“He just can’t die. He’s too needed. I thought he would be with me forever because we’ve been together forever,” said Patsy Savas, reflecting on the sudden loss of her husband, Jim. The Grove Market & Deli - built by Jim’s father, Pete Savas, in 1947 - has been a fixture in the Salt Lake City community for generations.

"I’m just trying to make the world a little bit better through food.” That has been Ian Brandt’s guiding principle from the start. For over two decades, he has been at the forefront of Salt Lake City’s plant-based dining movement, driven not by profit, but by a deep commitment to the planet, the animals, and the people who share it. Vertical Deli, his newest venture opened in June 2025, is the latest expression of that mission - this time, with a drive-through window and a focus on speed, convenience, and community.

“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.

“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.