A Genie’s Dream Boutique
Address: 362 East 900 South
Telephone: 801-915-0926
Website: ageniesdreamboutique.com
District: Liberty Wells
“A Genie’s Dream is all about unleashing your imagination and igniting the spark within,” Allison Gondoli says, her voice warm with enthusiasm. For this Salt Lake City native, her boutique is not just a shop, it is a manifestation of her philosophy on life, creativity, and connection. Allison always dreamed of creating a space where people could nurture their well-being while exploring the magic of self-expression. In 2024, she brought that dream to life by opening A Genie’s Dream in the heart of Salt Lake.
Allison’s journey began with A Genie’s Dream, a subscription service launched in 2017 that reflected her deep commitment to sustainability and self-care. Initially inspired by the idea of empowering young women, she created a thoughtfully curated kit to help girls embrace the transition into womanhood. These boxes, which included sustainably made products and positive messaging, evolved to feature holistic beauty and zero-waste items from small, female-owned businesses. The service gained traction quickly, even earning an invitation to an event in New York during Fashion Week.
While the subscription boxes brought her concept to a wider audience, Allison always envisioned a physical space where she could connect with her customers face-to-face. Her boutique in Central 9th, a neighborhood chosen for its vibrancy and sense of community, is exactly that. During the day, the shop is a carefully curated women's wonderland of self-care, featuring clothing made in the States, local artisan-crafted bags, and books on mental health and well-being.
Allison's knack for selecting products reflects her holistic approach to self-care. Everything in the shop is meant to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. In the evening, the boutique transforms into a wellness studio. From moon circles to yoga, sound baths, and craft nights, the space becomes a hub for creativity, healing, and connection. “This whole business is me in a nutshell,” Allison says. “It’s about letting your inner child play and not being so serious.”
The boutique’s ethos is rooted in Allison’s imaginative spirit and her desire to uplift others. Growing up, she was always inspired by dreamy, magical things, and now, she has created a space that feels just like that - a place where the whimsical meets the practical. A Genie’s Dream is also a platform for supporting small businesses. Many of the items in her store come from artisans Allison has met over the years at trade shows, including sustainable beauty brands and apparel makers.
Allison is quick to credit her husband, Anthony, for inspiring her leap into entrepreneurship. As the owner of Red Lotus—a popular Chinese restaurant on South State Street (stay tuned for a future post)—Anthony shares her dedication to their respective passions. “We’re a power team,” Allison says. “I help him at the restaurant, he helps me at the shop. It just works.”
The couple married in Cabo, Mexico, in 2023, though they had been together for nearly a decade. Anthony’s sister designed the original graphics for Allison’s subscription boxes, making A Genie’s Dream a true family effort. Despite balancing their “crazy schedules,” she and Anthony find joy in supporting one another’s ventures and being part of the local economy.
As she reflects on her journey, her excitement is palpable. “When people visit the boutique, I hope they feel inspired - not just to shop local and support small businesses, but to reconnect with their creativity and imagination,” she says. And for Allison, while her shop is firmly planted in Salt Lake, its heart carries the magic of limitless possibilities. “This has always been my dream,” she adds, “but I’ll admit that sometimes, I still miss New York.”
