"Our people, we don’t have a background in owning this kind of business. It is still hard to believe we did it,” admits Pinya Issa. G & H African Market is more than a store - it is a dream realized, and a family reunited.

“I feel a sense of responsibility to provide people with the things that are getting harder and harder to find,” Annette Raverino says with a warm smile. “I am really lucky.” Luck may have played a small part in Annette’s journey, but passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to tradition have been the true foundations of Mediterranean Market & Deli. Her story stretches back generations, rooted in the northern Italian Alps, a place where her mother was raised and where Annette spent time cooking with family.

“Creating a safe, inclusive space has always been my top priority. I want everyone who walks through our doors to feel they belong here,” shared Alia Mathias, founder of Wicked West Nails.

“My mission has always been to bring art closer to people,” begins Lucia Murdock, owner of Workshop SLC. A passionate artist and entrepreneur originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, Lucia was raised in the culturally vibrant city of Guadalajara. Her early life was steeped in the arts, where murals and art openings were as common as the city’s bustling streets.

“I’ve always loved the thrill of Halloween. And when we couldn’t find what we wanted for our daughter’s first Halloween, we realized there was a need for a year-round spooky shop,” says Landrie Miller, the owner of Spoox Bootique, a unique Halloween-themed store in Salt Lake City that fills the needs of ghoul-inclined patrons throughout the year.