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SALT LAKE CITY — Diamond Lil's, one of Utah's longest-running steak houses, has been a landmark on North Temple since the late ‘60s. But the last few years have not been easy for Diamond Lil's, or for many other businesses along the street.
Construction of the airport TRAX line made access a lot more difficult, causing customers to stay away. The restaurant saw business drop 15 to 20 percent. But they hung in there and are glad all the work was done in the first place.
The family-run business has gone through a lot over the years — it even was sold and shut down for a time — but it's back in the family, and if you go there, you get more than just a meal.
"We've had people who have celebrated their 25th and 30th anniversaries here, and said that they met here," said Pete Funaro, the restaurant's owner.
Funaro's uncle Jim and a friend first opened Diamond Lil's in 1969. Pete started working there 2 years later as a busboy, and hasn't left the place since. He loves it there, and he has a lot of blood, sweat and tears invested.
"Well, it's a part of me," he said. "It feels like home here. My uncle Jim and I built (the) fireplace."
They also took old logs from abandoned pioneer cabins and reused them in the restaurant, creating a rustic look and feel.
"So the farmers and cowboys would call us and asked us if we'd like to use these logs. So we went and got them, brought them down, cleaned them up and that's what makes a lot of the walls in (the) rooms," Funaro said.
Lil Campbell was married to Garth Campbell, who was one of the original founders of the restaurant along with Pete's uncle.
When Diamond Lil's first opened, it could seat 30 people. But over the years rooms were added, and there's even a large upstairs area. Now it's 20,000 square feet and can seat several hundred.
And, while they are known for their steaks — they go through about 230 tons of meat a year — Diamond Lil's is sort of a western-themed museum too.
Everywhere you turn, there is original art and antiques, including a photo wall of famous people who have eaten at the restaurant over the years. Singers, actors and ballplayers have all made the wall, along with every Utah governor since Cal Rampton.
Funaro says his business dropped significantly because of construction on the airport TRAX line. Dinners have dropped from about 200 to 50 a night, but he's not complaining. Rather, he sees a bright future, because of the construction.
"If you're going to have future development, you have to keep it looking nice," he said. "And now that this street has been redone, and the infrastructure has been redone, it's going to be a great thing for everybody on the west side."
