“This really is a community service more than it’s a business.” Sitting with the extraordinary Missy Greis inside Publik, it becomes clear that the sentence is not a slogan. It is her compass. She has built a set of spaces that people use the way they use a neighborhood living room, a meeting hall, and, at times, a kind of steady refuge. From the outside, Publik can look like a modern success story. From the inside, it feels like a long devotion to Salt Lake City’s small businesses and to the people who keep showing up for one another.

“The universe has really taken care of me.” When you step inside Better than Coco, opened at the end of the summer in 2025, there is a sense that the universe has indeed conspired to bring everything, and everyone, here. The air is rich with the scent of Belgian chocolate and espresso, the shelves lined with thoughtful gifts, and at the counter, owners Susan Clissold and Kayle Van Zyl greet each person as though they are already part of their story.

“Cozy Coffee Lounge was built to create a safe space - a community space for gatherings, different ideas to put together.” Before the name existed, before the patio filled on Saturday mornings, before the coffee parties and yoga mats and music nights, there was a young man in Salt Lake City who had been thinking for years about what a coffee shop could be. Dzenef Beganovic does not tell his story for sympathy. He tells it because it explains why he chose to build something that feels like more than a place to grab a drink.

“We wanted to build a place where people felt comfortable coming in, even if they did not know exactly what they were getting,” Mike Blocher says. “The idea was always to take care of people and let the food speak.” Table X did not appear overnight. It grew slowly and deliberately, shaped by years of work and a belief that food could be thoughtful without being intimidating. From the beginning, it was built on trust: trust between three chefs who believed in one another, trust in cooking seasonally and locally, and trust that guests would be willing to follow them on a culinary journey.

"I felt like that was not only unusual for my age, but also because I was a girl, and there weren’t any little girls hanging out at bike shops.” Heather Casey noticed that difference early, and it stayed with her. It shaped how she moved through cycling spaces and, years later, how she and her partner, Pat Casey, built Peak State Fit, a place where bike fitting, coffee, and conversation exist together, and where people are met with care rather than expectation.

“I always thought it was strange that no one had taken 801 for a business name. I grew up between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon, and when it came time to name my company, 801 Coffee Roasters felt right. Back in the day, that was all there was, 801. Now we have area codes 435 and 385, but the original people only knew 801. I figured the name had to be gone, but it wasn’t, so I trademarked it immediately and have been running with it ever since.”

“I grew up in a trailer without electricity or water, under a tarp roof. We did not have much, but I had loving parents who worked so hard, and we always sat down for dinner together. That meant everything to me.” Those humble beginnings shaped Andrew Corrao, chef and owner of Forty Three Bakery, a space he has built with equal parts grit and heart.

“I don’t think coffee has to be complicated but it does have to be excellent.” That simple belief sits at the heart of Three Pines Coffee, Nick Price’s first café, tucked into a narrow storefront on South Main Street in Salt Lake City. Opened in 2015, it is a quiet, focused space - no trendy gimmicks, no bells and whistles. Just really good coffee, done right.

“I get here at two in the morning, start baking, and by five, there’s already a line. But every day, I feel grateful. I see the same smiling faces, and they make me smile, too.” Brenda Le’s joy behind the counter at Fresh Donuts & Deli is unmistakable.

“People tell me, ‘Don’t worry about the little things.’ But that’s where it starts. If you don’t pay attention to the little things, then the problems will only get bigger.” If there is anyone who embodies the soul of a true artisan and perfectionist, it is Jean Jacques Grossi - though most know him simply as JJ. Beloved by his customers, respected by his staff, and renowned for his meticulous dedication to quality, JJ has spent his life perfecting the art of French pastry and baking. His journey, however, has been anything but ordinary.

“We’re named after Kings Peak - the tallest mountain in Utah. It’s a fitting name because this journey has been all about reaching new heights.” Garland Ledbetter leans back, reflecting on the growth of Kings Peak Coffee Roasters. From opening their first shop in 2018 to a second location opened at the end of 2024, Kings Peak has become a beloved part of Salt Lake City’s coffee scene.

“Kahve means coffee in Turkish,” Elif Ekin said with a warm smile, introducing the heart of her cafe’s name. Born in Adana, a small city in southeastern Turkey, Elif’s story is one of deep cultural roots, migration, and a love for creating community.

“We have a passion for bringing people together through food and drinks,” says Chris Madrill, one half of the dynamic duo behind Marmalade Brunch House. Chris and his brother, Nelson, opened their brunch spot in April 2023, at the remarkable ages of nineteen and twenty. Their youthful energy and love for great food are palpable in every corner of this colorful, welcoming space.

“Life has a way of turning out for the best, even when the path seems uncertain,” Alan Hebertson mused. His eyes then glanced around the Coffee Garden, the space he has nurtured for over three decades. From its humble beginnings across the street in 1993, the Coffee Garden has grown into a beloved community hub in the heart of Salt Lake City’s 9th and 9th district. The café is more than just a place to grab a cup of coffee - it is a gathering spot where lives intertwine, and stories are shared.