“The devil is in the details but that is also where the magic happens. I believe if you marry food, service, and music just right, people can feel the love in the space.” Loren Bell, owner of Contento Cafe, never imagined that grief would be the bridge to his dream.

“I grew up on a commercial orchard in Logan, Utah,” recalls Jennifer Felton, “where my grandpa, a professor of agriculture, instilled in me a love for old-school cooking.” This early immersion in traditional culinary arts, including baking and jam-making, laid the foundation for what would become Atomic Biscuit.

“I was born in Mexico, or at least my father liked to think that I was.” David Galvan, volunteer manager of Mestizo Coffeehouse begins his story smiling as he recalls his father holding him up as a child in their home in Utah and proudly proclaiming, “Who’s my beautiful Mexican baby?”

“We knew we could do well in a Thai restaurant, but we wanted something more challenging,” explains Maneerut Chitratonn, one of the owners of Early Owl. Opened in May 2024, Early Owl has quickly made its mark on Salt Lake City’s brunch scene. The restaurant offers a fabulous menu full of vibrant, healthy dishes, with eggs taking center stage.

“We’re babies, you know. It reflects our sort of immaturity,” Koby Elias grins as he, his brother Cyrus, and their friend Eric Valchuis try to explain the origin of the name of their shop, Baby’s Bagels. What started as a bagel experiment in early 2022 has quickly become a beloved spot in Salt Lake City, opening their first storefront in November 2023. The journey, however, was anything but straightforward.

“We have a passion for bringing people together through food and drinks,” says Chris Madrill, one half of the dynamic duo behind Marmalade Brunch House. Chris and his brother, Nelson, opened their brunch spot in April 2023, at the remarkable ages of nineteen and twenty. Their youthful energy and love for great food are palpable in every corner of this colorful, welcoming space.

“Life has a way of turning out for the best, even when the path seems uncertain,” Alan Hebertson mused. His eyes then glanced around the Coffee Garden, the space he has nurtured for over three decades. From its humble beginnings across the street in 1993, the Coffee Garden has grown into a beloved community hub in the heart of Salt Lake City’s 9th and 9th district. The café is more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee - it is a gathering spot where lives intertwine, and stories are shared.

“The food, the drink - all of it is just a means to an end."  Erica O'Brien’s vision for The Rose Establishment was clear from the beginning. She wanted to develop a space that went beyond just serving coffee and food. “Ultimately, nothing else matters other than creating a place where people can connect.” This focus on fostering genuine human connections is central to everything at The Rose, from the intentional absence of Wi-Fi, encouraging face-to-face conversations, to the thoughtfully curated menu that prioritizes quality and sustainability.

Max Nelson grew up in a tiny town of 100 people in northern Minnesota, where hunting, fishing, and farming were part of daily life. “That’s where my love for food came from,” he recalls. “We were always eating really fresh food.” This early exposure to homegrown ingredients laid the foundation for his future culinary endeavors.