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SOUTH SALT LAKE — Clay Beck remembers mulling through new business ideas when he settled on opening a new breakfast joint.
Specifically, he wanted to focus on breakfast sandwiches.
"I don't think I've met anybody that's said they don't like breakfast sandwiches," he says, reflecting on it. "It's a very agreeable and satisfying type of breakfast meal."
This all began in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many restaurants and businesses — and customers alike — were figuring out how to balance out concerns caused by the pandemic. It was a difficult time in the industry and it partly slowed down the process for him to move forward with the idea.
However, after a few hurdles, his idea is almost ready to be shared, joining a growing field of establishments slinging out breakfast sandwiches. His restaurant, Egg Break, located at 193 W. 2100 South, is slated to open its doors on Friday.
But Beck's spot is a bit different. He views it as only part of a larger vision to build into the growth surrounding Salt Lake City's "Commonwealth District," a place he views as the valley's next hub for entertainment, food and culture. It's also the first of at least three restaurants he and his group, Beck Development, plan to open in the near future.
"We see it as a gateway to a downtown experience for South Salt Lake," he said.
Creating a new restaurant
While Egg Break's origin story dates back to 2020, its concept came well before that. Beck, a partner of Beck Development, drew inspiration to build on ideas championed by the late Utah restaurateur John Williams, as well as Craig Ustler, whom Beck had worked with in Orlando. Both have been celebrated for making urban restaurants and places that essentially double as a form of community space or district.
It just so happened that he also knew the right place for a similar type of project. His father helped build an office equipment supply business out of a building on 2100 South for a long time. His father and associate were eager to sell the place right as he was starting to look at the market to begin Beck Development.
The location also seemed perfect for the concept he had in mind, as it's along the busy 2100 South corridor between I-15 and State Street. It's also located next to Utah Transit Authority's Central Pointe Station, the southernmost station that all three of UTA's TRAX routes run through. The station serves a few bus routes and its S-Line's western terminus, a streetcar that connects with the primary Sugar House business district.
Meanwhile, friends began referring Beck to Chad Rigby, a Utah-based chef, within months after he began focusing on breakfast sandwiches. The two got to cooking up a business plan and menu that ultimately led to Egg Break. The menu features coffee options and an "expansive" orange juice bar along with sandwiches.
The plan hit a few snags along the way as has been the case with with many development and construction projects since the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's slated to open as breakfast sandwiches are having a moment in or near Salt Lake City's food scene.
Some have joked online that Salt Lake City has become a "breakfast sandwich capital" with places like Central 9th Market, Eggsburgh and Frankie & Essl's emerging. Beck and Rigby say they hope to be the next in line to build on that market.
"Our hope is to be a hub for excellent food and community collaboration," said Rigby, Egg Break's executive chef, in a statement. "Every opportunity to bring people together to celebrate their victories in life and to deepen friendship and family over thoughtful food is an experience I love to celebrate and seek to create, and I believe that is exactly what we will be able to do at Egg Break."
Building into the community
The restaurant also aims to fit into South Salt Lake's growth, as it is located near the city's growing downtown and by new apartment developments either built or planned for the area. South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood said in November 2022 that the city wants to make the whole area around the core more walkable and connect with the transit options.
South Salt Lake is not already ripening, it's just so ripe for so (many) great new urban development.
– Clay Beck
That's where the idea of building the "Commonwealth District" comes into play. The area already features creative offices and The Commonwealth Room, a music venue located in the back of the complex.
Beck said he wants to open at least two more restaurants in the area on top of creative housing to blend into the growing number of restaurants, breweries and housing units emerging slightly to the east of this district.
In that sense, he views South Salt Lake's growth near 2100 South as possibly the next new hip place in Salt Lake County, similar to Sugar House on the other end of the S-Line.
"South Salt Lake is not already ripening, it's just so ripe for so (many) great new urban development," he said. "Downtown South Salt Lake is just seeing a renaissance with growth and development and a lifeblood of younger people moving in. ... So we feel like this is a great time to continue that exciting energy from these districts popping up."
