pm
Sun 11:30 am – 9 pm
caffemolise.com

BTG Wine Bar
Every day, 5 pm – 1 am
btgwinebar.com

“Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings.” - Jane Jacobs

Along with downtown Salt Lake City’s rich cultural and religious history, our urban center is also home to countless historic buildings and storefronts. From the First National Bank Building that housed Salt Lake City’s first public reading room to the Boston and Newhouse Buildings, designed by Samuel Newhouse (who designed the Flatiron Building in New York), downtown is full of architecture that gives the city a memorable and emblematic skyline, complimented by a backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains. Two of downtown’s iconic structures, the Felt and Clift Buildings, have recently undergone renovations that are breathing new life into the historic structure. At both nearly 100 years old, are among the earliest skyscrapers in downtown and stand as excellent examples of the possibilities of adaptive reuse.

The Felt Building

Named after Charles B. Felt, the Felt Building (341 South Main Street) was one of Salt Lake City’s first buildings to be built of steel and concrete in 1909. Charles Felt was the secretary of Salisbury Investment Company led by O.J. Salisbury, a major developer of Salt Lake City at the time. First conceived as a way to shift the business district to the south side of downtown, this five-story building features an ornate terracotta facade. Throughout its life, the Felt Building has featured a diverse portfolio of businesses, from brothels and cigar shops, to law offices. It contains nearly 58,000 square feet of historic office and retail space. The Felt Building is currently home to several creative technology and professional service firms including DevMountain, one of several software programming schools located downtown.

As the technology industry continues to blossom in downtown, a diverse and creative building stock is increasingly valuable to the urban center. Newer firms moving downtown are typically smaller and are looking for a space to incubate, work and explore the ideas. Historic buildings attract visitors and residents alike, reinvigorating a typically lesser trafficked area.

Renovating old buildings can be a costly undertaking, so Salt Lake City has provided tools for developers and property owners. The renovation of the Felt Building was made possible by a Building Renovation Loan provided by the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake. Located on Main Street, right next the Boston Building in the heart of downtown, the fully leased Felt Building serves as a prime example of giving old buildings new life.

Before:

After:

The Clift Building

Francis Clift was a pioneer who traveled to Utah by ox team alongside the Walker Brothers in 1851. After arriving in Utah, he took to mining as a stable source of income, and later became a major financier. Francis Clift died in 1913 and left behind a large estate for his wife, Virture Butcher. She later commissioned the Clift Building (10 West Broadway), which stood on the old site of a popular boarding house in the late 19th century. Today, the eight-story building on the corner of Main Street and 300 South sits as a beautiful example of Second Renaissance Revival Style architecture and was submitted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Anchored on Main Street in downtown, the Clift Building sits across from the Judge Building (8 East Broadway) built in 1909. When first erected, the Clift housed businesses like Shubach Optical Company, Western Union Telegraph and the Kinema Theater. At one time, the theater was the go-to place, and a film in the 1920s titled Shipwrecked Among Cannibals, played at the theater for a “record breaking” seven days. The Kinema Theater remained in operation until 1968. Although tenants have come and gone, the Clift Building has remained a stoic icon among downtown buildings. It is one of the largest terracotta faced buildings in Salt Lake City and has exquisite detail. The upper floors of the building are the most ornate, which feature bay windows and intricate Greek pediments.

Although the facade of the building has remained mostly unchanged, the inside of the building has undergone renovations in recent years. To the surprise of the architects and engineers of the project, the Clift Building was not what it appeared to be. After tearing out a false ceiling, workers discovered towering 15 foot ceilings, and even ash and soot residue on the walls and ceiling from a building fire some believe happened when the building was first constructed. Construction in the early 20th century was challenging. Building materials were expensive and often scarce, so when beams were too short, workers and engineers used make-shift materials like railroad ties to complete them.

Early in 2017, MGIS signed a 10-year lease on almost 13,000 square feet within the historic Clift. MGIS is an insurance firm based out of the Bay Area.

As downtown continues to attract businesses old and new, historic buildings will be an integral part of that success.

Renovations of historic buildings have become commonplace in Salt Lake City as old buildings provide new opportunity for unique office space for tech firms, law offices and numerous other businesses. This makes the rich historical context of these buildings a coveted asset to many. Although new buildings like 111 and 222 Main offer exceptional office space with a new urban flare, the historic significance and rustic charm of these old buildings is not to be overlooked.

Downtown is a system.

Made up of buildings, sidewalks, streets and parking structures—steel and glass, cement, trees and light posts. But downtown’s most important element is people.

When the Downtown Alliance was founded in 1991, Salt Lake City was a starkly different place. Crossroads Mall and ZCMI, two large enclosed shopping malls bustled, but our residential population was decreasing, many parts of downtown were blighted and Main Street was failing. The Utah Jazz still played in the Accord Arena, within the walls of the Salt Palace Convention Center. And where our stunning library now stands there was a courthouse and jail.

The Salt Palace as we know it was just a sparkle in the eye of Rick Davis, president of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Boyer Company was completing the One Utah Center on the corner of Main Street and 200 South, but there was no Gallivan Center. In fact, there was no TRAX, or Wells Fargo Building, no 222 South Main and old rail lines covered the future home of The Gateway.

People—through their creative energy, sense of community, love of art and entrepreneurial spirit—have built this downtown. As the Downtown Alliance celebrates our silver anniversary, this magazine celebrates the people and partnerships that have helped to change the face of our evolving urban center over the past quarter of a century.

Undoubtedly, this article will miss some important folks who have made major contributions. For that we apologize. It is hard to think of downtown Salt Lake City and not recognize the vision of long-time Salt Lake Tribune publisher Jack Gallivan who started our community down our Olympic quest in 1964 and championed the construction of the Salt Palace. But many of Jack Gallivan’s achievements came before 1991. The same might be said of Maurice Abravanel, Ted Wilson, Palmer DePaulis and thousands of others. An article dedicated to regional movers and shakers might also include such luminaries as Scott Anderson, Mitt Romney and Gov. Jon Huntsman. We recognize their incredible contributions to our community and deep dedication to the state of Utah. There are hundreds of other people we could have included as well.

The 25 people and organizations included here are just some of downtown’s brightest champions from the last quarter century—people who have contributed their passion, talent and fortunes to building a better city. We appreciate and support our partners, colleagues and friends who have worked every day, for decades, to build a better city. As we celebrate our 25th birthday as an organization, we turn our attention outwards to the many people who have made downtown what it is today.

1. Natalie Gochnour

When asked about her greatest loyalties, Natalie Gochnour might mention her family, her church, Real Salt Lake, and her beloved University of Utah where she serves as associate dean of the David Eccles Business School and director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. But she is first and always a Salt Laker and her loyalty to downtown has shaped the last ten years of her life as certainly as Natalie has shaped our ever rising skyline.

Gochnour’s mind and eloquence were the guiding forces behind Downtown Rising, a business-led initiative that prioritized development for Utah’s capital city. Started in 2006 and launched in 2007 Downtown Rising gave voice to our aspirations as an urban center. She used the momentum of City Creek Center’s construction to inspire a whole new generation of development and emotional connection to Utah’s capital city. The legacy of Downtown Rising includes brick and mortar projects like the new Eccles Theater, regional rail and a corridor of high-density housing connecting downtown with the University of Utah. More importantly, it includes a renewed sense of community spirit that will carry downtown through the next decades.

2. Lane Beattie

For 13 years, Beattie has led the Downtown Alliance as President and CEO bringing his years of experience as a realtor, developer, president of the Utah Senate, and the state’s chief Olympic officer. Beattie’s tutelage has been critical to projects ranging from City Creek Center to moving the North Temple Viaduct; from TRAX construction to the GREENbike system and from homeless initiatives to building a convention center hotel. His leadership shapes the Downtown Alliance and the broader community.

Everything Beattie touches is improved by his insight, negotiation skills and ability to bring people together. He is not just the president of the Downtown Alliance, he is also downtown’s biggest cheerleader and advocate. Beattie can move mountains with a single phone call, handshake or smile. And his love for downtown has translated to tangible results for Utah’s urban center during his leadership over the past thirteen years.

3. Vasilios Priskos

Nobody knows more about the history of downtown structures and parcels than Vasilios Priskos, the founder of InterNet Properties. As a young Greek immigrant, Priskos grew up in the shadow of skyscrapers working for his family’s restaurant: the Royal Eatery on Main Street and 400 South. As a major landowner and dealmaker, his commitment to the urban fabric of our city is apparent in places like Whiskey Street and Café Molise, both housed in building he owns. One of his greatest downtown contributions is the rehabilitation of the historic Salt Lake Tribune building on Main Street as a leading edge educational campus for Neumont University. This project retains one of downtown's key historic structures and supports revitalization in the core, bringing full-time resident students and jobs into the city.

4. Scott Beck

As perhaps the greatest salesman our city has ever known, Scott Beck’s enthusiasm for downtown is contagious. As president of Visit Salt Lake, Beck has built on the legacy of previous convention bureau leaders Dianne Binger and Rick Davis to create an unparalleled sales and marketing organization for our community. Visit Salt Lake supports all of Salt Lake County, but promotes downtown as the site of the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center and the vast majority of Salt Lake County’s hotels, restaurants and bars. Beck’s passion and dedication are a critical element to downtown’s success as a top emerging convention market, a point that will be underscored this summer when Salt Lake City hosts the American Society of Association Executives, bringing thousands of associations, their senior leaders and meeting planners, to our urban center.

5. Bob Farrington

The founder of the Downtown Alliance, Farmers Market, Live Green, Lights On! and Salt Lake City’s First Night, Bob Farrington’s contributions trace their origins to the very start of the our 25 year history. Farrington was recruited to Salt Lake City from San Antonio where he had served as the director of the Downtown Owners Association of San Antonio. His leadership at the Alliance brought people together, creating alliances and a voice for the diverse business interests and constituencies that make up our urban center. His gracious spirit, astute judgment and planning background made the Alliance the authoritative voice for downtown’s evolution and development. His advocacy continued in his role as Salt Lake City’s economic development director, adjunct professor of planning at the University of Utah and private practice at Farrington Community, Planning and Development, a consulting firm he owns with his brother Phil.

6. Tom Guinney

Gastronomy opened the New Yorker in 1978 in the rehabilitated New York Hotel, setting the standard for fine dining in Salt Lake City for decades to come. Market Street Grill and Oyster Bar followed shortly after as Guinney and his partners John Williams and Thomas Seig acquired dilapidated buildings throughout downtown and renovated them into architectural treasures. The old Salt Lake City High School on Pierpont Ave became Baci Trattoria and Café Pierpont, and the Salt Lake Hardware Building, Ford Building and Axis Building were all renovated into historic office and meeting space. Guinney’s influence on downtown includes a commitment to historic renovation, civic pride and laying the foundation for downtown’s current dining renaissance.

7. President Gordon B. Hinckley

Perhaps more than any other person, Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has shaped present-day downtown, especially the blocks north of 100 South. In addition to recreating downtown’s urban landscape, his commitment to breaking down religious barriers left a legacy much greater than mere buildings or plazas.

As Church President, Hinckley oversaw the renovation of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, construction of the LDS Conference Center and development of City Creek Center. President Hinckley understood the importance of a vibrant city center and the role of the Church as the community’s founding organization.

When President Hinckley passed away in 2008, the Salt Lake Tribune wrote: “Hinckley never lost sight of the importance of Salt Lake City as the church's headquarters. He built goodwill by opening the Tabernacle on Temple Square to interfaith groups, by creating an Inner City Mission to help people find their way out of poverty, illness and addiction, and by contributing to the restoration of the Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine and Westminster College of Salt Lake City.”

8. Bishop H. David Burton

If President Hinckley was the visionary architect for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints downtown plans, H. David Burton, was the general contractor. Bishop Burton served as the Church’s Presiding Bishop for seventeen years, and his influence for good can be felt on project large and small, tangible and intangible across our community.

Bishop Burton oversaw the construction of City Creek Center to create what industry experts have called “an outstanding example of visionary architectural achievement in sustainability and innovative design.” The transformation of these two critical downtown blocks encouraged other developments up and down Main Street, leading to a downtown renaissance over the past several years.

Bishop Burton’s influence on downtown extends far beyond a single development. As the Presiding Bishop, he oversaw the Church’s humanitarian efforts, including care for homeless and commitments to Utah’s cultural and artistic life. Bishop Burton was also one of the original organizing voices that created the Downtown Alliance. As an emeritus General Authority of the LDS Church, his influence for good continues to build a stronger, more inclusive and beautiful city.

9. The Miller Family

The Miller Family’s impact on downtown Salt Lake City has been significant, not only in magnitude—the Vivint Smart Home Arena takes up a full city block and attracts more than 1 million people to downtown every year—but also in terms of personal commitment.

Larry and Gail Miller opened the Delta Center in 1991, the same year the Downtown Alliance was founded. Miller Sports and Entertainment also opened Megaplex Movies at The Gateway in 2001. But the couple’s life downtown goes back to their days as students at West High when downtown served as a backdrop to their courtship.

After Larry passed away in 2009, Gail Miller renewed her commitment to downtown, buying a condo in the city center, stepping up as the first private contributor to the new Eccles Theater and serving with former Salt Lake City Mayor Palmer DePaulis on the Homeless Services Site Evaluation Committee last year. She remains committed to downtown as the Miller Organization launches their plans to transform the Vivint Smart Home Arena into a cutting-edge arena, suitable for today’s NBA.

The Miller’s remarkable influence extends far beyond downtown Salt Lake City, with businesses across several western states and philanthropic endeavors throughout the region. But home court will always be in downtown.

10. Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz

As the most prominent Utah Jazz Player of all time, “The Mailman” Karl Malone spent 18 seasons with the Jazz and represents a golden age in Utah basketball for many fans. Karl and his teammate John Stockton led the Jazz to two NBA Finals appearances, electrifying downtown Salt Lake City – thousands camped outside of the arena to cheer them on. Malone scored the second most career points in NBA history and holds the record for most free throws attempted and made. There is a reason Karl Malone is one of the few people to have a downtown street named in his honor.

Today’s Jazz players carry on the Stockton to Malone legacy, with a strong work ethic, commitment to team play and esprit de corp that represents the best of Utah. Downtown is proud to be the home of the Jazz, recognizing the indelible commitment the individual players and the organization make to our city’s core.

11. Dee Dee Coradini

As mayor, Dee Dee Coradini left a string of accomplishment that forever changed downtown. As a committed Salt Lake champion she helped bring the Olympics to Utah and worked closely with partners to encourage development and change.

As Salt Lake City’s first female mayor, Dee Dee Coradini was a trailblazer in more ways than one. Perhaps more than any other mayor in recent memory, Dee Dee partnered with the private sector to encourage development of Utah’s capital city. Economic development was a key value. She supported removing outdated railroad ties to create The Gateway, built City Creek Park and facilitated the creation of Main Street Plaza by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fulfilling plans originally laid out in the 1960’s Second Century Plan. She also supported the early creation of the Downtown Alliance, giving voice to business leaders and property owners to help shape the future of Utah’s capital city for years to come.

12. Rocky Anderson

Mayor Anderson is driven by principle and a deep-seated commitment to live by his moral compass. His values inform everything he does—so it’s no surprise that one of Salt Lake City’s greatest architectural jewels came from his vision and leadership in the Moshe Safdi designed Salt Lake City Public Library that replaced an aging criminal justice center.

Working with his friend and planning director Bob Goldsmith, Mayor Anderson built a community that reflects the progressive nature of Utah’s Capital City. He founded the Salt Lake City Jazz Festival with musician Jerry Floor, and built a close working partnership with SLOC president Mitt Romney to host the successful 2002 Olympic Winter Games, centered on downtown Salt Lake City. Mayor Anderson left a legacy of sustainability and social justice that continues to shape the city he loves.

13. Ralph Becker

Mayor Becker’s planning background and commitment to environmental sustainability influenced everything from the construction of the nation’s first ever net zero Public Safety Building to enhanced bike infrastructure throughout the city and the launch of GREENbike, Salt Lake City’s nonprofit bike sharing system.

One of Mayor Becker’s signature achievements is the new George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater, scheduled to open in October of this year. Built without any new taxes, the Theater will host first run Broadway plays and serve as a venue for local and regional arts organizations. Strategically positioned in the heart of downtown’s cultural core, the new facility builds synergy with performers, audiences and downtown businesses. This legacy project builds on existing venues and creating a unique sense of place that will set Salt Lake City apart for decades to come. Mayor Becker’s love for the people of Salt Lake City contributed to the renaissance downtown experienced during his time in office.

14. Geralyn Dreyfous

As Utah’s First Lady of Film, Geralyn Dreyfous has nurtured filmmakers across the globe but her touch on downtown Salt Lake City was cemented when she founded the Utah Film Center. The Center’s mission is realized every time they screen free curated independent movies and documentaries to audiences throughout our state. In addition to regular screenings at The Salt Lake City Public Library, Rose Wagner Center, Dreyfous lead in the creation of Tumbleweeds and Damn These Heels, two film festivals produced by the Utah Film Center every year.

Dreyfous is the recipient of numerous honors and recognitions including an Academy Award for the documentary Born into Brothels. But her greatest contribution may be the lives she has helped to shape through the narrative of films that she has created or brought to audiences in downtown Salt Lake City. Her contributions to downtown will only continue in future years as we move forward in helping to fulfill the vision of a Film and Media Center, a project she has championed for years.

15. Ririe Woodbury

For more than 50 years, Ririe Woodbury Dance Company has boldly engaged Salt Lake City audiences, fulfilling their mission to make dance a visible part of everyone’s lives. Joan Woodbury and Shirley Ririe created the company in 1964, focusing on performance and education. Over the past five decades Ririe Woodbury has become an internationally renowned contemporary dance company with roots deep in downtown Salt Lake City. Today, Jena Woodbury, serves as Executive Director and continues to build on the company’s long legacy.

Ririe Woodbury is one of the resident companies at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center on Broadway. Together with the other resident companies: SB Dance, Pygmalion Productions, Plan B Theater Company and Repertory Dance, downtown audiences are challenged, entertained and transformed through music, dance and theater.

16. Pat Richards

As the region’s cultural center, downtown is home to symphony, opera, theater and ballet. The success of our cultural arts can be attributed to performers, patrons and hundreds of other supporters. But in terms of longevity of service and personal commitment, Pat Richards deserves special recognition.

Since 1994, Richards has helped to guide two of Utah’s legacy cultural organizations, first as member of the Utah Opera Board and then, as a member of the Symphony and Opera Board when the two organizations merged in 2002. She took over as board chair in 2005 and led USUO through the lean years of the great recession, helping to create a long-term plan for financial stability. Today she is the interim president. Richards’ love of music extends beyond volunteer leadership as she has literally leant her voice to the music she loves. She has been a longtime member of the Utah Symphony Chorus. Richards served as a senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank and was the first female chair of the Salt Lake Chamber. Her business acumen, passion for music and commitment to community have sustained downtown’s cultural legacy for future generations.

17. Roger Boyer

Built in 1991, the One Utah Center on the corner of 200 South and Main shares a 25th birthday with the Downtown Alliance. And it is only fitting that we honor Roger Boyer, who built the iconic skyscraper together with his long-time business partner Kem Gardner. In 2001, the Boyer Company opened the largest private development in downtown’s history at The Gateway in reclaimed rail yards pioneering new development on downtown’s west side. The Gateway ushered in a new concept for Utah, focusing on entertainment, urban living, retail and office development. Now owned by Vestar Corporation, the future of the center remains bright.

Roger Boyer develops much more than just commercial property; he crafts a sense of community. Tall in stature, quiet and gentle in demeanor, Roger has continued to build downtown, re-imagining the former Quest headquarters on the corner of 200 East and 100 South and building the 101 Office Tower across the street. Together with Cowboy Partners, the Boyer Company is continuing to boldly reshape urban neighborhoods, developing the Station Center project west of the Rio Grande Depot, and building the 151 Tower on State Street as a continuation of the downtown rising vision for a skyline district on State and Main.

18. Dell Loy Hansen

Dell Loy makes things happen. As a developer, investor and creator he has the rare ability to bring disparate people, projects and ideas together. Dell Loy’s vision repurposed the Wells Fargo Building, bringing KUTV’s studios to Main Street. He kept Questar’s corporate headquarters downtown building a LEED certified building on a former surface parking lot in 18 months. He retrofitted the international style building on Main Street and his team has attracted tech companies large and small who now make us the majority of office users in the WorkDay Building on 200 East and 400 South. Most recently, he purchased the Simmons Media Group and brought a number of popular radio stations to the heart of the urban center rechristening the group as the Broadway Media Group.

Dell Loy’s work in building downtown continues through Wasatch Commercial, Wasatch Residential and Wasatch Constructors who have built more than 2000 new units in and around downtown in last few years.

19. Matt Minkevitch

Matt Minkevitch has spent a lifetime improving the lives of others. Working in close concert with Michelle Flynn at the Road Home, he and his team at The Road Home, have helped thousands of men, women and children along the journey from homelessness to housing. His compassion is evident in every action, conversation and decision he makes as the Road Home’s Executive Director. The Road Home is more than an emergency shelter, it is a lifeline for people who come to the urban center at difficult times in their lives in search of security, safety and opportunity.

Flynn and Minkevitch do the hard work of helping vulnerable people during some of the most difficult parts of their lives. Many of the people they care for struggle with addiction and mental health woes in addition to financial challenges. Joined by advocates like Pamela Atkinson and working with other homeless service providers like Catholic Community Service, the 4th Street Clinic, Volunteers of America and Crossroads Urban Center, they are committed to strategic interventions that move people into housing, self-sufficiency and recovery.

20. Squatters

Although much has changed since Jeff Polychronis and Peter Cole opened Squatters Pub on 300 South in September of 1989 the partners still remain firmly dedicated to their goal of providing world-class handcrafted beer and food in a warm, friendly environment. When Squatters opened, Broadway was a very different place. Anything west of West Temple Street was considered the “wrong side of town.”

Jeff and Peter have been avid supporters of downtown Salt Lake City. With the full support and encouragement of Cole and Polychronis, Squatters has become a GREENbike sponsor, annually hosted the Farmers Market kick-off party, installed bike corrals, and has enthusiastically participated in numerous downtown events including Tastemakers, Tour de Brewtah, the annual Pride and St Patrick’s parades, Paint the Town Red, and Downtown Dine O’Round. Jeff and Peter’s commitment and talent have made a huge contribution to a healthy downtown community for more than a quarter of a century. It’s only fitting we raise a glass to their contributions.

21. Tony Caputo

Downtown has been built on more than steel, glass and bricks. It’s also been constructed with artisan cheese, hand created salamis, sandwiches, olives, chocolate, balsamic and oil. When Tony Caputo opened for business in the Pioneer Park neighborhood, he was pioneering more than just a new take on specialty Italian and Southern European imports, he was also pioneering a neighborhood that many had written off. Tony Caputo puts his money where his mouth is and much of the renaissance in and around Pioneer Park is a direct result of his willingness to take a risk and invest in the neighborhood.

As his son Matt takes over responsibilities for the management of Caputo’s thriving retail and catering business, Tony Caputo has secured his legacy as a successful small business owner, food entrepreneur and pioneering city builder.

22. John Saltas

When John Saltas founded City Weekly as the Private Eye Weekly in the mid 1980s, Utah laws prohibited clubs from advertising alcohol. The Private Eye promoted live music and reminded patrons about local bar scene at watering holes like Port O’ Call and Green Street.

Saltas moved the offices for the weekly newspaper downtown in 1991, the same year that the Downtown Alliance was founded, and his commitment to downtown has never wavered. The City Weekly has evolved from a news sheet that promotes nightlife to a critical part of Utah’s media landscape and alternative voice to mainstream media. In the past 25 years, Saltas has stepped forward to support downtown programs and events like the Farmers Market, EVE and Dine O’ Round, while reporting on the unique assets that set downtown apart.

Today, City Weekly is a critical voice for downtown’s diverse voices and continues to offer some of the state’s best investigative journalism. Saltas has made a real and lasting imprint on downtown through decades of influence and advocacy.

23. Lisa Sewell

Lisa Sewell’s career has been spent building the Utah Arts Festival into one of the largest and most successful arts festivals in the United States. She became the Executive Director and her leadership has helped the Festival grow in programming, budget and attendance.

Every year the Utah Arts Festival attracts more than 80,000 people to downtown, celebrating performance and visual art in the heart of the capital city. Beyond just creating a venue for the sale of art and artistic expression, Sewell has helped to build community as art loving attendees build memories and relationships in the shared space of their urban center.

24. Casey Jarman

The Salt Lake City Arts Council started the Twilight Concerts Series on the sloping lawn outside of the Salt Lake Art Center in 1989. For more than 25 years, Casey Jarman was the guiding force as the founder and director. He helped the series grow from humble beginnings to a new home at Gallivan Center where the Series was based for several years. In 2010, Casey brought the series to Pioneer Park, creating a huge uptick in attendance.

The Twilight Concerts have helped to define downtown Salt Lake City’s music scene, exposing local audiences to a diverse national and local music. With an attendance of up to 35,000 per concert, tens of thousands of music lovers have experience live music under the stars on Thursday nights through July and August. Casey’s role as founder and director set the foundation for the Festival’s continued success under Jesse Schaefer who took over management of the Festival in 2014.

25. Kim Angeli-Selin

Kim Angeli’s passion for the Downtown Farmers Market helped the Downtown Alliance program grow from a small gathering of farmers and artists in Pioneer Park to one of the largest and most successful farmers markets in the country. Under Angeli-Selin’s leadership the Market expanded to a Tuesday night Harvest Market, August through October and a Winter Market in the Rio Grande Depot November through April and from 2005 to 2015.

The Market has been one of the driving elements of success in the Pioneer Park neighborhood leading to investment of restaurants and food-based businesses, and new residential offerings. It has also helped to incubate dozens of successful brick and mortar businesses throughout our city. Through all the growth, Angeli-Selin carefully guarded the core values of the market, ensuring that all the elements of a signature downtown event that attracts more than 200,000 people annually remain true to a local, thoughtful and food driven mission.

Whether you are a fan of country music, basketball, pop divas, big truck shows or family friendly spectacles, downtown Salt Lake City has a gathering place. More than 1.8 million people annually find the best in sports and entertainment at EnergySolutions Arena, which began construction 25 years ago as the most high-tech, state-of-the-art arena in a five-state region. But after a quarter of a century the venue is showing a little gray hair, and owners of the arena – the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies – are taking steps to ensure its world-class status and its desire to continue serving the community.

“The bones of this building are really strong,” says Steve Starks, president of Miller Sports & Entertainment. “It’s timeless in a way because the arena has been so well taken care of through the years. However, it is also time to explore options on how to invest in a type of facility that could house a championship-caliber team and provide best-in-class guest experiences. We have had moments of brilliance occur in the arena, but there are more memories to be made here.”

As the home of the Utah Jazz, the downtown arena has been the professional sports heartbeat of the community. Its emergence along West Temple has anchored an integral city hub, spawning new businesses, restaurants, hotels and shopping, light-rail connectors, and a complementary facility to the convention center. Its rising a quarter of a century ago to a gathering place for first-class entertainment in Utah was an act of personal sheer will.

By the summer of 1990, Larry and Gail Miller knew that purchasing the NBA’s Utah Jazz wasn’t enough to keep the team in the state. At the time, they were playing in the now defunct Salt Palace arena, which seated just more than 12,000 spectators. From conversations with former NBA Commissioner David Stern, the Millers knew that they needed a 20,000-seat arena with luxury suites to keep their small market team afloat.

In typical Miller fashion, Larry and Gail had a vision; one that no one believed could come to fruition, but with Larry’s relentless drive, they powered on. Larry and Gail rarely did things just for themselves; they usually had a broader vision in mind. They decided that they would go after an undeveloped, dilapidated block on what was then the far west side of downtown and work with the city’s redevelopment agency to bring a brand new, multi-use, 20,000-seat arena to Salt Lake City ahead of its time. They knew, that if they built it, Jazz fans, events, concerts and crowds would come.

“Larry and Gail always believed in giving back to the community,” said Larry H. Miller Group of Companies CEO, Clark Whitworth. “Putting together the financing for the arena was one of the hardest deals we ever did in our more than 20 years of working together. We learned a lot. If not for Larry’s pure passion for the project, Gail’s unwavering support, and what the project could do for this community, I’m not sure we could have pulled it off.”

By May of 1990, the Millers had secured the approvals and funds to build the arena. Their desire was to have the doors open for the first game of the 1991-92 Jazz season. This left only 15 months to build a nearly the venue. Because of this, the facility was being designed as it was being built, in phases.

At the time, they also owned the International Hockey League’s Salt Lake Golden Eagles. The Eagles game against the Peoria Rivermen on Oct. 16, 1991 was the first public event hosted in the brand-new arena. The first headliner concert to play the location was Oingo Boingo on Oct. 24, 1991.

Mark Powell, vice president of events and general manager for the venue, recalls, “We opened the doors to the arena in October of 1991 to a sold-out Oingo Boingo concert. Since then, the facility has hosted nearly every major touring concert in the world including U2, the Rolling Stones and Garth Brooks. ,’ he said. “One of my favorite memories is from the 1997 NBA Playoffs. Tina Turner was on our stage while the Jazz were playing in Houston against the Rockets and John Stockton hit ‘the shot’ that sent us to the NBA Finals that season. The crowd roared and Ms. Turner could not figure out what was happening as the adulation was not in timing with her run of show.”

In 1993, the Utah Jazz hosted the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. Team President Randy Rigby recalls a special moment that not only brought players together, but also families and the community.

“I will always remember seeing the arena packed with not only NBA fans, but Jazz fans as well. At the end of the game, John and Karl (Malone) were holding up the co-MVP trophy with their small children in tow,” Rigby said. “This moment captured the spirit of Salt Lake and created an iconic memory for not only the Jazz basketball family, but for this community, which prides itself on being so family friendly as well.”

During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the venue was renamed the Salt Lake Ice Center, for the Games. The surprise gold-medal figure skating performance of American Sarah Hughes and the double-medal breakout of Apolo Anton Ohno in short track speed skating are among the many signature sports moments at the arena.

“Taking over the venue for 20 plus days in the middle of the NBA season was a remarkable feat. Without the generosity of Larry and Gail Miller, we would have not been able to make it happen,’” recalls Lori Kun, the sport manager for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. “Many of the arena’s guest services staff, including greeters, ushers, and ticket takers volunteered their time for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Larry personally spoke at our volunteer training session and it was incredibly emotional and inspirational for us all.”

Since the arena’s opening in 1991, 22 new facilities have been built around the league for NBA teams. Only six NBA arenas currently in use by the Golden State Warriors (1966), New York Knicks (1968), Milwaukee Bucks (1988), Sacramento Kings (1988), Detroit Pistons (1988) and Minnesota Timberwolves (1990) are older than the home of the Utah Jazz. Each of these franchises is in the process of building a new arena or implementing a significant renovation plan.

In the last five years, about $25 million has been invested into EnergySolutions Arena. With an emphasis on enhancing the fan experience, upgrades include an improved public address system, enlarged concourse entries with retail and food offerings, digital direction and concessions signage, the addition of the Legends Club, two Fanzz stores and the expansion of the main team store, and numerous energy efficiency projects. The most significant improvement was a $15 million investment prior to the 2013-14 season for the installation of a new high definition video display system and other building infrastructure. Appearing bigger than life, the center court video boards are seven times larger than their predecessor with twin, 42-foot-by-24-foot screens that run the length of the court.

The defining characteristic that brings the building its national renown is its sheer volume during Utah Jazz home games. Rigby notes, “The Jazz have a passionate and knowledgeable fan base that gives us a homecourt advantage. We have an enduring relationship with the community and sincerely appreciate the loyalty, enthusiasm and support of our fans.”

For nearly 25 years, it has been a shared experience with the community. The presence of the downtown arena has contributed to the economic vitality of the region, improved the quality of life through world-class entertainment and rallied citizens through the fandom of sports. With its 7.6 million pounds of rebar and more than 80,000 square feet of glass, the arena still has a personality that brings bright eyes and big smiles to its visitors of all ages.