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When it came time to open a second Pig & A Jelly Jar restaurant, Amy Britt waffled between putting her casual diner in Ogden or Provo.
A kayaking trip — with a GPS fail — helped her decide.
"I was looking for Causey Dam and got lost. I ended up on [Ogden's] 25th Street," Britt recalled, stopping in front of a 100-year-old building with a "for rent" sign. "I made a phone call and two days later signed the lease."
She opened the Ogden outpost — a sibling to her popular Pig & A Jelly Jar near Salt Lake City's Liberty Park — in May 2015.
Historic 25th Street, Britt said, reminded her of iconic places like Bourbon Street in New Orleans or Beale Street in Tennessee, "and I wanted to be part of that."
The area — which more than a century ago was known for its bars and brothels — has moved in a foodcentric direction in recent years.
"It's changed even in the two years since we've been there," Britt said, ticking off a list of restaurants that have recently moved into the restored brick buildings that line the street: Even Stevens Sandwiches, Waffle Love, Smokey's Barbecue, Zucca Trattoria and Sabores de Mexico.
That's delicious news for anyone looking for something to eat before Ogden's Twilight Concert Series. Now in its third season, the series kicks off June 1 and continues for five consecutive Thursdays at the Ogden Amphitheater. (See accompanying story.)
Several Ogden-owned restaurants will be serving food at the venue, said Christy McBride, the arts, culture and event division manger for Ogden.
Lucky Slice Pizza will have a food truck there, and Warren's Craft Burgers and Thai Curry Kitchen will be serving from a tent and concession areas, she said.
There also will be snacks — think deep-fried fare and ice cream — as well as a beer garden.
Food service begins at 5 p.m., when the gates open. Concerts begin at 6 p.m., McBride said. Guests are not allowed to bring in their own food for Twilight concerts.
"We're expecting people to be knocking down the door at 5 p.m. to get a good seat," she said. "Then they'll be looking for a plate of food."
In addition to new restaurants, Historic 25th Street has "a great mix of staple restaurants as well," added Brett Turner, creative director for the Ogden Downtown Alliance. Roosters Brewing Company has been a mainstay for many years, as have Rovali's Italian Restaurant, Tona Sushi Bar and Grill and Hearth on 25th.
"The street pretty much has it all," he said.
The food offerings are extending to nearby Washington Boulevard, said Turner, from O-Town Kitchen and Bigelow Grill to Harp and Hound, an upscale gastro pub with a speakeasy in the basement.
"In the past 18 months there's been this transformation," he said. "Once a forgotten area, there are really cool things happening."