Vintage Drift SLC Voted Among City Weekly Best Antique Stores in Utah

Wow—I’m so excited to share that my shop - Vintage Drift SLC placed 3rd in City Weekly’s Best of Utah Awards for Best Antique Store! This recognition is such a huge honor, and I can’t thank you enough for nominating and voting for us.

When I first heard we’d been nominated, I was already over the moon. But finding out we actually placed among so many incredible businesses—especially my mentor, Raylene at Capital City Antiques, who took 1st place—feels absolutely surreal. Raylene has been such a source of guidance and inspiration for me, and being on the same list as her is a full-circle moment.

Capital City Antique Mall is such a stellar vintage store in downtown SLC!

From Etsy Beginnings to Best of Utah

If you told me back in 2019, when I started selling Vintage Pyrex and Corningware on Etsy, that Vintage Drift would one day grow into a brick-and-mortar store that’s part of a thriving Downtown Salt Lake City community, I don’t think I would have believed it.

I started small, sourcing and curating vintage treasures in my spare time, before joining the Urban Flea Market in March of 2020 for my first Pop Up Market. That first event showed me how much people in Salt Lake City love vintage and secondhand shopping, and I knew I wanted to be part of that world in a bigger way.

3 days later, the COVID19 Pandemic shut down life as we knew it.

When the pandemic hit, I took to Instagram and really grew my online shop from there. I saw it ultimately as an opportunity to adapt and grow. In December 2020, I opened my first brick-and-mortar pop-up shop for the holidays in partnership with Maven Create. It was a big leap, but it taught me so much about running a physical store and connecting with customers in person. That experience gave me a taste of what it could be like to have a physical space, and I knew it was the direction I wanted to take.

Setting up a pop up space with Maven Create in 2020.

In 2021, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in Craft Lake City being profiled as a Vintage Seller by SLUG Magazine - I also partnered with Sugar Space Arts Warehouse organizing pop up market opportunities of dozens of other local artist, Sundance Film Festival For The Locals film screenings and more. Later that year, I opened my first permanent brick-and-mortar location thanks to a sublease Hello! Bulk Markets.

Fast forward to April 2023, when I relocated Vintage Drift to the vibrant 900 South + Harvey Milk Blvd Corridor in downtown Salt Lake City. The new space has allowed me to grow Vintage Drift into more than just a vintage store—it’s become a hub for creativity, connection, and community.

We were able to accomplish this commitment to community through stocking free reproductive wellness kits, hosting artists at our pop-up events, sponsoring Local Pride events and other in-shop offerings like our free snack table and expanding private shopping hours for gender nonconforming and immunocompromised customers, every decision I make with the shop is about supporting the people who support us.

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth

This past year has been a whirlwind of growth and expansion for Vintage Drift. Beyond curating vintage treasures, I’ve really been able to focus on creating events and spaces that bring people together. From our annual Out & Proud Pop-Up Market in June to our sapphic club events like Femininomenon and, Vampyros, the events have scaled in both size and scope, and I couldn’t be prouder of the connections they’ve fostered.

In 2024, more than any other year, Vintage Drift has become more than a shop—it’s a community where people feel seen, celebrated, and safe. These events have become a cornerstone of what we do, proving that Vintage Drift isn’t just a store—it’s a space where people connect, celebrate, and build something meaningful together.

This recognition is a reminder of how much we’ve grown over the past four years, and it’s all thanks to you—our customers, neighbors, and supporters. Every time you visit the shop, attend an event, or tell a friend about Vintage Drift, you’re helping us build something bigger than just a business.

I was nominated for Best Antique Store by a stranger, and I can’t tell you how humbling that feels. The idea that someone who shopped with us or heard about our work felt moved enough to submit my name is truly incredible.

Placing 3rd in the Best of Utah feels like more than an award—it feels like a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far I’ve been able to come. From selling on Etsy in my spare time to being part of such a dynamic and supportive community, this journey has exceeded anything I could have dreamed of back in 2019. This win is about more than just selling vintage treasures—it’s about the community we’ve created together.

For me, Vintage Drift has always been about fostering connection, building artistic and intentionally queer-safe spaces, and creating events that bring people in our community together.

To everyone who voted, shopped, attended events, or cheered us on this year: thank you. Your support makes it all possible.

Here’s to even more growth, connection, and vintage magic in 2025. 🖤