About Town

New Business Update

by Peter Fecteau, Street Staff Writer/Photographer

This, the summer issue of the Gazette, introduces the reader to 14 local businesses that vary in concept and clientele yet are united by one strong theme: commitment to the Ogden downtown area. Interviewing each of their owners personally, this journalist found an intense commitment to a future in this community, despite the flagging economy, the preponderance of vacant floor space in Ogden’s downtown, and the recent self-analysis and questioning following the Ogden Mall demolition. In contrast to the emptiness and destruction which spot along and around the corners of 25th Street, hope still springs eternal as designers even now toil to resurrect the Ogden Mall lot with new life and our 14 businesses defy the apparent economic odds against them. Spring-like, these young, vigorous, new businesses are sprouting like new growth between figurative and literal cracks of concrete, gently but forcefully bringing life to 25th Street and downtown Ogden and beyond. Further, they are all committed to providing exceptional quality in their products and services, from flowers to antiques, marble and terrazzo bath designs to a simple, hearty, nostalgic lunch, and all just down the street from where we live. Without fail, using personal resources, every business owner has voiced his or her commitment to help rebuild Ogden into a new and culturally robust vision of the future.

Grounds for Coffee
Owners: Dan + Suzy Dailey
The Peddler
Owners: Melissa + Arlen Gagenstein The Space
Owners: Rachel Romaine + Thom Rockwell
Cartwright Glassworks
Owner: Kathy Cartwright.
One Address - 111 25th Street, Ogden.

111 25th Street is finally earning its owners and partners in business exposure they have worked hard to earn. This year, Dan and Suzy Dailey bought the building at 111 25th, moving from a less visible location on the opposite side of 25th Street. Buying the building at one-eleven, they have introduced a new concept: to nurture several businesses in one building. Their concept includes the well-known coffee house, Grounds for Coffee, an elegant bistro, The Peddler, yoga and jujitsu studio, The Space, and art studio, Cartwright Glassworks, full of unique, fused glass workings.

Entering from the street, customers approach Grounds for Coffee and its espresso bar, equipped with all the usual, well-appreciated accoutrements for the coffee drinker: flavored syrups, a nice variety of daily baked goods, juices, fitness waters and popular soft drinks. Hanging above the espresso bar is a menu for a second business which exists quietly yet deliciously behind the rows of coffee paraphernalia; The Peddler. Avid cyclists Melissa and Arlen are gourmet chefs who have combined their favorite pastimes for their customers’ enjoyment and the education of their palates. From 10:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday, they serve sautéed shrimp, Napa greens, wantons, risotto, marinated tofu, and other delicacies arranged into categories of wraps, rice bowls and pasta bowls. The prices are affordable and the menu exquisitely tempting.

The Space, combination yoga and jujutsu studio operated by Rachel Romaine, RYT (registered yoga therapist), and Thom Rockwell, jujitsu instructor, is one-eleven’s third business, which attracts a variety of students to its second-floor studio. The Space is located conveniently upstairs in this unexpectedly voluminous three-story building, a haven for a variety of activities to tone the body and heal the soul, and (conveniently) allow for a refreshing, cold drink during the trip out the door.

Without having interviewed Kathy Cartwright for this particular article, this journalist has met the creator of Cartwright Glassworks at art shows in the Ogden area. Her art adorns the porches and walls of homes throughout Weber and Davis counties, including my own. At one-eleven, her studio is moderate in size, but well-equipped to accommodate students interested in learning her method of "fused glass" fashionings, an art that involves high-heat fusing of different shaped and colored glass pieces into fascinating forms. Here, ornament becomes high art. Kathy works with glass of all forms, using layers of glass and other various materials to create textures and colors that are a metaphor for life’s own complexity and endless interest. She works to bring depth to her creations, depth of interest that often reveals itself not only at first glance, but with time and familiarity.

According to building co-owner Suzy Dailey, all of the tenants share with the owners an untiring pursuit of the highest quality in all of their varied creations and services, as well as an investment of time, money and work that can only express a solid commitment to the future of Twenty-Fifth Street.

Just Down the Street Café
319 - 24th Street, Ogden
Owners: Louie Jr. and Dina Arteaga

Just Down the Street Café is nestled snugly within the Historic Berthana Ballroom next to Hawks Trading Post and the Lighthouse Lounge on 24th Street, just off Washington Boulevard. It is a clean, well-lighted place. The reincarnation of Chick’s Café that almost spanned a couple of generations in downtown Ogden, Just Down the Street is the third version of the favorite lunch counter location. Opening just June 9th this year, Dina and Louie Arteaga Jr. have taken an aging restaurant and made it virtually new in every respect, from orange formica lunch counters to sparkling stainless counter stools keeping it original to the famous Chick’s Cafe yet modernizing and cleaning it meticulously. Dina describes her new place as a traditional 40s - 60s American café: simple, inexpensive and really good. The cafe features an all-day breakfast menu, a variety of hot sandwiches, pots of fresh, hot coffee and several real, home-cooked dinners including pot roast for future cold and hungry skiers this winter. The breakfasts are already becoming famous, such as the breakfast burrito which is huge, delicious and priced right. Dina and Louie welcome both the loner who wants to just sit with coffee and a book, or families with children. They also give a discount to senior citizen customers. This is a kick back, eat-all-you-want-because-you-can-afford-to kind of place, with real owners preparing real food for ordinary people like you or me. "Just Down the Street" is open from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is close on Sundays.

InStile and Rail
110-25th Street, Ogden
Owners: Don Thomas & Brent Grimm

InStile and Rail lies at 110 25th Street, directly across the street from the one-eleven building, Grounds for Coffee. Specializing in kitchen and bath design and furnishings, owners Don and Brent go even further. A good description of their store is necessarily lengthy: wood flooring in cork, bamboo, maple, pine and oak are juxtaposed with bath fixtures, tile, polished stone, ceramic, jetted tubs, and kitchen and living area cabinetry. Their one theme is custom design that will incorporate any kind of interior architectural features, from smart lighting that automatically adjusts to the time of day to entertainment systems and home theater. Their store interior is organized into a series of beautifully designed spaces that flow together and model a remarkable variety of highest quality architectural materials for modern living spaces. This custom design center is a real find for homeowners and businesses looking to make quality, beautiful interior architectural elements and furnishings a permanent part of their daily living environments. If for no other reason, come by to just bask in the elegance of their collection of fine flooring and interior furnishings. You will leave planning modifications to beautify your own home or office.

25th Street Emporium
109 - 25th Street, Ogden
Owners:John Daskalos & Craig Visser

John Daskalos describes the 25th Street Emporium as an antique "mall". Behind the colorful and architecturally dated façade, is housed a pawn shop, antique shop main floor, and 12 different antique vendors on the second floor. Their collection of materials are as one would at least expect--varied. Negotiating the wood staircase to the second floor, customers will pass Western paraphernalia such as spurs, bits, and cowboy hats, art prints that document Western history, really old vinyl records, vintage clothing, period pictures, glassware, art nouveau figurines, etc. The pawn "area," (for lack of a better descriptor), stays within the concept of this culturally unique store; absent are the boom boxes, lawnmowers, and cheap bikes that other pawn shops offer. Alternatively, The Emporium’s pawn area dabbles in jewelry, silver, knives, and other interesting, antique items too numerous to mention that look like they could have come from the Lewis & Clark expedition. The Emporium is a wonderful location to spend a lunch hour in, just exploring.

Bangkok Garden
2426 Grant Ave., Ogden
Owner: Tanisha Phitsnoukanh

Around the corner from 25th Street and Grant Avenue, Bangkok Garden’s bright red exterior announces the Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine that awaits within. Formerly located at 465 East 25th Street, east of Washington Boulevard, owner Tanisha Phitsnon Kanh hopes for a revival of 25th Street and its surrounding area with the return of business downtown. She hopes Bangkok Garden is a step in the right direction. Of Laotian descent, she is proud of her cultural roots and the cuisine she offers, describing it as "authentic, not Americanized". Among the menu offerings she serves are uniquely southeast Asian varieties of seafood, pork, beef and vegetable dishes prepared in curries, coconut milk, lemon grass, lime leaf, galangal root and other flavors, all distinctly foreign to the American palate, but which are also a distinctly appealing and delicious change of pace. For a little more than the price of an average sized fast-food meal, you can enjoy Bangkok Garden’s tempting and deliciously different repertoire.

Sacred Art
Owners: Justin Hicks + Nic McMillan.
Address:2262 Washington Boulevard.

Not to be confused with the Catholic icon, Sacred Heart, Sacred Art Tattoo parlor on the 2200 block of Washington Boulevard is one of Ogden’s largest tattoo and piercing emporiums. Owners Justin Hicks and Nic McMillan proudly offer the most advanced and surgically sterile techniques to color your anatomy with professionally certified technicians. Available designs literally number in the thousands and range from tribal to custom, new school to portraits, in thick or thin lines, with colors from muted to bright. Curious about price ranges? Justin says the sky’s the limit, for as little as 40 bucks, or up to thousands of dollars, you can be colored at your whim with an ornament small as an ankle butterfly or as completely covered as Ray Bradbury’s Illustrated Man.

Blue Café
Owner: Gary Simonson
1167 West 12th Street, Ogden.

Gary Simonson is passionate about the Blues. To him, the musical modality that is part of American culture has transcended into his personal dream. Blue Café is part of that dream, and at least partly created by the music he loves: earthy, soulful, and joyous. His wide and encompassing concept for Blue Café welcomes individuals, groups, and even families into a restaurant based around comfort and relaxation with original recipes of fine food, combined with the fine music of local artists. Offered to diners and music lovers are his unique stylings of "gourmet casual" foods offered at the breakfast hour via drive-thru, during lunch hours as well as dinner hour, and late into the evenings. All items are made from scratch with his own recipes. With salads, sandwiches, and new and different appetizers, much room exists here to explore. The grill and espresso bar are complemented by catering services. Musicians Robby Kap and Dan Weldon are two guitarist/vocalists who will soon be brightening Blue Café with their brand of jazz and blues, and offer the local community a chance to bring friends and neighbors together. Friday nights are "block party" and open mike, Saturday mornings are Blues breakfast. Bring your axe

HeeBeeGeeBees
2574 Washington Boulevard, Ogden.
Owners: Miles Moore and John Post.

Neither of these two young gentleman can be more than 25-years-old. Yet they have a prospering specialty shop under the trees on the 2500 block of Washington Boulevard, now in its sixth year at this location. They specialize in rare and hard-to-find toys and hard-core skateboards and supplies. It’s only possible to mention part of their inventory: Star Wars figurines, space ships, robots, models, trading cards, clothes, skateboards, rare and rock/punk/industrial music CD’s, and more. When all is said and done, Hee-Bee-Gee-Bees seems like a store for kids to obsess over and where they can spend all their allowance, yet there is a basic ethic of responsibility to the kids who comprise their business. The owners say, "It’s stuff we liked as kids and now we’re adults. We feel we really want to have good prices for the kids and collectors. And, we sponsor a really good skateboard team at Marshall White."

The Club
172 - 25th Street, Ogden.
Owner: Craig Steinmetz

The Club is a delicatessen, private dining gallery and caterer. They offer a delectable assortment of lunchtime sandwiches, oriental salads, Greek salads--I saw a marinated artichoke heart salad with big chunks of salty feta cheese in olive oil--wraps and some great-looking quiche. The Club combines an array of familiar, hearty sandwiches, soups and salads with a unique "gourmet to go" style. Grilled and sherried chicken, pastas with marinara and alfredo sauces to take out are a blessing when cooking dinner seems an added insult to an all too hectic day. Breakfast is a part of their repertoire as well, featuring breakfast sandwiches, pastries and lots of hot coffee. Owner Craig spoke to me after a busy lunch hour to say he likes to think the Club is a great, best kept secret in Ogden and is set on bringing a high level of culinary expertise to the Street in downtown Ogden. A graduate of California Culinary Academy, Craig was Chef at the Bistro 1900 in 1986. He wants to bring that flavor of high culinary art to 25th Street with crystal and china as regular table settings. Right now, the Club features "gallery dining" in the space which formerly functioned as an art gallery. Craig began moving the Club from lower 25th Street after purchasing this newly remodeld building earlier this spring. Private parties are possible with custom menus that can range from Asian, Southwestern and Continental to French, his first love. Further, the Club hopes to expand an already tempting variety of gourmet foods that are available to take out, an artistic and designer taste to go.

Yoga Jo’s -
1167 West - 12th Street.
Owner: Ms. Jo Canfield.

Jo Canfield offers yoga, therapeutic massage, relaxation massage and shiatsu disciplines to all comers. She encourages people of all ages and personalities to come receive the benefits of these alternative health therapies. She offers a warm and friendly studio environment to beginners, people who are afraid they lack physical flexibility, and yet still teaches the experienced yoga enthusiast as well. Ms. Canfield is a charming, witty and urbane individual who currently offers 14 classes per week at 12th Street. She hopes to expand her class offerings as time and situation encourage her, to 25 classes such as aromatherapy, couples massage, and early morning/late night classes to serve more students. For the time being, her main studio, two massage rooms, separate bath/showers and a retail facility, are a draw for those who need a little physical and emotional rehabilitation. Yoga Jo’s serves its clientele from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday, Saturdays 8:00 a.m. thru 3 p.m.

Signature Floral and Wedding Décor
2492 Wall Ave, NE corner of Wall and Historic 25th Street
Owners: Lori & Jim Morris

Lori and Jim have opened a first class floral shop around the corner from InStile and Rail, in the Altice Corner building at the west end of 25th Street, on Wall Avenue. Lori explains her concept: a high quality floral shop that can design to meet any occasion, but which specializes in weddings and formal occasions. Lori designs settings which can include both live and silk florals together with architectural elements like the Corinthian columns which beautifully embellish one end of her small but elegant store. Husband and wife are a team; she "dreams" and they design together. He also supplies the carpentry and finishing talent and a significant portion of the brawn necessary to bring this beautifully conceived and professionally executed space to the 25th Street & Downtown Ogden public. Both Lori and Jim reveal their perfectionist personalities through carefully chosen colors: deep and relaxing shades of sage, terra cotta and desert sand. Rows of arrangements vary from silks to live, and combinations of silk and live plants together, none of which you can tell apart without a very close look. Lori’s idea is to conceive beautiful arrangements, using the artistic attributes of each element involved. As with all the businesses highlighted in this issue, Lori and Jim strive for the pinnacle of quality and service.

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