The Gateway
An open-air retail, residential, office, dining, and entertainment complex in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Gateway is a large mixed-use complex on the western side of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Its site extends between 50 North and 200 South streets and between 400 and 500 West streets, with the historic Union Pacific Depot serving as a major landmark and focal point. The complex combines open-air retail streets, restaurants, nightlife, residential space, offices, cultural attractions, entertainment venues, and event areas rather than operating solely as a conventional enclosed shopping mall. The development is associated with Rio Grande Street, an internal route that has hosted public events and other special activities. The area has also included attractions and venues such as The Depot, Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, Megaplex Theatres, and Wiseguys Comedy. At its largest reported scale, the center featured as many as 89 outlets. In more recent years, its retail mix and physical layout have evolved toward dining, entertainment, local businesses, and social gathering uses. The complex experienced commercial pressure during the 2010s. By 2014, occupancy had declined, while some prominent tenants, including Apple, relocated to City Creek Center, a newer downtown development that opened in 2012. Retail Properties of America valued The Gateway at $75 million in 2014 and anticipated additional deterioration. Earlier efforts to stabilize and sell the property were unsuccessful, and surrounding development and public-realm improvements were considered as part of wider revitalization efforts. In February 2016, commercial real estate company Vestar acquired The Gateway. Vestar initially described a planned renovation of approximately $30 million, but the eventual investment reached about $100 million according to the cited reference material. The redevelopment included upgrades to outdoor areas, changes to the tenant and entertainment mix, and enhanced security. The reference material reports a 79 percent reduction in crime after the management and improvement program, alongside improvements affecting the nearby downtown shelter on Rio Grande Street. The Gateway continues to function as a downtown destination with retail, food and beverage, entertainment, cultural, office, and event uses. The W.O.S.B. Collective, a women-owned small-business boutique and gallery, was founded at the complex in 2021 and offers apparel, swimwear accessories, gifts, local art, and products from women-owned businesses around the world. In 2023, the Megaplex Theatres venue at The Gateway hosted Sundance Film Festival programming, reinforcing the complex's role as an entertainment and cultural venue as well as a shopping destination.
History
The Gateway is a mixed-use downtown development built around the western edge of Salt Lake City's central business district and the historic Union Pacific Depot. Its location places it between 50 North and 200 South streets and between 400 and 500 West streets. Rio Grande Street runs through the complex and has been used for public events and other special programming. The development was conceived as more than a conventional retail center, bringing together open-air shopping, offices, residences, dining, entertainment, and cultural attractions. At its most extensive reported phase, The Gateway contained as many as 89 outlets. Its broader destination offer included the Union Pacific Depot, The Depot entertainment venue, Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, Megaplex Theatres, and Wiseguys Comedy. A seven-story office tower of approximately 230,000 square feet was completed in the complex's northeast corner in 2007 for exclusive occupancy by Fidelity Investments. The building was designed to accommodate more than 1,200 employees and added a significant office component to the development. The property faced increasing competitive and occupancy pressure during the 2010s. By 2014, occupancy had fallen, and major tenants such as Apple had moved approximately half a mile east to City Creek Center, which opened in 2012. Retail Properties of America valued The Gateway at $75 million in 2014 and projected that the property could decline further. Attempts to stabilize and sell the center had not succeeded at that stage. Proposed responses included improvements to outdoor areas and coordination with nearby development projects. Vestar purchased The Gateway in February 2016. The commercial real estate company initially proposed a renovation budget of about $30 million, but its eventual investment was reported to have reached approximately $100 million. The strategy involved upgrading public spaces, improving security, and reshaping the center's commercial and entertainment offer. The redevelopment sought to make the property more attractive as a social and leisure destination, with dining, nightlife, events, and experiential uses complementing traditional retail. The cited reference reports that crime fell by 79 percent under the new management and that conditions around the nearby downtown shelter on Rio Grande Street also improved. The Gateway's later identity has therefore centered on adaptive repositioning rather than only tenant-count growth. The complex continues to combine retail with restaurants, entertainment, offices, residential uses, cultural institutions, and event programming. In 2021, the W.O.S.B. Collective was founded at the center as a boutique and gallery dedicated to women-owned small businesses, local art, gifts, apparel, and accessories. In 2023, Megaplex Theatres at The Gateway hosted Sundance Film Festival programming. These uses illustrate the property's continuing effort to operate as a downtown gathering place as well as a shopping center.
- 2023
Megaplex hosts Sundance Film Festival programming
[1]The Megaplex Theatres venue at The Gateway served as a Sundance Film Festival location.
- 2021
W.O.S.B. Collective founded
[1]The Women-Owned Small Business Collective opened at The Gateway as a boutique and gallery.
- 2016
Vestar acquires The Gateway
[1]Vestar purchased the complex and began a large-scale repositioning and improvement program.
- 2014
Occupancy and valuation pressures become evident
[1]The center experienced declining occupancy, while Retail Properties of America valued it at $75 million and projected further decline.
- 2012
City Creek Center opens nearby
[1]The opening of City Creek Center introduced a newer downtown retail competitor, and some major Gateway tenants subsequently relocated there.
- 2007
Fidelity Investments office tower completed
[1]A seven-story, approximately 230,000-square-foot office tower was completed at the northeast corner of the complex for exclusive use by Fidelity Investments.
Products and positioning
A downtown mixed-use destination combining open-air shopping with restaurants, nightlife, entertainment, cultural attractions, offices, residential uses, and public events.
Shopping center retail
Open-air retail district
The Gateway's retail streets provide an open-air setting for shops selling apparel, accessories, gifts, lifestyle goods, and other consumer products. The tenant mix has changed over time as the center moved from a larger traditional retail emphasis toward a combination of shopping, dining, entertainment, and local-business experiences.
Food and beverage
Dining and nightlife
Restaurants, food outlets, and nightlife venues form an important part of the complex's current destination strategy. These uses support The Gateway's role as a social gathering place and help extend activity beyond conventional shopping hours.
Boutique and gallery · 2021
W.O.S.B. Collective
Founded at The Gateway in 2021, W.O.S.B. Collective is a boutique and gallery focused on women-owned small businesses. Its reported assortment includes clothing, swimwear accessories, gifts, local art, and products sourced from women-owned businesses internationally.
Cinema and entertainment
Megaplex Theatres
Megaplex Theatres provides cinema entertainment within The Gateway and has also supported larger cultural programming. Its venue hosted Sundance Film Festival programming in 2023.
Entertainment and public programming
Event and cultural venues
The complex includes or has included venues and attractions such as The Depot, Clark Planetarium, Discovery Gateway, and Wiseguys Comedy. Rio Grande Street and surrounding outdoor areas have also been used for special events and public activities.
Brand decisions
2016
Vestar acquisition and repositioningM&ABackground
The Gateway faced falling occupancy, competition from City Creek Center, tenant departures, and unsuccessful earlier stabilization and sale efforts.
Action taken
Vestar acquired the property, initially announced approximately $30 million in renovations, and ultimately invested about $100 million in upgrades, security, public areas, and repositioning.
Aftermath
The redevelopment emphasized dining, nightlife, entertainment, events, and social uses alongside retail. The cited reference reports a 79 percent reduction in crime after the improvements.
Reported investment in redevelopment. $30 million initially planned → $100 million ultimately invested (2016 onward)
Recent events
- 2023
Megaplex Theatres at The Gateway hosts Sundance Film Festival programming[1]
Campaign · Other
The cinema venue at The Gateway served as a location for the Sundance Film Festival, adding a major cultural event to the complex's entertainment program.
- 2021
W.O.S.B. Collective is established at The Gateway[1]
Other
The Women-Owned Small Business Collective opened as a boutique and gallery featuring apparel, accessories, gifts, local art, and products from women-owned businesses.
- 2016
The Gateway is sold to Vestar[1]
M&A
Vestar acquired The Gateway in February 2016 and announced a major program to renovate and reposition the downtown mixed-use complex.
- 2016
Vestar expands planned investment in The Gateway revitalization[1]
Other
The new owner initially anticipated spending about $30 million on renovations; the eventual investment was reported at approximately $100 million.
Sources2 sources
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