No nightlife? Utah battling 'dull' image

Tourists love Utah's ski resorts, red rock formations and fine restaurants. It's finding something to do once the sun sets that's giving the state an image problem.

A combination of restrictive state liquor laws, city ordinances and a negative association with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is causing headaches for those desperately trying to get tourists to spend more money here and change the nation's perception that Utah is anything but hip.

Tourism is a growing $5.45 billion industry in Utah, but its domestic market share has steadily shrunk in the past decade, even following the 2002 Winter Olympics.

A nationwide image survey conducted for the Utah Office of Tourism earlier this year shows that the state's greatest weakness is a lack of recognition and a perception there's a dearth of entertainment for adults.

The top complaint the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau receives is that there's not much nightlife and it's difficult to get a drink. The complaints begin before tourists even arrive, said Shawn Stinson, director of communications for the bureau.

"We're the first to say Salt Lake has excellent bars and restaurants throughout the city. They are just not in a densely populated area," he said. "We feel that is definitely a drawback to the Salt Lake experience."

It also isn't changing anytime soon. City law prohibits more than two bars from operating on the same city block face. Downtown, the average city block is 660 feet long — a football field is 360 feet long for comparison. Other Utah cities, including the ski resort town of Park City, don't have that limit.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson wants the restriction in Utah's most-visited city lifted.

"We want to create a walkable, lively and hospitable downtown. It's crucial," he said. "I'm not saying that the two taverns per block face is necessarily the most important issue facing us in our downtown, but it is one of those obstacles."

During the day, downtown bustles with people. By 6 p.m., its wide sidewalks are often empty, and many businesses are closed. Two downtown malls owned by the LDS Church and slated for redevelopment have few tenants.

By 10 p.m., it's not uncommon for the only sound heard on Main Street to be the chirping of crosswalk signals.

But locals say there's no shortage of nightlife. It's finding it that's the problem.