Coalville’s downtown is livening up — at least, if Van Kelly has any say.
On Friday, between rodeo events held in Oakley, Mix’ Place, the newest restaurant and drink shop located on Coalville’s Main Street, hosted a ribbon cutting as part of their grand opening weekend.
The city seemed to roll out the red carpet, almost literally — the portion of Main Street in front of Main Street was freshly paved and painted just that week. Coalville Mayor Mark R. Marsh attended, and all food and drinks were 50% off for the weekend. The menu features sodas, coffee, ice cream, cookies, personal pizzas, breakfast sandwiches and more.
Founded by Kelly and his business partner Jared Higgins, the two men’s recent restaurant venture is a detour from their other businesses — Landmarks West, a high-end custom home builder, and Uinta Adventure, a gear rental place in Wasatch County.
They’re entrepreneurs through-and-through, but opening a restaurant was more of a personal project for them as Coalville residents.
“It was a niche or a need for the community,” Kelly said. “Coalville really doesn’t have any restaurant that stays open late. … We’re the only soda shop, only coffee shop. There’s another pizza joint, but you’re going to have to call it in, or wait half hour, 45 minutes. I can get you a pizza in two and a half minutes.”
It was also a way to show off their design and build skills, he said. The space is decorated with an “East Coast bistro vibe” and “European flair,” one-of-its-kind in the rural, Summit County town, Kelly said. The large room is accented with glossy tiled walls, arched hallways, chandeliers, wall sconces, blocked wainscoting and tufted leather booths. It’s high-end without the high prices.
The idea started when Kelly drove past the building for sale on Coalville’s Main Street. And it was a mess, he said.
“(Built) in 1895, it was an old blacksmith shop and a wheel shop, and they would forge horseshoes and all sorts of stuff in it, so that actually gave it an almost blackened look on the old rafters, just because of the silt and soot,” he said.
But, they didn’t know that until gutting the space and removing the low ceilings installed over the years.
While they wanted to modernize the building, they still tried to acknowledge its history, Kelly said. For example, after cleaning the soot off the ceiling, they painted it black.
The name is also a nod to the building’s history, referencing its days as a butcher shop with a meat locker.
“They would harvest ice off of Echo Reservoir and bring it in,” Kelly said. “One of the guys who used to cut the meat, … his name was Mick. And so people would say, ‘Hey, let’s go down to Mick’s and pick up our meat.’”
So, Mix’ Place references both the building’s nickname but also its concept: “mix drinks, mix sodas, mix coffees, a mix of people,” Kelly said.
The community has already embraced the store since its opening, he said. For the ribbon cutting, a line stretched out the door, and almost every table was filled. Staff passed out miniature ice cream cones to people waiting in line, mostly groups of teenagers.
And that was a major goal for Kelly — to provide a safe and fun place for Coalville kids to hang out, kids like his own.
Mix’ Place is open for sit-down and drive through on Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. They are closed on Sundays. The website is coming soon, but follow them on Facebook at Mix’ Place and on Instagram @mix_place_coalville.
“I didn’t think I was going to be this passionate about sodas and coffee, but here I am,” Kelly said with a laugh.
