South Salt Lake brewery announces plans to open near Ballpark District

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Ballpark District is about to get some new residents.

Shades Brewing just announced it is set to open in a newly renovated space right along 300 West and 1388 South this fall.

The brewery opened in Park City in 2010 and moved to South Salt Lake in 2015 where the founders say they've outgrown their current space. They say they intentionally chose the Ballpark District and want to be a hub and gathering place there.

Alexandra Ortiz and her husband are the founders of Shades Brewing. They're spending much of their time now watching the progress of the renovation of The Engine Block building which sits along 300 West, which now has a new bike lane. The couple hopes the outdoor patio and location near Utah Transit Authority's TRAX line will be great for business.

"One thing that we're so proud of is that breweries help to bring communities together," Ortiz tells KSL-TV.

Ortiz and her husband have been working out of an old meatpacking warehouse in South Salt Lake. For a while now they've wanted to be able to open a kitchen and have a place that feels cozy, comfortable and community-driven.

Amy J. Hawkins is the chairwoman of the Ballpark Community Council. She moved to the area in 2014. Despite the recent announcement that the Salt Lake Bees baseball team will leave the Ballpark District after its 2024 season, Hawkins says she's proud of the progress in her neighborhood.

"There have been a few ups and downs — we always knew it was a transitional neighborhood and we always had hope for it. I think now some of those hopes are really starting to pay off," Hawkins said.