Together with its stunning mountainous backdrop and world class National Parks, Salt Lake City is also a major urban centre and a thriving hub of business, culture and innovation. The capital of the US state of Utah, the city attracts huge numbers of visitors every year, drawn here by the prospect of adventure, sports, art, theatre, food, business opportunities, and plenty more.
The Salt Lake skyline against the backdrop of Mount Olympus (Photo: Garrett via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
Amid such a vibrant cultural milieu, it’s little surprise that Salt Lake is also home to a busy retail landscape, with a huge number of stores catering to every need and taste. If you’re planning on visiting the city and would like to indulge in some retail therapy during your stay, we’ve picked out some of the best and most quirky shops to be found.
The Land of Salt
This airy boutique and design studio is packed full of locally handcrafted jewellery, apothecary items and other assorted gift items. Focussing on clean lines and minimalist design, all of the store’s jewellery is made to order in the on-site studio, which also welcomes visitors for a look around. Trinkets include rings, necklaces, and earrings, with the chance to have them fitted with semiprecious stones. The store also plays host to classes and private events for groups of up to 8 people.
LOCATION 177 900 South ste a HOURS Tues-Sun 11am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm Closed Sun-Mon
(Photo: The Land of Salt)
iconoCLAD
Proving that second hand doesn’t have to mean second best, IconoCLAD is a locally owned consignment shop offering used clothing & accessories in a variety of styles for men & women. Typical items bought and sold include gym wear, local artisan crafts, and festival gear. The store incentivises sellers by offering 50% cash back on all sales, with online accounts allowing regulars to keep track of their success.
LOCATION 414 East 300 South HOURS Mon-Fri 11am-7pm Closed Sat-Sun
The Green Ant
Emerging from the post-war era of clean, simple design, the popularity of mid-century modern furniture and other home interior pieces shows no sign of diminishing. In Salt Lake City, the place to go for such items is this vintage furniture store, which buys and sells a superb assortment of rare and collectible mid-century modern and pop-art pieces, many featuring materials such as fiberglass, aluminium and bent plywood. New pieces arrive at the store all the time, ensuring every visit is guaranteed to surprise and delight.
LOCATION 179 East 300 South HOURS Tue-Weds Thurs 11am-3pm Fri-Sat 11am-6pm Closed Sun
(Photo: The Green Ant)
Utah Woolen Mills
Now into its fifth generation of serving the discerning gentlemen of Salt Lake City, Utah Woolen Mills (or ‘UWM’ for short) pulls off the neat trick of emanating all the charm of a local, family-run business while staying at the vanguard of global innovation in the realm of designer and custom men’s suits. The store, which first opened way back in 1905, stocks luxury suits as well as other high-quality apparel sourced from across the world – underpinned (no pun intended) by tailoring staff widely considered among the very best in the business and a level of customer service that harks back to the golden age of men’s formalwear.
LOCATION 59 South Temple HOURS Tues-Sat 10am-3pm Closed Sun-Mon
Gold Blood Collective
After starting life as a relatively humble boutique streetwear and BMX shop, Gold Blood Collective has evolved into a full blown clothing, art and music events project, providing a meeting point for Salt Lake creatives in fields such as photo/video production, graphic design, and music production, as well as a platform for emerging artists and musicians seeking to stamp their mark. Part shop, part live music venue, the venture is the place to go for those seeking anything from a funky T-shirt or hoodie to a sounding board for their creative ambitions and ideas, with the venue regularly commissioning designs by local artists and hosting up-and-coming musicians.
LOCATION 25 Kensington Avenue South unit d HOURS Mon-Sat 11am-7pm Closed Sun
The King’s English Bookshop
Located in the Sugarhouse neighborhood, The King’s English Bookshop is celebrating 43 years of “Matching Books to Readers” and features room after room of new books, paper ephemera and gifts. Nestled in a series of old buildings, it is easy to lose track of time in the carefully curated stacks of books. The children’s book room is one of the best in the West. Renowned for hosting hundreds of literary events a year, more than a dozen book clubs, and daily storytimes, this little bookshop will satisfy any craving for a good read or a good browse.
LOCATION 1511 South 1500 East HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-9pm Sun 11am-5pm
(Photo: James Belmont)
Everything Utah
Everything Utah is the destination gift shop you don’t want to miss, with an astounding selection locally made treasures and keepsakes to commemorate your Utah experience. The store’s jewellery, gifts, T-shirts, fine art and books cover the wide range of adventures Utah has to offer. Stop in to discover something delightful around every corner, with beautiful collections of rocks, honey products, unique Native American artifacts, and so much more. Wonder about anything in the store, just ask, as the staff here famously love answering questions.
LOCATION 311 South State Street HOURS Mon-Sun 10am-6pm
Raunch Records
It takes a brave soul to have opened a record store in the era of digital music, but that’s precisely what Brad Collins did in 2009 when he rebooted the brand he’d originally opened some 26 years earlier. It quickly gained a local reputation as a charming, old-school outpost for vintage music LPs & CDs, plus books, magazine, and skateboards with trendy graphic design flourishes, frequented primarily by older types who retain a strong affection for vinyl, and is now one of Salt Lake’s most cherished music meccas.
LOCATION 1119 East 2100 South HOURS Mon-Sat 11am-8pm Sun 12pm-6pm
Retro Betty
Nestled in the neighbourhood of Canyon Rim, Retro Betty has grown to become one of the city’s quirkiest and most popular fashion boutiques since its opening in 2012. Featuring a variety of new and vintage clothing, as well as accessories, kitchen gadgets, furniture, and gifts, the store’s flagship collection is its funky, curated vintage apparel that spans the 1950s and 60s, complemented by clothing from every era for both men and women. Other standout items include custom painted vintage furniture made with trendy new fabrics and re-purposed into something beautiful.
LOCATION 2821 South 2300 East HOURS Weds-Sat 12pm-6pm Closed Sun-Tues
(Photo: Retro Betty)
Tabula Rasa Social Stationers
Venture inside the historic Trolley Square Mall and you will find a shrine to all things stationary. For over three decades this renowned store has been providing high quality paper, fine writing instruments, business cards, calling cards and holiday cards, all with customised printing options. The shop also sells fragrances and other luxury goods that make for ideal gifts or souvenirs.
LOCATION 330 Trolley Square HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-9pm Sun 10am-5pm
Rocket Fizz
With its huge selection of candy & creative bottled sodas, it’s little surprise that Rocket Fizz is a major hit with kids. With more than 30 location across the country, the Salt Lake branch is the perfect treat for rewarding your little ones after a hard day’s sightseeing. If nothing else, the sheer variety is almost mind-boggling, with more than 2,000 kinds of nostalgic and imported candies, chocolate and taffies, and 500 types of bottled soda. There’s also an impressive assortment of retro and gag gifts, posters and tin signs.
LOCATION 4338 McCarthy Street HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-10pm Closed Sun
(Photo: Rocket Fizz)
The Children’s Hour
Full to the rafters with treasures including books, toys, gifts & jewellery, plus shoes and clothing for women and kids, The Children’s Hour is a quintessential local store with a dedicated following. The charming shop began life as a children’s book store but has since expanded to sell a far wider variety of items that are sourced both domestically and overseas. They also offer a complimentary gift wrap service, too.
LOCATION 898 900 East HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-4pm Closed Sun
Hip & Humble
Featuring a wide array of unique home goods, clothing and gifts, Hip & Humble is a local lifestyle boutique with a strong focus on women. With two outlets in Salt Lake, the brand has gained a reputation over the years for its friendly customer service and impeccably-curated collections of on-trend apparel, quality accessories, one-of-a-kind gifts, and classy housewares.
LOCATION 1043 900 South HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-7pm Closed Sun
(Photo: Hip & Humble)
Dancing Cranes Imports
There can’t be many shops in the world that host regular lifestyle events including yoga classes, meditations, sound baths, and psychic readings, but that’s how Dancing Cranes Imports rolls. Entering the retailer’s huge store in the Sugarhouse district presents you with all the colours and scents of a world-market bazaar, with aisles festooned with brightly-coloured scarves, local and foreign art, and the warm glow of Himalayan Salt Crystal Lamps on display.
LOCATION 673 East Simpson Avenue South HOURS Mon-Sun 10am-7pm
O.C. Tanner Jewelers
One of Salt Lake’s most impressive stores is occupied by a historic jeweller who continues to carry the torch for traditional watch and jewellery-making techniques. The luxurious store houses its own handcrafted collection including several one-of-a-kind pieces, and also offers a dedicated custom design service so clients can tailor their trinkets to their own personal style and budget.
LOCATION 15 State Street HOURS Mon-Sat 11am-7pm Sun CLosed
(Photo: O.C. Tanner Jewelers)
Ken Sanders Rare Books
With bricks & mortar book stores under threat from the digital revolution, those that remain are as cherished as ever. Happily, Salt Lake City has managed to retain a healthy sprinkling of independent book shops and among the most loved is Ken Sanders Rare Books, a family-owned antiquarian store that has been in operation since 1997. Housing a vast selection of rare and collectible titles, the shop specialises in book exploring Utah & the Mormons and Western Americana, with emphases on the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Yellowstone, and other national parks. Regular art and literary events are also held here.
LOCATION 268 South 200 Eeast HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Closed Sun
Zuriick
Eschewing corporate interests, suits, or market trends, Zuriick is hipster style personified. Specialising in trendy footwear – made distinctive by their purple soles – the brand has gained a global fan base and its Salt Lake store is simply as funky as you’ll find. Customers can not only walk out with new footwear but a fresh trim too, thanks to the on-site barber shop that’s guaranteed to give you a cool cut.
LOCATION 3928 South Brooklane Drive HOURS Mon-Sat 11am-7pm Closed Sun
(Photo: Zuriick)
Sundance Catalog The Outlet Store
Founded in 1969 by iconic Hollywood actor Robert Redford, Sundance Catalog The Outlet Store is nestled at the base of beautiful 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos in Utah’s Wasatch Mountain, a few miles south of Salt Lake’s city centre. Originally a mail order catalogue, it soon morphed into a fully-fledged store specialising in Southwestern-styled apparel, jewellery, accessories, home decor and gifts at marked-down prices, and is widely considered one of the region’s most unique shopping experiences.
LOCATION 2201 Highland Drive HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-8pm Sun 12pm-5pm
Beckett and Robb
Consummate workmanship, classic and contemporary silhouettes, and immaculate made-to-measure tailoring are the watch-words at this high quality men’s suit retailer which bridges the past and future by creating a sense of timeless style and luxury. Founded in 2009, the shop is the go-to outlet for discerning gentlemen in and around Salt Lake who are seeking a special suit for a special occasion, or simply something perfectly fitted for daily or regular use.
LOCATION 150 South Main Street HOURS Mon 11am-5pm Tues-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm Closed Sun
(Photo: Beckett and Robb)
Alpha Sheepskin
As well as oozing character and style, and providing strength, durability and comfort, sheepskin is also said to offer several health benefits to its wearers, including increasing circulation and helping heal sensitive or inflamed skin or rashes. Since 1985, Alpha Sheepskin have been trading off these attributes by providing high quality 100% Australian sheepskin products to shoppers from the Salt Lake community and beyond.
LOCATION 6526 State Street # A, Murray HOURS Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-1pm Closed Sun