Campos Coffee shuts up shop in North America
The next week sees the final few days of Campos Coffee’s brace of Utah based businesses, located in SLC and Park City respectively. Indeed, the last year of covid-borne chaos has resulted in the shuttering of the Aussie-based businesses US operations entirely. Writing on their website this month, the brand confirmed the closures:
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of our Campos Coffee business in North America. To our valued cafés and customers, we say a sincere thank you for your support and loyalty over the years. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve and it’s all because of you.
The last coffee deliveries to our café partners in North America will be made in July, and we will also close the doors of our Campos flagship cafés at this time. Ever since our founder Will Young opened his first Campos café at Newtown, Sydney way back in 2002, we’ve been on a mission to help everyone love great coffee as much as we do.
It’s because of your support that we’ve been able to share our love of great coffee in some of the best cafes and restaurants across Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and the rest of North America. We are especially grateful for your support over the last 12 months during what’s been such a difficult time for all of us.
This ongoing period of challenging circumstances has unfortunately prevented us from being able to continue a sustainable business in North America which led to this difficult decision. From all of us at Campos Coffee, we hope you continue to enjoy great coffee, wherever you are.
The Utah locations should close by the end of June (pictured is their corned beef hash). I should note Campos were one of a select cadre of businesses that have sponsored and supported Gastronomic SLC over the years; an elite bunch that truly put their wallets where their mouths are when it came to supporting local. See the full list here.
Riverbank Bar sells license and closes
As I wrote about last month, Millcreek’s Riverbank Bar was recently approved to transfer their license to “Milk LLC, doing business as Milk in Salt Lake City.” This of course leaves the business unable to operate as a bar and as confirmed on Facebook this month, the bar has now formally announced their permanent closure:
We would have loved to have been a permanent part of the neighborhood… Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye. We want to thank you all for the love and continued support throughout these difficult times. We will be forever grateful. We hope to see all of your wonderful faces at Campfire Lounge.
Riverbank started back in 2018, after their own struggle with licensing and build out.
Tokai Sushi fans organize fundraiser
Following last week’s mega blaze over in the Brickyard area of Millcreek, businesses are trying to get back on their feet. One of those, Tokai Sushi has occupied the little strip mall for as long as I can remember – and fan Mequette Sorensen has created the following fundraiser to help the mom and pop operation get back on their fee.
More on the blaze and the owners behind Tokai here.
Penny Ann’s offers franchises
Ever wanted to own your very own breakfast and lunch spot? Now you can. This Facebook post recently caught my eye. Penny Ann’s Cafe has been on the expansion onslaught the past few years, growing from the original SLC spot to a trio of locations now.
As well as taking on a 50% stake in Mr Charlie’s Chicken Fingers this year – the business has now begun offering franchise options to would be restaurateurs. It seems like a lifetime ago (ten years actually) since I first reviewed the restaurant for the SL Trib.
Menu updates
As ever, here’s a quick roundup of new dishes and specials hitting restaurants around town. One’s that particularly caught my gaze.
Bewilder Brewing – Now offering a DIY hot dog bar (link and link) weekdays till 3 p.m.
Japan Sage Market – With dining in still off the cards, the business has announced an expanded bento box offering for grab and go lunches.
Copper Common – The Copper group make a damn good burger, and now you can score one for a great deal too. The happy hour special runs weekdays 5-6 p.m. affording $10 burgers.
Warrens Craft Burger – Up in Ogden the craft burger spot have a solution for the indecisive. Through the end of the Summer choose 4 different beers from any tap and they’ll be served table side on a paddle board with pretzel sticks and beer cheese ($14). Extra bonus points: you can take the paddle home with you for $5 more.
Nelson Cottage by High West – Now back with their Summer prix fixe dinner menus on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all season long. Priced $90 with optional whiskey pairings starting at $60 per person.
La Trattoria Di Francesco – Similarly this 15th and 15th based Italian restaurant are offering a weekly prix fixe menu. Titled Wine Wednesday, the six course paired menus are offered 5-10 p.m. for $155 per person.
Carson Kitchen – Recently debuted their Summer menu update. Seasonal additions include street corn chopped salad and short rib steak with sambal butter and kimchi chimichurri. Joining the dessert menu a “The Banoffee “Pie” with bananas, toffee, Bailey’s whipped cream and imported chocolate digestives from Scotland.
- Pair of Restaurants Highlights New Direction for Park City Cuisine
- Where to get fried chicken in Salt Lake
- Cold beer debuts
- Waffle Love’s Great Race story
- Yum Yum recovers from hate crime
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Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC. I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.
I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV. Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.
Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.
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