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Pirate O’s Gourmet Market opened its doors in Draper, Utah, in November 1997, and now it’s celebrating its 25th year in business. What’s the backstory behind their fun and amusing name? As it turns out, the market was named after its founder and present-day owner, Orian (Or-ee-an) Collinsworth (aka “Pirate O”).
(Pirate O's) | Pirate O’s Gourmet Market Celebrates its 25th Year!
Collinsworth is an entrepreneur who prior to Pirate O’s, built and sold a successful distribution business to a multi-billion-dollar distribution company, which in turn, hired Collinsworth to move thousands of cases of product to grocery chains throughout the United States, including Trader Joe’s.
That company later sold to Walmart and grew to be a $130-million-dollar subsidiary of Walmart (an inconsequential item on their balance sheet because Walmart is so big) where Collinsworth became the specialty food manager, “before they knew they had one,” says Collinsworth. “We were doing specialty and gourmet foods with Walmart, then grew that business within them.”
Eventually, the competition caught up and Walmart sold the subsidiary off. Collinsworth had to do something, and he thought retail was the easy side of the stick, but he didn’t realize what he was getting into. “I have an oxymoron about retail,” says Collinsworth. “To be successful at retail, you have to be extremely intelligent to get into it yet be dumb as a brick, but I love it.”
Pirate O’s has done well in Draper and this November marks Pirate O’s 25th anniversary, which Collinsworth says, “...is amazing and has gone by so fast.” Pirate O’s is truly a one-of-a-kind shopping “experience” you’ll find nowhere else. What does that look like? Collinsworth describes Pirate O’s as “very eclectic” and says its heavily driven by European-based imports.
Pirate O’s specializes in bringing just about everything unique and hard to find to your table—shoppers enjoy a wide selection of their favorite, traditional imports from England, Finland, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Italy—the deeply-nostalgic specialty market even captured the attention of a TikToker, @bishkish2. In her TikTok video, she tells viewers who live in Utah that they have to come to Pirate O’s, then she gives them a little tour!
Pirate O’s started with Dutch and German imports
“The first people to have mercy on us was the Dutch,” says Collinsworth. “The Dutch customers came in and they saw some Dutch items in the store and asked, ‘Can you get this, can you get that?’ Then, the next people who had mercy on us were the Germans thanks to the late Marianne Young, who owned a German deli and restaurant, Marianne’s Delicatessen, in downtown Salt Lake City for 40 years.”
Young retired and sold her business, and moved with her husband, Horst, to Draper in 1997, the first year Pirate O’s opened. “She came to our store and looked around and gave me a list of vendors of German merchandise,” says Collinsworth.
“We still sell those products today. The German population followed her,” and she and her husband actually started the Snowbird Oktoberfest, that’s still celebrated every year.” Young gave Pirate O’s their start with the German population, and then the British population took over and they started catering to British foods, explained Collinsworth.
Pirate O’s gourmet foods from all over the world
At Pirate O’s, you’ll find imported coffee, teas, local and imported honey, European and Italian cookies, and crackers. The market features fresh-baked breads from a local baker, German sausage, British meat pies, European chocolates from favorite brands, such as Cadbury, Ritter Sport, Amano, Marabou, Lindt, and Dagoba, and pepper sauces. You’ll find oils and vinegars, a floor-to-ceiling pasta room filled with Italian pasta, one of the largest hot sauce collections you’ll ever lay your eyes on, and freshly wrapped cheese from a local cheese expert, but there’s more.
Pirate O’s is not an everyday market—the local family-owned and operated business is run by Orian, his wife Debbie, who makes thousands of gift baskets each year, and their youngest daughter, Cobair, who runs the market’s coffee shop and deli. The deli’s bestsellers include the #15, the “Turkey and Bacon Sandwich,” with smoked gouda, tomato, chipotle mayo, and their house-made roasted tomato hazelnut pesto, and the #9, “The Italian,” made with salami, ham, pepperoni, provolone, tomato, red onions, lettuce, and Italian dressing—you’ll want to try both!
The Collinsworths—they’re true foodies
Orion and Debbie Collinsworth are serious foodies who are proud to bring their rich food experiences, knowledge, and expertise back home to Draper, Utah, for Pirate O’s shoppers to enjoy. To stay abreast of the latest trends, the couple tries new restaurants, they travel regularly outside of Utah to places like New York to visit Zabar’s or Eataly. They travel to Chicago for a candy show, and Las Vegas to purchase kitchen items for the market like fondue pots and zester graters—they do all this so they continue delighting their customers day in and day out.
As Pirate O’s celebrates its 25th anniversary, Collinsworth’s advises shoppers to, “Shop early for the best selection, shop late for the best price.” This is an exciting holiday season for Pirate O’s Gourmet Market because they’ll have the most product they’ve had in 25 years in business—come in early so you don’t miss out on this year’s holiday treasures!
Pirate O’s Gourmet Market is located at 11901 South 700 East, Draper, Utah. Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m.-6 p.m. To learn more, visit their website or call (801) 572-0956.