A devastating fire swept through much of Main Street’s restaurant row during dinner service last night, destroying four businesses: Los Tapatios Taco Grill, Whiskey Street, London Belle Supper Club and White Horse Spirits and Kitchen. The fire was first reported in the kitchen of London Belle, where it spread between the ceiling and roof, soon engulfing the adjacent four single-story buildings. Three firefighters were injured battling the blaze; one with a broken ankle, one with smoke inhalation and a third struck by falling debris. All three have been treated and released.
The four restaurants appear to be a total loss, though firefighters were able to stop the blaze from spreading to the adjacent businesses. Eva restaurant and Utah Books and Magazine, Bodega and Felt, just down the street to the south, appeared untouched.
Mayor Mendenhall, at the site of the fire this morning, said that the city would offer support to these businesses while they sorted out insurance. When asked if she would want to see restaurants coming back to the block, the Mayor replied firmly, “We want these restaurants coming back.”
In Salt Lake City’s frontier days, this section of Main Street was dubbed “Whiskey Street” by both Mormon teetotalers and whiskey-loving gentiles. (Note: Early LDS Church members called nonbelievers by this culturally appropriated term.) This section of town, and the area around, was where a feller could go for a tipple if it suited him. In 2009, the Salt Lake City Council loosened an ordinance that limited bars to just two for each of SLC’s very long blocks. The Bourbon Group, which also owns Franklin Avenue, opened Whiskey Street in 2013 and White Horse in 2017. London Belle, owned by Frank Paulraj, opened in 2019.
“These restaurants hold dear collective memories for many of us,” Salt Lake magazine food writer Lydia Martinez said. “I celebrated my birthday at White Horse and ate my first fried oyster there. Whiskey Street introduced me to High West. I know I’m not the only one who has fond memories of this part of town.”
Whiskey Street (the bar) was named in a nod to the block’s past reputation. White Horse Tavern’s cheeky name comes from Mormon cultural history. The religion’s so-called White Horse Prophecy warns the United States Constitution will one day “hang like a thread” and will be saved “by the efforts of a white horse,” which some say is a reference to a Mormon leader. London Belle was named after the nickname for Salt Lake’s famous madam, Dora B. Topham, who was known as Belle London.
The business owners are already talking about rebuilding, Lydia says. “But now it’s also the time to think about the employees who have been displaced and if the adjacent businesses who will be impacted by secondary damage and will feel the pinch of a drop in foot traffic. We’ve seen the loss to the community that comes with a fire or other disaster (RIP Garage on Beck) and how hard it is to reopen and be profitable. Step up if you have jobs to offer. Support other Main Street businesses. And come back if (when!) these businesses reopen.”
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