Introducing Bella’s Market: Vineyard’s first grocery store opens in Utah City development
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- Bella’s Market is pictured Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Bella’s Market is pictured Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Bella’s Market is pictured Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Bella’s Market is pictured Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Workers stock food in Bella’s Market on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Workers stock food in Bella’s Market on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Bella’s Market is pictured Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard.
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- Aggie Ice Cream and BYU Creamery Ice Cream are pictured next to each other at Bella’s Market on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Vineyard .
On Friday morning, the day before its grand opening, Bella’s Market was bustling.
Staff traversed the store stocking shelves and filling produce bins, while new hires learned the ropes in the bakery and deli sections and construction workers made final touches to the exterior grounds.
It was a stirring contrast to what the space looked like nine months ago, when it was just a plot of dirt upon the Utah City development. On Saturday, it will be the scene of a benchmark day for Vineyard when it becomes the first grocery store to open within city limits.
“When we were going through the process of planning this grocery store and getting ready for it, most industry experts would say that Vineyard’s not big enough or ready for a grocery store yet,” said Abel Porter, the director of strategic initiatives for Utah City and an operating partner for Bella’s Market. “And when it came down to it for us, we’re very tuned into the community and we believed we were ready for a grocery store.”
Bella’s Market is supported and managed by Logan-based Lee’s Marketplace through a partnership with Utah City and is the first commercial entity to open in Utah City, a 700-acre master-planned development built by Woodbury Corp and Flagship Cos. on the site of the former Geneva Steel Mill.
While it will serve as the marketplace for future residents of the walkable community, the grocery store’s immediate purpose is to cater to a city of over 16,000 people and growing.
“We truly just care about building the things that the community needs, and a grocery store is going to be the biggest anchor you could have in a community,” Porter said.
“The people that have moved here have wanted a grocery store,” Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer told the Daily Herald in February.
Built by R&O Construction and designed by interior architect firm RDC Collaborative and exterior architect firm FFKR, the building is fitted with wood and red brick and is designed to look different than a typical grocery store, according to Porter.
“We really focused with our architects out of California on the details of all of the different pieces, on the trim pieces and on the fonts and the lettering, and every wall covering and every piece of tile was carefully curated to have a specific look and feel of comfort and homeyness” he said.
The store will have all of the grocery store basics — a bakery, deli, butcher, pharmacy, produce section and aisles of products — and most of the items will be similar to a Lee’s Marketplace.
“We wanted it to stay locally owned and operated. There’s a reason that they’re our operating partner on this, because they do such a great job,” Porter said.
However, Bella’s Market will have some unique amenities, including a section that sells products from local brands and partners, such as Kodiak, BUILT Protein Bars and Perk Energy. Aggie Ice Cream and BYU Creamery Ice Cream will also be sold, and there will be an independently-owned florist within the store.
Over 100 employees were hired to operate Bella’s Market, bringing jobs back to Vineyard and the Utah County community, Porter said.
He highlighted one woman, Jennifer, a Vineyard resident hired to be the store’s customer service representative.
Instead of commuting to her old job in South Jordan, Porter said Jennifer can drive five minutes down the road and work in her own neighborhood.
“She said, ‘When (jobs) started popping up, and I looked into it, I just knew that I wanted to work in my community. I wanted to be closer to my house, and I’m so excited to be able to see my neighbors come in and shop and help them and talk to them,'” Porter said.
The store’s grand opening is Saturday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Local vendors will be sampling products at the store from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
