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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
It’s interesting that neighborhood businesses are once again becoming popular throughout Utah’s cities. For a time, it seemed large suburban malls were the place to be. But that’s changing. Now, there’s a movement to restore what is already built and to bring back the charm of walking to market or a nearby restaurant.
It’s that very charm that inspired former Houston residents Sandra Jensen and her husband Cruzer Rowland to open their E Street Gallery in Salt Lake’s Historic Avenues District. Located just south of Second Avenue, the gallery offers 1200 square feet of handcrafted items. They include David Marsh’s colorful 19th century folk-style furniture, decorative glass pieces and ceramic bowls created by Utah artists and handmade candles and soap. Museum-quality crystals are also sold. Cruzer also builds and sells his own line of furniture using steel and wood taken from old train tressels.
The E Street Gallery is a dream come true for the couple. Sandra grew up in Salt Lake and lived in the Avenues as a student attending the U. Her studies in art history took her to other cities, and she eventually landed in Houston where she taught college courses and worked for the Institute For The Arts at Rice University. She and Cruzer met while producing a line of furniture for Marsh.
It was Sandra’s family that brought them to Salt Lake. After visiting on several occasions, Sandra and Cruzer decided it was the place to be. But they moved with the intention to bring a bit of Houston with them, particularly Marsh’s furniture. And they wanted to run their own business.
After quite a search, Sandra and Cruzer found what was once the home of Allen Electric, a building dating back to 1909. According to historians, Allen had wired the Salt Lake Temple and other buildings downtown. In the ‘30s and ‘50s, Allen’s shop became Bennett’s Grocery, and later turned into apartments.
It took two years of restoration. Now, the E Street Gallery gleams with its cream-colored brick, red tudor arches and its decorative treasures inside. Sandra runs the store while Cruzer custom builds his furniture, and they’ve made their home in the apartment above. We welcome Sandra and Cruzer to the neighborhood. I predict their unique gallery will draw neighbors from throughout the state.
For Zions Bank, I’m Fred Ball. I’m speaking on business.
