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| |  | Cafe Rio’s VP of Operations Chris Reading demonstrating their new Utah handheld burrito. (Ivana Martinez/City Cast Salt Lake) |
| If you're a native Utahn, you probably remember the golden days of Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, when the sweet pork salad had us all in a chokehold. But over the years, fans (myself included) have noticed it just doesn't hit the same. Now, Cafe Rio is trying to appease their longtime customers. | - What happened? The small, fast-casual restaurant that started in St. George in 1997 found great success and began expanding across Utah. A private equity firm acquired majority interest in the company in 2017, and Cafe Rio has since grown to nearly 150 restaurants across 11 states. [Salt Lake Tribune]
- Online critics have argued rapid expansion and private equity involvement hurt the food quality. The company acknowledged the COVID-19 pandemic led it to tweak recipes to accommodate more takeout orders.
- Now, it's bringing back classic recipes. New CEO Mike Burns says he's heard the complaints and is taking the company back to its roots. Expect the habanero sauce, medium sauce, and cilantro-lime vinaigrette to return to the menu. Most importantly, Cafe Rio is going back to its original sweet pork barbacoa recipe.
- The most Utah thing they've ever made: Cafe Rio's newest item is the Utah Handheld Burrito — seasoned ground beef, pickled pico de gallo, chili-lime fries, a secret burger sauce, cheese and lettuce, topped with the chain's own take on fry sauce.
- Will you try it? Our own newsletter editor, Terina Ria, and I got a taste of the Utah Handheld Burrito. Hear her review on today's podcast. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
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| What Salt Lake's Talking About |
| Discover Utah’s Iconic Motel Rooms | Some out-of-staters are discovering the magic behind some of Utah's kookiest motel rooms. It feels as though I’m seeing more and more themed rooms in Utah on my “For You” page, like this Tahiti suite in Utah County. Would you stay there? [TikTok] | | Cox Declares State of Emergency | Amid damage from wildfires and the flooding that followed, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency for Beaver, Piute, and Sevier counties. That will allow the state to continue sending resources to those areas. [Office of the Utah Governor] | | SLC Rental Market Improves | Salt Lake renters can expect a friendlier rental market this summer as new construction adds more units to the city. In July, the median apartment rent in Salt Lake City is $1,257, a 2.6% decrease from the same time last year. [KUER] | | New Sugar House Liquor Store Planned | State liquor stores will be closed today for Pioneer Day, but did you hear that Sugar House is getting a new storefront? It's set to be located at 815 E. 2100 S., though a construction date hasn't been set yet. [Salt Lake Tribune] |
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| | | Finance your vehicle with Canyon View Credit Union, your first payment isn’t due for 90 days. That means more time to enjoy the drive, plan your next adventure, and savor that fresh new car smell without adding a payment to your monthly mix right away. | | This limited-time offer won’t last long. Visit canyonviewcu.com to get started. | | Federally insured by NCUA. Terms and conditions apply. | |
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Did you hear about Junbi's new matcha soft serve? They’re launching this Saturday, and it feels like the perfect treat for this summer heat. | | Quick note: Yesterday's "Keep It Local" newsletter misidentified the current owner of Workshop SLC. Ron Nelson is the president and operator. Check out their website for upcoming classes! |
| — Ivana Martinez | Ali Vallarta and Emily Means edited this week. |
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