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Market Street Grill announced this week that its downtown location — a longtime SLC fixture — will close at the end of the month.

Why it matters: The closure of a decades-long institution flies in the face of data that has painted downtown as a success story.

What they're saying: "While the restaurant's legacy remains strong, the economic realities of operating in downtown Salt Lake City have become increasingly challenging," the announcement states. 

"Reduced office occupancy, changing consumer patterns, and lower levels of foot traffic have created headwinds that have made it difficult for the location to operate sustainably."

Zoom in: Metro-wide, Salt Lake's office occupancy rates have improved faster in recent years than almost any other city's, per Moody's, and Collier's found rates held fairly steady last year. 

Downtown worker days rose more than 10% in 2024 and were expected to rise again 10% last year, per the Downtown Alliance's most recent data.

Yes, but: Vacancies remain higher than they were before 2020. 

Today's vacancy rates aren't much higher than they were in the years following the 2008 financial crisis, which Market Street Grill survived

Market Street Grill is far from the only downtown eatery to shutter over the past year.

It joins Current Fish and Oyster, Laziz Kitchen, Yoshi's Japanese Grill, Este Pizzaria, Doki Doki, Italian Olive, Coterie, and Pizza Bar's downtown locations.

Caveat: Some of those spots have already been replaced by other restaurants, including new hot spots like Killa Nikkei.

Catch up quick: Market Street Grill opened at its eponymous address in 1980, and has expanded to South Jordan and Cottonwood Heights.

Those locations are expected to remain open.

Flashback: You can briefly see it the downtown restaurant in the background of 1999's "SLC Punk!"

see it in the background of 1999's "SLC Punk!"

Market Street Grill's closure counters narrative of downtown SLC's post-COVID revival

Operators cited slower traffic and a loss of office workers downtown.

An early-1900s building with a yellow brick facade and a seafood restaurant inside

Market Street Grill announced this week that its downtown location — a longtime SLC fixture — will close at the end of the month.Why it matters: The closure of a decades-long institution flies in the face of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data that has painted" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/06/03/salt-lake-city-ranks-among-americas-stickiest-downtowns" data-vars-content-id="513c91a1-61b7-4906-b7fb-f9ddaf4e16af" data-vars-headline="Market Street Grill&#x27;s closure counters narrative of downtown SLC&#x27;s post-COVID revival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/06/03/salt-lake-city-ranks-among-americas-stickiest-downtowns" target="_self">data that has painted</a> downtown as a success story.

News

Food and Drink

Renowned athlete Andy Lewis was one of two people killed while attempting a tandem BASE jump this weekend near Moab. 

Zoom in: Lewis' fame reached its zenith at the 2012 Super Bowl, where he appeared alongside Madonna during the halftime show, performing tricks on a slackline above the stage.

He also holds multiple world championships and set at least two world records — one for famously slacklining between two hot air balloons in Nevada, 4,000 feet above the ground. 

Driving the news: Lewis and Danny Joe Kregle, a 68-year-old Arizona man, died after a BASE jump in Grand County's Mineral Basin, the Moab Times-Independent reported.

In a statement, Sheriff's officers did not provide details about what went wrong, or whether the jump was related to Lewis' Moab-based guide business.

when he slacklined between two hot air balloons

Moab BASE jump fatalities include extreme athlete who performed with Madonna

Andy Lewis set world records, won world championships and performed in a Super Bowl halftime.

A man dances on a slackline while wearing a toga while MAdonna performs next to him 

Andy Lewis performs with Madonna at the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Renowned athlete Andy Lewis was one of two people killed while attempting a tandem BASE jump this weekend near Moab. Zoom in: Lewis&#x27; fame reached its zenith at the 2012 Super Bowl, where he appeared alongside Madonna during the halftime show, performing tricks on a slackline above the stage.

Outdoor Living Brief

Ending slavery is something all Utahns can celebrate. 

🎉 Utah Juneteenth Festival: Ogden takes center stage for this holiday each year, with performances, games, and dancing Noon-9pm Saturday at the city amphitheater.

🛼 Millcreek Common: Free skating, a fashion show and live performances run 6-10pm Thursday.

🎈Salt Lake Juneteenth: Community yoga starts at 9am Friday at the Capitol steps, with a gathering there at 10am and an 11:15am walk to the festival at the Gateway.

A Black-owned business festival, food vendors, kids' activities and live music will be onsite between noon to dusk. Free tickets online

👟 Juneteenth Freedom Run: Fun runs of 5K, 10K and the kids' mile take off from Mountain View Park in Woods Cross starting at 9am Saturday. Register

Ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Utah

The main event is in Ogden, but there are other parties along the Wasatch Front.

Illustration of Juneteenth flag planted in a June calendar-covered ground

Ending slavery is something all Utahns can celebrate. <ul><li>Here&#x27;s how:</li></ul>

Things to Do

Holidays

Utah's warm, dry winter and spring have prompted rattlesnakes to linger near water sources earlier than usual this summer, state wildlife officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Hiking trails tend to follow the same streams, putting more people in the path of their venomous neighbors.

Driving the news: University of Utah Hospital has treated almost double the typical number of snake bites in its ER so far this year, Fox 13 reports.

As of last week, 17 bite victims had sought help, compared to eight or nine in a typical year.

Be smart: Hike with closed-toed shoes, and keep dogs and kids on the trail, wildlife officers say.

What to look for: If you see a snake with dark markings down its back, it's probably the more common (and nonvenomous) gopher snake, per the state wildlife office.

Gopher snakes have long snouts and round pupils, while rattlesnakes have broad, triangular heads and vertical slits for pupils — and, of course, the rattle on the tail.

Zoom in: The Great Basin rattlesnakes of Utah are generally considered less aggressive than many other species.

Far more bites occur in southeastern states.

What they're saying: Years ago, in South Dakota, I heard my favorite description of a rattlesnake bite from a victim on the local news:

"It felt like someone was beating my hand with a hammer. For a week."

If you get bitten: Call 911, remove all tight jewelry before swelling begins, and keep the bite lower than your heart, the U.S. Forest Service advises.

Rattlesnake bites are spiking on Utah's trails

Blame the weather. And don't pet the wildlife.

A rattlesnake, coiled with its head up, on orange dirt.

A rattlesnake shakes its tail. Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Utah&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="warm, dry winter and spring" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/26/warm-weather-early-mosquito-season-salt-lake-city" data-vars-content-id="b4ca10e7-d236-413c-bfeb-f42786355101" data-vars-headline="Rattlesnake bites are spiking on Utah&#x27;s trails" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/26/warm-weather-early-mosquito-season-salt-lake-city" target="_self">warm, dry winter and spring</a> have prompted rattlesnakes to linger near water sources earlier than usual this summer, state wildlife officials tell Axios.Why it matters: Hiking trails tend to follow the same streams, putting more people in the path of their venomous neighbors.

Environment

A BYU student and online provocateur who's said he opposes voting rights for all adults, has drawn ire after being appointed Utah County's deputy elections clerk. 

Catch up quick: The elevation of Kai Schwemmer, who also is political director for College Republicans of America, prompted more than 80 Utah women in leadership positions to decried his appointment last week.

Here are some of Schwemmer's remarks addressing matters handled by the county clerk's office:

"[Married women] currently have the right to vote. But I'm in favor of probably like a family voting thing. I think that'd probably be a better way to do it." (Modern Day Debate, via The Guardian)

"I'm very much an anti-universal suffrage guy. I don't think there's a good defense for allowing people to vote who don't take the time to return shopping carts. ... Allowing those people the same leverage in your electoral system as a homeowner. That's crazy to me." (Modern Day Debate, via The Guardian)

"Women generally do not have what it takes to endure the pressures of a public office." (via X)

"If we continue to import millions of foreign nationals, Republicans will never be able to win an election again. ... they have more children than the native born population, and their children (who automatically become citizens) can and do vote. And I promise you that they don't vote very Republican." (via X)

"I'm against gay marriage" and would be "in favor of repealing same-sex marriage protections." — (Modern Day Debate, via The Guardian)

What they're saying: County Clerk Aaron Davidson said he hired Schwemmer to better serve young voters, due to his social media following — but he "didn't investigate it completely, who [Schwemmer] was."

Utah County's deputy elections clerk said he opposes voting rights for married women

The online provocateur also said he wants to abolish gay marriage.

Illustration of a man peeking out behind blinds in the form of a "vote here" sign with a leftward facing arrow

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

A BYU student and online provocateur who&#x27;s said he opposes voting rights for all adults, has drawn ire after being appointed Utah County&#x27;s deputy elections clerk. Catch up quick: The elevation of Kai Schwemmer, who also is political director for College Republicans of America, prompted more than 80 Utah women in leadership positions to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="decried his appointment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.abc4.com/news/politics/female-leaders-utah-county-deputy-clerk-sexist/" data-vars-content-id="d104dc64-5495-481f-b87f-5e4c71b287d2" data-vars-headline="Utah County&#x27;s deputy elections clerk said he opposes voting rights for married women" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.abc4.com/news/politics/female-leaders-utah-county-deputy-clerk-sexist/" target="_blank">decried his appointment</a> last week.

Erin Alberty

Featured stories

Ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Utah

Rattlesnake bites are spiking on Utah's trails

Moab BASE jump fatalities include extreme athlete who performed with Madonna

Market Street Grill's closure counters narrative of downtown SLC's post-COVID revival

Utah County's deputy elections clerk said he opposes voting rights for married women