Everybody loves a very good story. Everybody loves good meals. So when these two issues mix, it would not get significantly better.
And in Downtown Daybreak in South Jordan, they do.
This 200-acre sports activities and leisure district formally opened final 12 months with large plans to change into a enjoyable, family-friendly hub the place folks may take pleasure in baseball, motion pictures, procuring and, after all, one of the best meals.
Amongst Downtown Dawn’s crowd-pleasing eating places are some extremely recognizable and common names which might be longstanding within the Utah group: Hires Huge H and Crimson Iguana amongst them.
What you may not know is that this group of companies have one thing in frequent: They’re led by ladies with some fairly unbelievable tales to inform.
So, subsequent time you end up within the space and hop into considered one of these locations for a memorable night time out with the household, you may recognize much more the individuals who labored to make that have doable.
Alexandra Foster: Introducing new generations to Hires Huge H and Litzas Pizza
Alexandra Foster grew up round two of Utah’s most iconic eating places — Hires Big H and Litzas Pizza — however her path to possession wasn’t precisely conventional. A lawyer and former vp at Goldman Sachs, she stepped into the household enterprise when each her father and uncle retired to serve missions.
What began as a sensible transition rapidly grew to become one thing extra significant: carrying ahead her grandfather’s legacy whereas serving to the eating places evolve for a brand new technology.
“One of many issues I like most about being a restaurateur is seeing how meals brings folks collectively,” Foster says. “Our eating places change into the backdrop for thus many moments.”
She additionally enjoys the enterprise facet of issues and admits that limitless entry to a cherry limeade and a Huge H is not a nasty perk.
Holly Cloyd: Serving to folks join over memorable meals at Nomad Eatery
As a self-proclaimed foodie with a powerful pulse available on the market and the present tendencies in consuming out, Holly Cloyd is aware of just a few issues about tasty meals. With formal culinary coaching in New York Metropolis and years of expertise launching and rising meals ideas, Holly additionally is aware of how one can construct a profitable restaurant.
However for her, it is about greater than what you get on the plate.
After beginning the favored Cluck Truck and later co-founding Nomad Eatery, she turned her deal with creating areas the place folks do not simply eat — they collect and join over memorable meals. And when you go to, you may wish to preserve coming again.
Nicole Chang: Elevating the shopper expertise at Moena Cafe
As president and CEO of Moena Cafe Group, Nicole Chang brings a worldwide perspective to Downtown Dawn. After opening her first restaurant in Hawaii in 2012, she expanded internationally earlier than bringing her idea to Utah.
With a background in finance, accounting and administration, she takes a strategic strategy to development whereas staying carefully related to her crew.
Chang’s excessive requirements for the shopper expertise means making each go to really feel like greater than only a meal. While you stroll by way of the entrance door at Moena, you possibly can count on an elevated expertise from begin to end.
Maggie Bunnag: Celebrating tradition and group at Naraya by Sawadee Thai
Like the opposite ladies on this listing, Maggie Bunnag believes within the energy of connecting and immersing within the tradition of a shared meal. For her, meals is a type of storytelling.
Initially from Thailand and skilled in Thai classical dance, Bunnag brings her artistry into all sides of her work. She honed her culinary expertise in San Francisco, launched genuine Thai flavors to Utahns by way of catering and cooking courses and finally opened her first restaurant in 2016.
Naraya by Sawadee Thai is her fourth restaurant, and it brings collectively every part she believes in: refined delicacies, considerate hospitality and a celebration of tradition.
Lucy Cardenas: Honoring custom and heritage whereas constructing the Crimson Iguana legacy
For Lucy Cardenas, the restaurant world was by no means only a profession path — it was house.
Because the daughter of Mexican immigrants who constructed considered one of Utah’s most beloved eating places, she grew up surrounded by the power, exhausting work and coronary heart that outline Red Iguana. What may have felt like stress as a substitute grew to become a ardour.
After years of constructing expertise in cities throughout the nation, Cardenas returned to Salt Lake Metropolis at a pivotal second for her household’s enterprise. In 2005, she stepped in to guide Crimson Iguana, guiding it by way of development whereas staying rooted within the traditions that made it particular within the first place.
At this time, with a number of areas and greater than 170 workers, Cardenas continues to honor her household’s legacy — protecting the flavors, tradition and sense of group that began all of it alive and thriving.
Summer season Williams: Creating significant moments and connection at Rockwell Ice Cream Co.
Likelihood is, a few of your greatest recollections include a scoop of ice cream.
Possibly it was a post-game celebration, a spontaneous summer season cease or a small second that changed into one thing you by no means forgot. There’s simply one thing about an ice cream store that makes on a regular basis life really feel a bit of extra particular.
That is precisely what Summer season Williams, co-founder of Rockwell Ice Cream Co., got down to create.
Since opening in 2015, Rockwell has change into greater than a spot to seize dessert — it is the place first dates occur, households have a good time and atypical days flip into lasting recollections.
For Williams, that is the actual reward.
“The persons are what make all of this price it,” she says.
Create your individual tales at Downtown Daybreak.
Now that you understand a bit of extra background information about your favourite — or soon-to-be favourite — eating places in Downtown Dawn, the subsequent step is to come back and make some recollections of your individual. Come out and benefit from the eating places earlier than a baseball recreation or film and convey the entire household down for a chunk to eat, store, play and take a load off. And possibly preserve within the thoughts the ladies who made it doable.
Plan your go to at downtowndaybreak.com.
