Restaurants That Closed in Northern Utah: The Meals and the Memories
Here’s a memorial to some of the northern Utah restaurants that closed in the past year or so.
I first wrote about most of these restaurants when they were new, or got new owners or a new menu or some other newsy happenings. Some lasted over 60 years, some just six months. (Update: since writing this, I’ve learned of three more closures of places I’ve previously written about: Annie’s Diner in Kaysville, Blue Fin Sushi in Layton, and Brookey Bakes in Ogden.)
It’s sad writing about restaurants that closed. It usually means a disappointing end of someone’s hopes and hard work. In some cases, I don’t know the reasons for the closures, or what the chefs or owners are doing now. If you have more info to share, please feel free to add a comment at the end of this post.
These places may be gone, but not totally forgotten.
UPDATE: The Annie’s Diner (aka Granny Annie’s) in Kaysville has closed since I wrote this article. You can read about its long history and the $93,000 loss that prompted the owner to finally close operations.
Nino Viejo in Farmington. This upscale Mexican restaurant at Farmington’s Station Park opened in December 2020, back when we were still in the throes of the pandemic and wearing masks. When I did a story for the Standard-Examiner, I soon got comments from folks who either praised the layered flavors and sophisticated vibe, or panned it as expensive with small portions. I was a fan of the birria tacos and the avocado & jicama tostada.
The restaurant closed sometime in 2022. I’m not sure when or why. In November 2023, Wildfin American Grill opened in that spot, after an extensive remodel. Interesting that the last two restaurants, both high-end Mexican (remember Tortilla Union Grill?), didn’t last long. Maybe the third time, and seafood, will be the charm.
The Base –This military-themed restaurant at 694 W. Antelope in Layton was forced to close when the property owners sold it, and a Raising Cane’s Chicken is now on the site. My 2020 Standard-Examiner story told how employees transformed it from a chain restaurant to an independently owned business with a Hill Air Force Base theme.
Since 2007, the location was a Boston’s Pizza Restaurant. Bartender/manager Karlyn Walters had been there since it opened, and general manager Gordon Davidson was with Boston’s for eight years. His wife, Mandy, was also a long-time Boston’s employee.
Davidson told me that the Covid pandemic hit Boston’s hard, and layoffs were expected. So when the Boston’s contract was up, Walters and Gordon Davidson took over ownership themselves. They created a new restaurant from scratch — policies, menu, recipes, and so on.
Sadly, The Base’s last FB post in May 2022 showed the building being torn down to make way for Raising Cane’s.
Blue Lemon. I’m still scratching my head over what happened to this popular Utah-based restaurant chain.
I met co-founder Aaron Day in 2018, at an event celebrating chef Todd Leonard’s Chef of the Year award. Leonard, a culinary professor at Utah Valley University, designed the Blue Lemon menus among his many other culinary pursuits.
Since it began in 2009, Blue Lemon expanded to at least six locations, as people embraced the idea of higher-end food in a fast-casual format. And, there was something on the menu to suit everyone.
I heard that Aaron and Lychelle Day sold Blue Lemon in 2019 to an Oregon company that also bought Even Stevens, the sandwich company made famous for its charitable donation business model, which apparently didn’t work, according to a Salt Lake Tribune article. Now the Blue Lemon locations are empty.
In January, I saw a “Notice of Abandonment” posted on the door of the downtown Salt Lake City location. It was addressed to Blue Lemon LLC, and Headwaters Concepts LLC. It said the landlords were taking over the premises that had been abandoned.
Lovin’ Cup Café opened in the fall of 2021 in Huntsville, next door to the legendary Shooting Star Saloon. Chef/owner Jay Tyler ‘s signature “lovin’ cup” soup was thick, creamy New England-style clam chowder. He spent 20 years cooking in Ogden restaurants, then started his own catering company before opening the restaurant. I did a story about the restaurant in January 2022. But, while driving around Huntsville last year, I noticed it was no longer open. But, there’s a website for Lovin’ Cup Catering, which lists Jay Tyler as the owner.
Graycliff Lodge in Ogden Canyon: The building was initially built in 1905 and became a restaurant in 1945. Over the years it gained a reputation for prime rib, mountain trout, cinnamon rolls and oatmeal pie.
There’s a bit of nostalgia here, as my wedding breakfast was hosted there in March 1983.
Steve and Jody Sniggs bought the restaurant in 1979 from Steve’s parents, who had run it since 1965. Steve and Jody put in 44 years before they retired in September 2023, putting the restaurant up for sale.
I found it listed on a real estate site, asking price $979,000, for 1.2 acres and the building. Will someone please buy it? It would be great to carry on the tradition.
The Oaks. This is another historic Ogden Canyon restaurant with magical mountain views. After 38 years of running it, owners Keith and Belinda Rounkles closed in 2019. Chris and Christina Bowler re-opened it in 2020, but it apparently closed sometime in 2021.
During the Covid pandemic summer of 2020, the outdoor tables with their mountain views offered a social-distancing getaway. My husband’s favorite was The Oaks burger with sweet potato fries, and I usually went for the spinach salad, luxuriously studded with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and blue cheese. We always got Farr’s ice cream cones as a portable dessert for the drive home.
The website, The Mystery of Utah’s History https://mysteryofutahhistory.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-oaks-of-ogden-canyon-began-in-1903.html said The Oaks opened in 1903, and was known for chicken and trout dinners in its early days.
When Keith and Belinda Rounkles bought it in 1981, The Oaks only offered a takeout menu, according to an interview I did with Belinda Rounkles several years ago. The Rounkles beefed up the menu, and built outdoor patio space. After 38 years of operation, they called it quits in 2019. The Bowlers, who were long-time customers, bought it.
In February 2021, a TV news story reported The Oaks was struggling. But its last Facebook post in Oct. 2021 didn’t mention that a closure was imminent. As with Graycliff, I’d love to see the right owners resurrect this place, honor its history and let diners enjoy its canyon setting once again.
Two-Bit Street Café: The 20-year-old restaurant, named for Ogden 25th Street’s notorious history, closed as of Christmas Eve 2023.
On its Facebook page, the owners said they were “strong-armed” out of their lease at 126 25th Street, and were scrambling to find a new location. An employee has set up a GoFundMe page to help finance the move. A Standard-Examiner article interviewed both the landlord and the restaurant owners to get both sides of what happened. But for now, it’s no longer part of the infamous “Two-Bit Street.”
Holy Smoke BBQ in Layton. Owner Jeff Ray had to close his popular barbecue joint when the building was sold. Soon after, he became the pitmaster for The Coop, a bar/eatery opened by Rooster’s Hospitality Group in the same building as the Layton Rooster’s. The Coop has a barbecue-forward menu, with smoked wings, brisket, and daily BBQ sandwich specials, thanks to Ray. He also provides smoked meats for some of Rooster’s other restaurants.
In November 2022, Ray announced Holy Smoke’s closure on his FB page and hinted about the partnership with Rooster’s/The Coop:
“We are closed in our current location and will be taking a bit of a break, but we have a saucy new venture, a smokin’ opportunity and we’ve cooked up a new partnership. We’ll be just down the block (literally!) and we can’t wait to share the big news with you.”
So although Holy Smoke is gone, you can still get your BBQ fix at The Coop. One caveat; because it’s a bar, you must be over 21 for dine-in.
Café Bloomm in Roy. I did a Standard-Examiner story in February 2023 about Marikh Mathias’s Roy breakfast-and lunch spot. Later this fall, I noticed that the little white building was sporting a new sign. I texted Mathias — who some may remember was once a contestant on “The Bachelor” TV series.
“Due to a staffing shortage, I had to close the café,” she said. A flavored soda pop shop has moved into the space.
Electric Alley Sliders: Nick Jones and Pat Dean first opened Electric Alley Sliders in October 2021, as a shared space in the Yell Hell Bar on 2430 Grant Ave. In Oct. 2022, they moved to a strip mall at 749 S. Washington Blvd. Jones, who also owned Riverwalk Vapors shops in Ogden and Logan, told me he put himself through culinary school, while working nights serving up signature sliders.
When I interviewed Jones in Feb. 2023, he was basically a one-man show, taking orders, cooking, clean-up, you name it. If he had to take time off, the shop closed. For awhile, it was open Wednesday through Saturdays.
In May, Electric Sliders’ last Facebook post says:
“We’ll be temporarily closed for a little while. Need to hire and train some people at my other business. I’ll be doing a dinner once or twice a month during the closure. Keep an eye out for our posts for more details about that. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you all in the near future.”
Google lists the restaurant as permanently closed.
Wimpy and Fritz: I did a story about Wimpy and Fritz after it opened in Ogden’s Riverbend development. Starting at the Ogden Farmers Market, the owners Lane “Lefty” Montoya and Brian Zinsmann developed a following with their tacos. Their popular food truck came next, and a gig at the Yes, Hell bar led to opening their brick-and-mortar restaurant.
In January 2023, Montoya and Zinsmann announced that they were taking over the ex-Ogden River Brewing space, naming it Ogden Beer Company.
Then last November, Montoya announced the closure of Wimpy and Fritz with a this Facebook post:
“Dear Friends, Loyal Supporters, and Ogden,We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support you’ve shown us over the past five years. As our lease draws to a close, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our brick-and-mortar business. As many of you are aware, both of us are dedicated fathers and husbands who cherish our ties within the Ogden Community. This choice allows us to prioritize our families and other projects we’ve grown deeply passionate about. Keep an eye out for Wimpy & Fritz in the future. With all our love, Lefty”
Sydney’s closed in Mantua this year, but moved to Preston, Idaho. Known for its Old West vibe and “comfort food on steroids,” the Mantua restaurant became a dining destination by the summer of 2021. Its location next to the lake and campground made it popular for summer travelers, and it was a great stop-off for those heading to or from Logan.
But winters were challenging, with less traffic venturing into Sardine Canyon. In the winter of 2022, owner/manager Denise Hardy said she was looking at possible Brigham City locations.
In January 2024, Sydney’s closed, and re-opened a few weeks later in Preston. Hardy lives just a few minutes away, and the welcoming Preston residents have kept the place buzzing. So it’s been a win-win, although friends who visited told me the smaller interior doesn’t have as much of the décor that gave the Mantua location its Old West charm.
One Dude’s Pizza closed down just one day after my story about the pizza shop ran in the Standard-Examiner. “One Dude,” (a.k.a. Alex Peterson), announced the closure of his Ogden pizzeria on his social media accounts, before closing down his website.
I was stunned. There were many people rooting for this pizzeria, which had a lot of ups and downs since it opened in Layton in 2020. It moved to downtown Ogden, but trouble seemed to follow.
Peterson’s Tik-Tok video said he was tired mentally and physically, from “an attack from a lot of fronts.” There were some issues with remodeling permits that couldn’t be resolved by Ogden City’s deadline.
He also said my Standard-Examiner article prompted some people to call and complain about him. Which surprised me, because the article’s tone was very positive.
Trolls on social media accused him of “scamming” because of past fundraisers when the pizza shop was in trouble. But I don’t think Peterson was trying to scam anyone. Scammers won’t work themselves into the ground at a pizza shop. From what I observed, he was simply trying to navigate a small business through the troubled waters of the Covid pandemic, rising food prices, his personal health crises, equipment breakdowns, and other challenges. I guess it just became too much.
Dirty Bird Fried Chxx. This Utah-founded business came into Ogden in 2022 with a lot of buzz about Wag’s Capital investing in its Nashville hot chicken concept, with plans to open dozens more outlets. Soon after, another Dirty Bird opened in Clearfield. But in late 2023, when I looked at their Google pages, I saw that both were “permanently closed.” Not sure what happened; maybe there were too many other restaurants that were also doing hot chicken. Maybe it had nothing to do with the food. All I know is that both are closed, although there are apparently other locations (such as Sandy) operating.
Press Together was a juice and smoothie bar operated on Ogden’s Historic 25th Street by the Seventh Day Adventists church. It served raw, organic, and cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and bowls. I did a Standard-Examiner story about the eatery in June 2022. I called a few months later and was told it was moving to West Jordan. The pastor lived in West Jordan, so the move made sense. The website says it’s “Still closed. Re-imagining our future.”
i.d.k. Barbecue in Ogden. This eatery already had locations in Tropic (Southern Utah) and Huntsville when owners Kevin and Emily Clark opened a third one in 2022 at 179 Harrisville Road in Ogden. The Ogden spot closed in 2023, and the company website says the Huntsville location is “temporarily closed.”
The Tropic location, begun in 2015, is still going, judging from its Facebook posts. When I did a Standard-Examiner article in 2022, I learned that Kevin and Emily Clark started out with a food truck outside of Bryce Canyon National Park. They came up with the quirky name because when they were dating, Kevin would ask Emily where she wanted to go out to eat, and she would always say, “I don’t know.”
WB’s Eatery in Ogden.
WB’s Eatery announced in January on Instagram that it was closing its brick & mortar restaurant located at 455 25th Street in Ogden, and instead will focus on WB’s Coffee and Cocktail Kart, which serves coffee and nonalcoholic cocktails.
When I did a 2022 story on Dry January with WB’s partners Amy and Vivi Wanderly Britt, it was hard to get to the restaurant due to the 25h Street construction. Nearly all the streets were blocked off. I don’t know how much that lack of traffic hurt the restaurant long-term, but I’m sure it didn’t help.
An Instagram post said,
“We’ve had sooo many great memories created around the tables of WB’s Brick & Mortar and we are beyond excited for what our future holds!
“Whereas we have made the decision to bid farewell to our brick & mortar location, we will be rolling into the future with numerous ventures and you can certainly count on the WB’s Coffee and Cocktail Kart to grow as a staple in Utah. Our sister restaurants @pigandajellyjar will be carrying some of the non-alcoholic cocktails you’ve come to love and we are beyond excited for what our future entails!!!”
El Matador closed in September 2022 after nearly 60 years in business. Back in 1999, I did a Standard-Examiner feature story on Tony Hasratian’s Mexican restaurant, which was already an Ogden dining landmark.
At age 17, Hasratian immigrated from Armenia to Logan, Utah, using restaurant jobs to get himself though high school and college. He was a chef at the Ogden Golf & Country Club when he decided to open The Armenian Room in 1963, serving flaming shish kebabs and authentic side dishes. But in the 1960s, Middle Eastern cuisine wasn’t very familiar to mainstream diners. So he switched to Mexican food, transforming The Armenian Room into a replica of a south-of-the-border village.
When El Matador’s closure was announced, there was a lot of speculation about what would happen to the building at 2564 Ogden Avenue.
Wonder no more. Red Fort Cuisine of India bought the building and spent the last five months remodeling and updating it. May 1 is the scheduled opening date.