Construction is on pause in Sugar House — here are some businesses you’ve been missing

Construction has been hard on the Sugar House neighborhood, which has seen a reprieve now that construction along Highland Drive is paused until after the new year.

If you haven’t been to Sugar House in a while, now’s your chance to see what you’ve been missing.

This guide — listing five restaurants and five places to get in some last-minute holiday shopping in the neighborhood — represents only a smattering of the many local businesses in Sugar House, but it does include a good variety of styles, flavors and aesthetics.

Katy Willis, owner of arcade bar Quarters, said there are a lot of cool businesses that are starting to show up in Sugar House, and people should check them out. “There’s so many amenities in such a short distance,” she said.

It’s nearly the last weekend for pre-Christmas shopping, so go to Sugar House and make a day of it: Shop for last-minute gifts, then stop for a meal or a little refreshment.

Once construction starts again — the 1100 East project from 2100 South north to Logan Avenue is up next, plus a major facelift on 2100 South between 700 East and 1300 East — don’t forget about these businesses. They’ll need you more than ever.

5 businesses to shop at

Raunch Records • 1119 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City, 801-467-6077; open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sundays noon-6 p.m. Instagram: @raunchrecords • This shop is probably best known for its skate decks and curated vinyl, but it sells a lot more. With a selection of books, magazines, leather belts, hats, beanies, posters, prints, patches, pins and more, Raunch Records is Sugar House’s haven for members of the punk and metal scenes — and really anyone who likes music or skating. Raunch keeps rock, punk and metal titles in stock, along with mainstream titles depending on which bands are coming to town. It also has a good selection of used vinyl, rarities and vintage pressings. For the holidays, Raunch Records plans to put out new printed hoodies, T-shirts and one-off golf balls.

Shop Vintage • 1115 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City, 801-839-2209; open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., closed Sundays. Instagram: @shopvintageslc • This little store’s focus is easy to see as soon as you walk in: Vintage clothing from the 1970s to the mid-2000s, although there is an eclectic selection of toys from this era’s cartoons also for sale. There are lots of vintage tees, button-up shirts, corduroy shirts, jeans, flannels, hats, sweaters, sweatshirts, overalls and more, usually organized by color. Anyone wanting to find vintage treasures without digging at a thrift store will be happy with this curated collection.

Unhinged • 1054 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City, 206-484-1716; extended hours until Christmas: Wednesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Instagram: @unhingedut • Unhinged is back in Sugar House, after closing its original store by Whole Foods in 2019 and closing its Provo store during the pandemic. The new store, which opened in October, is on the south side of 2100, in a cute space that features two floors full of stuff. Up top, you’ll find the locally made artisan goods that shoppers associate with Unhinged, including handmade clothing, body-care products, greeting cards, magnets, jewelry, ceramics, pet items, and curated vintage clothes such as jeans and flannels. On the lower floor, you’ll find a colorful space full of more vintage clothing, plus vintage home decor and other small items.

Central Book Exchange • 2017 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City, 801-485-3913; open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sundays noon-5:30 p.m. Central-BookExchange.com • This is exactly the type of place where you’d want to linger on a cold day, browsing books and maybe stumbling upon the odd treasure or two. Open since 1968, this used bookstore has more than 75,000 books on its shelves, and its collection includes rare and out-of-print titles, according to its website. As for the “exchange” part of its name, you can trade in your books for points, which can then be cashed in for lower prices on books. And with titles in categories ranging from art, gardening and history to fiction, graphic novels and cooking, you’re sure to find something that sparks your interest.

The Village Vintage Interiors • 2015 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City, 801-510-7717; open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sundays noon-4 p.m. Instagram: @thevillagevintageSLC • If you’re on the hunt for the perfect piece of furniture or knickknack to brighten up your living space, you’re in the right place at The Village Vintage Interiors. The store is divided into smaller, cozy spaces that are all occupied by a different vendor. Each small-business owner has curated their own selection of vintage treasures and decorated their space, making each nook feel like its own little store. There are endless amounts of winding paths through stacks of vintage goods. With this much to look at, it’s easy to spend an afternoon at The Village.

5 places to eat and drink

Quarters • 1045 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City; open Tuesday-Sunday 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Instagram: @quarterssugarhouse • For a fun night out that won’t break the bank, Quarters is the place to be. With free pinball on Wednesdays, $4 wells on Tuesday and $3 PBRs on Sundays, this neighborhood hangout won’t leave your wallet hurting. And if you haven’t visited the Sugar House location of Quarters yet, you’re in for some nice surprises. Unlike the downtown basement location, the Sugar House location has windows, two floors, a patio and full-size basketball shooters. There’s also an extensive cocktail menu featuring classics and Quarters’ own concoctions, as well as new personal-size pizzas to munch on while you play your favorite arcade games.

Wasatch Brew Pub • 2110 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, 801-783-1127; Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. SaltLakeBrewingCo.com • This brewpub has been a fixture at the corner of Highland Drive and 2100 South for about a decade. Inside, you’ll find a comfortable, no-fuss space with tall windows that face the street, as well as art from Salt Lake Brewing Co.’s own beer labels on the walls. There’s a lot to choose from on the food and drink menus, which focus on local suppliers and products. Start with the charcuterie board or elote tots before digging into a burger, pizza, mac & cheese or even the New York steak. End your meal on a sweet note with the “beeramisu,” made with Imperial Stout, or the Polygamy Porter chocolate brownie with melty vanilla ice cream on top.

Kimi’s Chop and Oyster House • 2155 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, 801-946-2079; open Tuesday-Saturday 5 p.m.-8:45 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays. KimisHouse.com • This upscale restaurant is a chic space in which to enjoy fine food and good company as late as you like — guests are invited to savor their dining experience. Start your meal with fresh seafood, like the zesty shrimp ceviche or raw oysters, served with a ginger and jalapeno mignonette. For an entree, select from such options as the Berkshire pork chop with a blackberry reduction, or the chop house buttermilk fried chicken with whipped potatoes and gravy. To conclude your ultimate surf-and-turf dinner, try the salted caramel cheesecake or Swedish lingonberry parfait.

Tea Bar • 1201 E. Wilmington Ave., #109, Salt Lake City, 385-322-2120; open Sunday-Saturday noon-9 p.m. Instagram: @teabar_ut • This cozy little tea bar can be easy to miss when walking by, but you’ll be glad you found it once you duck inside. There’s an extensive menu of Asian tea drinks, including iced milk tea, iced flavored tea, milk smoothies, fruit slushes, iced oolong tea, banana milk smoothies, iced fresh milk, iced salted cream, iced herbal tea and more. Each drink is customizable according to what add-ins you like (such as boba) and how sweet you like it. Don’t forget to try the food, which is mostly Taiwanese — such as the popcorn chicken, fried chicken gizzards, fried squid balls, Taiwanese sausages and chive pancakes.

Ozora Izakaya Japanese Bar & Tapas • 1078 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City, 801-845-0405; open Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Friday noon-11 p.m., Saturday noon-11 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.-9 p.m. OzoraIzakaya.squarespace.com • This izakaya, or Japanese pub, is hidden back between two buildings on 2100 South, but just look for the round blue sign. Start with a few small plates, such as beef tataki, agedashi tofu and triple sushi tacos before moving on to sushi, nigiri or larger plates. The special sushi rolls include some classics, such as the Dragon and Rainbow, but there are some inventive local-centric rolls, such as the Sundance, Wasatch, Zion and Sugar House, which features tuna, yellowtail and salmon, topped with avocado, lime, eel sauce and tempura crispies. For dessert, try the mochi ice cream or Japanese crepe cake.