Despite opposition, The Ridge in Draper will serve booze

When The Ridge at Lone Peak opens this summer, patrons will be able to enjoy wine, beer and cocktails with their wood-fired pizzas — even though a few area residents don't want booze in their hillside neighborhood.

On Tuesday, the state liquor commission unanimously approved a full-service restaurant license for The Ridge at 14886 S. Traverse Ridge Road.

The building had been vacant for more than five years and had fallen into disrepair, brothers Calvin and Todd Wadsworth told the board.

The Wadsworths, well-known contractors in the highway construction industry, are renovating the building and plan to open a family brasserie and market that will serve, among other items, Italian wood-fired pizzas.

"We're here to make this an addition to the community, a destination," Calvin Wadsworth told the commission.

He said in the past week, the restaurant's Facebook page collected more than 250 signatures from people who supported having a full-service liquor license, which allows diners to have alcohol as long as they also order food.

Two residents from the nearby Suncrest neighborhood attended the meeting to express opposition to having liquor sold in the area.

"I don't want to make it easier for people to become inebriated and drive," Adam Nichols said. He said the steep, winding road to Suncrest already is treacherous, and "I don't want it to be the dead man's curve of Draper."

Teresa Shields said she and others moved to the area because it was secluded. "I have five children and I don't want to expose them to this," she said.

kathys@sltrib.com