Holy Maven District

I moved to Salt Lake City in April of 2011. Back then, when friends came to visit, I was honestly a little embarrassed. There weren't many great restaurants, shops, or bars. Our beer was weak too (for those of you who are new here, beer was capped at 3.2% ABV back then).

Over the years, things have improved immensely.

I used to live at 9th & 9th and always felt pretty well versed in that area, but in the years since I've moved away, some pretty incredible things have happened. In 2017, the 9th South Pump Track was built under the freeway, and in 2021 the city promised us the 9 Line Trail, connecting 9th & 9th to the Jordan River Trail on the west side. As a longtime westside resident, I was elated.

Lately, I've found myself driving down 900 South and becoming increasingly curious about the Maven District, so I decided to take an afternoon "off" and go explore. Specifically, the stretch between State Street and 400 East.

I'm going to tell you about it in the order I wandered through it.

First stop: Lovebound Library.

Lovebound has been on my list forever. It's Salt Lake's first romance-only bookstore, with sections dedicated to Romantasy, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, LGBTQIA+, Historical, Mango, and Omegaverse.

What I found most notable was the experience itself. When I walked in, I got a friendly hello, but nobody immediately asked if I needed help. It felt like a very intentional "browse in peace/privacy" environment. Then, when I finally did ask for a recommendation, they were incredibly helpful and guided me directly to the sapphic horror romance of my dreams. I cannot wait to read it.

A few doors down are Early Owl and La Barra Coffee and Breakfast Tacos. Early Owl has been on my breakfast list forever, while La Barra is serving coffee and breakfast tacos on house-made tortillas.

Both looked like places I'd happily spend a lazy Saturday morning, and plan to! Anyone want to be my date?

Upstairs from it all is Maven Strong, a fitness studio focused on movement, strength, and wellness. Nearby, but a little harder to find on Google Maps, is my friend and client's business, Kestrel Wellness. Dr. Rick Hendrickson runs a boutique medical practice that combines traditional, holistic, and functional medicine. I think it's very cool.

Continuing east, you'll pass several amazing murals before arriving at the longtime Salt Lake classic, Randy's Records. They've been spinning since 1978 and remain one of the longest-running independent record stores in the city. Go buy some vinyl.

Next up is Jed's Barber Shop. Getting a haircut wasn't on my agenda, but these guys have been around forever and have survived multiple moves, which feels like a pretty strong endorsement. Plus, their "Walkens Welcome" sign has become iconic.

Then there's Normal Ice Cream, which now has a proper storefront. They've been serving some of Salt Lake's favorite soft serve creations since 2017.

One of my favorite stops was Land of Salt. The shop is adorable, filled with gifts, jewelry, candles, clothing, and all sorts of things you didn't know you needed. What makes it especially unique is that you can actually watch the jewelry being made in the back of the store. Real humans. Making the actual jewelry. Right there. I may have also purchased the cutest pair of sunglasses for $20. In this economy?!

Land of Salt jewelry

Nearby is Maven Create, a co-working space owned and operated by women. A friend of mine works from there regularly and absolutely loves it. It's very much on my list.

And don't sleep on Koo De Ker. This boutique somehow manages to be cute and affordable, which feels increasingly rare. Think $28 sweaters. Yes, there are higher-end items too, but if you and your wallet are usually intimidated by boutique shopping, fear not.

Now here's where you could go wrong. If you're simply driving down 900 South, you might think this is where the Maven District ends.

You would be wrong.

Head north on 200 East and you'll find even more.

I'll tell you the truth: I skipped Mineral and Matter because I know myself too well. I've been there before and would have absolutely spent more money than I intended. But you should go in there, they have the cutest stuff seriously. I also skipped Nova Nail Studio because there was simply no time for a fresh set.

I did, however, stop into Pantry Products because bulk refill shops are surprisingly hard to find in Salt Lake. Bring your jars and stock up on soaps, lotions, and household products.

Pantry Products

The block wraps up with Art Haus, where you can take classes ranging from painting to pottery.

At that point I crossed to the south side of 900 South.

First up was Re-Finery. Thankfully they were closed, because this is a dangerously good thrift store. Give yourself an hour and you'll probably leave with something fantastic.

Next door is Acrely Farms with all the CBD products your heart could desire.

Then comes The Heavy Metal Shop, which is a genuine Salt Lake institution. Stop in for the merch, stay for the vinyl selection, and make sure to say hello to the adorable shop dog.

Beyond the Leaf, a plant shop and nursery, was also closed, which was probably for the best. I need more plants like I need a hole in the head.

And finally, at the corner of 900 South and Edison, you'll find Tandoori Taqueria. If you haven't been, you should go. Indian-inspired tacos are exactly as delicious as they sound.

And here's the crazy thing:

That was just the Maven District.

I actually made it all the way to 400 East that afternoon, but I think we're going to save that for another post. Trust me, this little stretch of Salt Lake could keep you busy for an entire weekend, let alone one afternoon.