Payson restaurant owners eager for people to return to revamped Main Street
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- Eric and Mar González pose for a photo inside of their restaurant, Snapper Mexican Seafood, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Payson.
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- Dandy’s Pizza co-owner Alex Ruiz stands in front of his new restaurant Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Payson.
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- The exterior of Dandy’s Pizza is pictured Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Payson.
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- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, as city leaders and officials hosted a block party celebration for the reopening of Payson’s historic Main Street.
Eric and Mar González have always enjoyed the Mexican restaurants in Utah that serve the typical dishes of burritos, enchiladas and tacos.
But the couple, former owners of a restaurant in Provo, noticed there were few places that served the coastal Mexican dishes they grew up eating.
So, in 2022, they decided to share that food they love best by opening a new restaurant: Snapper Mexican Seafood in Payson.
Standing on the corner of Main Street and Utah Avenue, the restaurant features a wide-ranging menu with dishes such as mojarra frita, fish tacos and taquiza.
“It’s not just Mexican food to us; it’s a taste of home, Grandma’s and Mom’s food,” Eric González said in an email. “We knew it was something unique that others here might love too, so we decided to share.”
The restaurant, however, faced what the González’s called a challenging time this year. Main Street construction, which started in January and ended last month, closed the road in front of their restaurant, slowing down business and forcing them to attract new customers through social media.
But the González’s pushed through and used the completion of construction as an opportunity to start anew by holding a reopening banquet.
“The newly renovated street has given our restaurant and the community a fresh, vibrant energy,” Eric González said. “It’s exciting to see how the improvements have made Main Street a go-to destination, and we’re proud to have been here through it all, growing alongside our neighborhood.”
Payson will hold Small Business Day on Saturday to show off its revamped Main Street and support the businesses that felt the weight of the road’s closure.
“We’re trying to build that hometown feel,” said Payson Santaquin Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Rowland. “Now that (construction) is done, we’re looking to invite the public to come down on a regular basis for city-wide events or street-wide events.”
One new restaurant residents may see if they go is Dandy’s Pizza.
Located kitty-corner to Snapper on the east side of Main Street, Dandy’s opened during the middle of construction four months ago and had its grand opening in September.
Alex Ruiz, a co-owner of the establishment, is a Toronto native who moved to Utah nine years ago. He has experience in the restaurant industry, but this is his first time owning his own place.
“So far so good,” Ruiz said. “It’s been a little slow since Main Street was closed, but after that we got a little bit more business, so I’m hoping for winter to be better.”
Dandy’s sells different types of sourdough pizzas and is considering expanding its menu to include other Italian dishes like pasta.
“The reviews on their sourdough pizza have just been out of this world,” Rowland said. “It’s become my favorite pizza. The pulled pork barbecue has just incredible flavor.”
Sitting inside a historic building, the interior of the restaurant has an antique feel, with exposed brick and low lighting.
“I really like the vibe that it came with,” Ruiz said. “We tried to play with what we already had.”
Located in the same building as Dandy’s is the Center of the Universe Cafe, a coffee shop that recently opened.
“They’ve got a little boutique in the back and kind of like a little Starbucks hangout,” Rowland said. “Their goal is to get our home-based businesses to come out and get their coffee, drinks and ice cream and sit in a nice little casual dining area.”
Other new businesses on Main Street include 801 Barbershop and Main Street Golf, which has an indoor golf simulator, Rowland said. Both shops are located in the same building on 100 South.
“Small Business Day” will feature a number of activities, including 25 booths with different crafts and services. Stores will be open and some restaurants will have specials.
“I hope Payson comes back to Main Street like they used to,” Ruiz said. “It died during the construction, but hopefully they’ll start coming back.”
