Maven District Salt Lake City Utah
The Maven District is a commercial and residential area within a 4-minute drive or around a mile from downtown Salt Lake City. The area is owned and run by women, and the concept is to have a community where you can have most things you may need within the district. Here’s what to see, do, and what to shop for at the Maven District of Salt Lake City.
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A whole floor of one of the newest buildings in the Maven District is short-term rentals. These apartment-hotel rentals have a bedroom, separate living and dining room, and a full kitchen you can cook in. There’s even a gym and a terrace with chairs to sit and hang around. It’s such a cozy spot that makes you feel at home and like you’re a local living in the area.
There are many indie shops in the Marvel District, and you can spend hours perusing them all. Each one is unique, so here’s a list of must-visits. If you go on the Maven District website, you can filter on shops. There is a filter for women-owned businesses and shops. Here is a list of shops you can visit in the Maven District.
With BookTok and Booktube gaining popularity on social media, people have been flocking to bookstores for their next read. For those who love indie bookstores, did you know that there’s a romance-centric bookstore in the Maven District?
I had a chance to visit and this charming bookstore is run by a woman who was inspired by the Ripped Bodice in New York and decided to open up a romance bookstore of her own. I had a chance to chat with her and she is a voracious romance reader, and her recommendations are great.
Aside from books, the store also sells merch. I try to buy tote bags from amazing stores I visit, but they didn’t have bags available when I visited, so go grab one if you’re in the area! The owner also hosts workshops on bookmark-making and other crafts. Head on to her website to see the schedule and learn more.
This boutique sells handmade jewelry, and also toiletries that are locally made and clothing. You can also do a jewelry-making workshop, to make a ring or other bauble. The workshops include instruction and materials, and last 2 hours. You bring home whatever you make, and is such a great souvenir and experience overall. I highly recommend it. We had a slightly shorter workshop since we didn’t have enough time in the district, but we still made two stacking rings each.
The boutique also does permanent jewelry, where they will solder a bracelet and it doesn’t have a clasp or opening in it. The permanent jewelry is made of gold-filled materials, which is more affordable than regular gold, but needs extra care to avoid tarnishing.
Located behind Lovebound Library, Re-Finery SLC specializes in up-cycling clothing. This avoids clothing waste going to landfills and gives a chance to support a local business. If you’re looking for a greener way to source your clothing whilein the area, this is the stop for you: just don’t expect thrift store prices.
Despite the name, the store specializes in jewelry made with semi-precious stones. Check out their website to see designs or pop by their store to see what they have in stock.
In a revival of vinyl used to play music, Randy’s Records is your one-stop shop in Salt Lake City. The store is a block away from the main drag of the Maven District, but I’d recommend stopping if you’re a record collector. You can pick up new releases or leaf through the inventory to see what they have.
Despite the name, the Heavy Metal Shop doesn’t just sell heavy metal music, they also sell merchandise. Band t-shirts are prevalent in the store, and also offer a good assortment of band merchandise. You can see some of the t-shirts and merch from the storefront and is a band lovers’ dream destination.
Feeling a bit parched after all that shopping? Head on over to the Juice Shop so you can get organic, freshly-made juices from a woman-owned business.
The best seller is called Liquid Sunshine. It’s a mixture of carrots, oranges, and a few others. The juices are never made from concentrate: all 100% juice. If you don’t prefer blended juices which have multiple flavors, they also sell orange juice and one-flavor juices. Best of all, they’re available in bottles, so it’s easy to grab and go.
Every business has its shop hours, but note that most businesses are closed one day a week. Check their respective websites or go to the Maven District website to check operating hours. If you see that there’s a workshop happening in the store you visited, and aren’t sure the store is open, you can still go inside and peruse the store. The owners we’ve met are nice and welcoming to visitors.
Do you like murals? The Maven District has plenty of them. In the alleyways that dot the
the community, there are plenty of murals to take photos of. The owners intentionally made the district picture-worthy, so visitors can take photos and get the word out. The storefronts and inside the businesses also have a unique aesthetic that makes them Instagrammable.
My favorite mural features women lifting women. It is huge, wrapping around a side of the building. The murals are fairly easy to find, so do make time to walk around the streets of the district when you visit.
The Maven District is roughly a mile south of the downtown district. It is a quick rideshare away (around $8 to $15), or you can take the public bus# 200 from State Street. You can also drive there if you have a car. There’s plenty of street parking available on State Street. There are also parking lots available within the Maven District, free of charge if you’re visiting any of the establishments. Alternatively, you can walk to the Maven District from the downtown area.
It’s unique to find women-run businesses all in one area, and it’s a delight to find one that does it successfully. The Maven District is a must-visit while you are in the Salt Lake City area, and is a great spot to stay and shop.
A special thank you to the ladies of the Maven District and WITS for hosting me when I visited the area while I was in town!
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