Bulldozers changing face of Sugar House

SugarHouse Coffee once hugged the southwest corner of Highland Drive and 2100 South. Since October, though, employees have served up Rimini Coffee in new digs across the street.

About a week ago, they watched as bulldozers leveled the building that was the shop's home for five years and the home of Blue Cat Coffee before that.

"Super depressing," remarked longtime SugarHouse Coffee employee Adam Collier.

"Depressing for a lot of people," added employee Eli Baldwin. "A lot of customers."

Demolition of buildings on the Granite block of Sugar House is under way and expected to be completed in the next three to four weeks. Then, if city building officials give approval, the property's owners, Mecham Management, will begin construction on two seven-story buildings that will be located between 2100 South and 2140 South on Highland Drive.

Many of the dozen local retailers and restaurateurs that once occupied the eclectic Granite block have remained in the area but are unsure whether they'll keep Sugar House addresses in the long term.

Ciera Sims, who helps run Omar's Living Cuisine, is worried about rising rents in the area once the new buildings are complete. The new buildings will likely attract chain retailers and restaurants, Sims said. "Being in this area with the other small businesses was lovely."

Mecham said his company has not yet signed leases with any tenants.

Omar's, a raw food restaurant, moved in September from one of Mecham's now-demolished buildings to a Mecham-owned business complex to the north. Rent is higher because Herbs for Health, which was sharing space and rent with Omar's in the old place, opted not to move to the new one.

The restaurant was closed for two weeks as the new place was remodeled. In two years, Omar's will move again when its lease with Mecham is up. The office complex where Omar's is located is slated to be demolished as part of a second phase in the development.

Mecham Management owner Craig Mecham acknowledged that leasing costs will be higher than what the tenants would have been paying in their former space.

"What I've said is that we would welcome some, not all, some of the older tenants back" when the buildings are complete, he said. "We would give them a small discount because they were tenants before."

Artist's renderings of the first phase of Mecham's development — which has yet to be approved by the city — show two buildings made of brick and glass. Storefront windows and awnings span the buildings' first floors.

Upper levels of one building would be reserved for office space. Upper levels of the other building would be residential space with balconies, and parking would be below the buildings.