Trolley Square

By Richard Markosian

Trolley Square doesn’t feel like a shopping center so much as a preserved piece of Salt Lake’s working past — because that’s exactly what it is. The heart of the complex is a set of trolley car barns and repair shops built in the early 20th century for the Utah Light & Railway Company.

It was later used for buses and then reimagined in the early 1970s as one of the city’s first adaptive-reuse retail centers. That origin story still defines the experience today: brick walls, timber beams, narrow corridors, and winding interior paths that feel more like an industrial cathedral than a conventional mall.

Its enduring charm is cultural as much as architectural, shaped by longtime tenants that have given Trolley Square its soul. Tabula Rasa has long been a destination for fine stationery, paper goods, and gifts. Payne Anthony Creative Jewelers represents old-school craftsmanship and personal service. Desert Edge Brewery at The Pub — a cornerstone since the early days — remains one of Salt Lake’s most beloved gathering places — equal parts neighborhood pub and living room. Trolley has also always been a place to discover unique art and gifts, with Trolley Art and Antiques showcasing work from renowned local artists and offering one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect the region’s creative spirit. Even names like The Chalk Garden echo the center’s early identity, remembered fondly by generations of locals. Now with the Lanny Barnard Gallery added to the original name, it offers original art and antique jewelry.

Today, Trolley Square continues that legacy by pairing its historic tenants with newer businesses that fit the spirit of the place. Recent new, local additions include Magnum Bikes, which brings an urban, outdoor-minded energy to the complex, along with Image Eyes Optical, which has expanded into a brand new location. While restaurants like Rodizio Grill and The Old Spaghetti Factory remain anchors — drawing families, date nights, and celebrations into the old trolley barns. At the same time, the Williams-Sonoma group now occupies five buildings and businesses, bringing an upscale, modern retail experience into carefully updated spaces that still respect the center’s historic bones. Together, they ensure that Trolley Square remains what it has always been: a place where Salt Lake City’s past and present comfortably — and creatively — coexist.