Jewel-encrusted flasks, fortune-telling Jesus figurines and politically charged dog toys — Salt Lakers are about to find themselves exposed to a whole new shopping experience.

Urban Outfitters, a popular apparel, furniture, novelties and accessories store, is slated to open at The Gateway just in time for the Christmas shopping season.

Tentatively slated to open Nov. 23, the store will be the first in Utah for the retailer, which has 106 locations in 32 states and six countries.

But will Utahns, well known for their conservative nature, flock to the edgy shop? The company certainly thinks so.

"Salt Lake City has a very strong customer base," spokeswoman Kiley Baun said. "Some locations take a little longer for us to find than others, but we eventually get there.

"Salt Lake has a great youth culture in a very vibrant metropolis peppered with plenty of college students living in great communities."

Construction is now under way at the store's location in the former Virgin Megastore space on the east side of The Gateway (the former Union Pacific station depot). The retail space itself will be unlike traditional mall stores, Baun said, with a mix of old and new features.

Urban Outfitters Inc. also includes Anthropologie, which already has a presence in The Gateway. Like Anthropologie, Urban will carry men's and women's clothing, furniture and accessories.

And, of course, the playful and sometimes controversial novelty items for which the store has become famous for.

"We definitely do our share of satire and do poke fun here and there," Baun said. "Often politicians, religious figures and other subjects take a brunt of that, but we do so with a sense of humor and never an intention to insult or disrespect."

Each Urban Outfitters store carries essentially the same merchandise, regardless of location. The only difference is the occasional fashion item that goes only to a New York City or Los Angeles store, or seasonal items, Baun said.

"We represent the culture of our customer," Baun said. "Whether or not a state or city may be viewed as more conservative than another, we stay focused on our customer and their likes and dislikes."

Which means that come November 2008, Utahns will have a chance to pick up a doggie chew toy bearing the likeness of the country's next president.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com