Under the Umbrella
Address: 511 West 200 South, Suite 120
Telephone: 801-922-0923
Website: undertheumbrellabookstore.com
District: Downtown
“No matter where you are in your journey of figuring out your gender or your sexuality - and no matter how you identify - you are welcome here.” Kaitlyn Mahoney, owner of Under the Umbrella, never imagined she would open a bookstore, let alone the first queer-specific bookstore in the country. But when no one else stepped up to fill a void she knew existed, she decided to do it herself. “Somebody should open a queer bookstore… obviously there is a need. Nobody did. So, I did.”
Kaitlyn grew up in Provo, Utah, in a devout Mormon household. “I went to BYU and did the whole ‘being Mormon’ thing,” she recalled, but books always offered her another world - one filled with possibilities, heroes, and freedom. “I’m a shy person and I was very much a shy child, so reading was a wonderful escape. I got to meet a lot of heroes through reading.” She credits her Uncle Michael, a second-grade teacher, for nurturing that love early on. He gave her The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, a story about a brave girl who did not need saving. But the book that changed everything was Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. “It really cemented my love of reading and how powerful reading about characters can be. I still cry every time I read it.”
As Kaitlyn grew older, books became more than just stories; they became a mirror. In her twenties, she began intentionally seeking out authors outside the mainstream. “I decided to go a year without reading anything by white men. Then I noticed I was reading too many white women, so I expanded again. I started reading more queer stories. And once again, seeing those characters on the page gave me access to things I hadn’t realized about myself.” But finding queer literature was challenging. So, she started a Bookstagram account, connecting with other queer readers and creators. That growing network only deepened her realization: “It shouldn’t be this hard to find these books.”
In 2021, Kaitlyn opened Under the Umbrella in Salt Lake City. “I was very intentional about the space. I wanted it to be accessible to everyone.” That meant no stairs, wide aisles, automatic doors, and proximity to public transportation. And once people walk in, they are often shocked. “People say, ‘I had no idea it was so big,’ or ‘I can’t believe there are these many books with queer representation in them.’”
As for the name? It came during a quiet conversation with her partner. “I wanted something that conveyed that no matter how you identify under the queer umbrella, you are welcome in this space.” The phrase stuck, and later, she discovered an ironic twist. An umbrella had recently become a symbol used by some extreme religious groups to represent “protection from the gay agenda.” Her response? “We’re taking that symbol back. It’s the right choice.”
Everything in the store is queer-specific. “All the books are by queer authors and/or contain queer content, and everything else - stickers, plushies, candles, even the syrups for our coffee - is made by queer people or queer-owned businesses.” With about 10,000 titles, they carry board books for babies, and have a vast young adult section, adult fiction, poetry, and a curated selection of translated works from around the globe. “We try to flip the script on what the industry prioritizes. I’m always looking for BIPOC and trans authors who don’t get as much marketing dollars or attention as cisgender (non-transgender) authors do.”
Kaitlyn sees firsthand the impact the store has. “We get a lot of queer people from out of town, and a lot of parents of queer youth. We have a robust allyship section on how to support your queer and trans children - even your queer or trans parents. And I cry a lot in the store. Seeing queer youth see themselves reflected… it’s an honor to be in that space with them.”
Kaitlyn also wanted to create an alternative to bar-based queer spaces. “I love a gay bar, but I’m too introverted to go. I wanted a place that’s accessible to youth and to people who are sober.” The result is not just a bookstore, but a true community hub.
Under the Umbrella hosts book clubs, poetry nights, author events, and craft groups. Workshops range from bookmark-making to “Know Your Rights” legal training. “Fun things matter, but so do real-world skills we as queer people need to know.”
In 2023, Kaitlyn expanded the space to include a café. “We kept the ethos of queer in that space, as well. Our coffee, matcha, teas, and syrups are all sourced from queer-owned businesses.” Although the café has faced challenges with visibility and hours, those who come in tend to become loyal customers. “We just need more people to try it. I know I’m biased, but I think we make really good coffee.”
Still, the retail grind takes a toll on Kaitlyn. “There are a lot of really hard things about owning a retail space. The queer bookstore part of it - the community, the space - I love every day. It’s the businessy stuff that gets me down. Because I am shy, as well as anxious, and neurodivergent, I find that being ‘on’ with people every day is difficult.”
And yet, Kaitlyn stays the course, guided by a mission bigger than herself. “It’s hard to balance being part of capitalism and wanting to be a real community space. But if we want to be around for a long time to support our community - and I hope we are - that requires support.” Ending our conversation, Kaitlyn could not help but add, “If you want bookstores like this to exist, you can’t order from the big online retailers. You have to show up. You have to shop the space.”
