Discover the Maven District

& its visionary creator

Could you provide an overview of your background for our readers? 

Maven District is home to Salt Lake City's largest community of women-owned small businesses. Located on 900 South between 200 East and State Street, we boast over 100 local shops within our expanding block, along with additional satellite buildings on 800 S/200 E and 900 S/300 W. These remarkable boutiques range from vegan bakeries to romance bookshops, from fabulous hair stylists to healthy smoothie spots, and even feature tie-dyed cashmere sets - offering a diverse array of shopping, dining, and relaxation options.

In the heart of the Maven District, you'll find Maven STRONG, our boutique Pilates studio, and Maven CREATE, our coworking and event space. Our eclectic block caters to all tastes and interests, making it the perfect destination for connecting, shopping, dining, and unwinding. Plus, for those who fall in love with the area, we offer apartments and townhomes for rent, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in our vibrant community. Here, you'll experience the essence of locals supporting locals.

What sparked the establishment of the Maven District? 

Salt Lake City is teeming with entrepreneurs, yet due to the city's layout, they are often scattered and tucked away in its nooks and crannies. Our aim was to provide these business owners and residents with an opportunity to redefine Small Lake City by facilitating connections and collaboration among them. Additionally, we harbored a selfish thought: centralizing all needs in one space would not only greatly benefit us but also anyone else seeking to support local businesses without the inconvenience of traveling miles across town.

As beloved spots like Sugarhouse and 9th & 9th gradually succumb to the rise of large corporate stores, it became increasingly crucial for us to establish a place that nurtures local businesses.

What overarching objectives guide the Maven District’s evolution?

Maven District is a curated block of locally owned businesses that embrace diverse communities, self-growth, and the pursuit of big dreams. While we didn't initially set out for our spaces to exclusively cater to women small business owners, it organically evolved in that direction because women sought community and enjoyed connecting and sharing resources. It was truly rewarding to witness this natural progression; Maven District started as a catalyst, but we now fully embrace this ethos. We welcome anyone who is a woman entrepreneur and/or a small business owner interested in supporting and collaborating with women-owned businesses.

What forthcoming initiatives are in store for the Maven District?

In the last few years following COVID, where our primary focus was ensuring the survival of all our tenants, we worked tirelessly to acquire additional buildings, expanding our capacity to offer more spaces to small business owners. Now that we have achieved this and the real estate market has become more challenging to navigate, we are refocusing on developing new, creative ways to engage SLC residents, both locally and beyond, with our small businesses.

We are actively utilizing Maven STRONG and Maven CREATE as platforms for these initiatives. For instance, we host "Keep Growing Tuesdays," a monthly storytelling event, and offer free coworking for the public every Wednesday. Our annual Block Party, a highly anticipated event, draws significant attendance as it spans across 900 South during the fall season.

This year, we are also exploring the launch of a Maven District benefit card, which would provide VIP discounts at Maven District businesses. Additionally, we seek to establish more partnership collaborations with companies promoting tourism, such as Visit SLC and SkiUtah, especially since we recently launched our new short-term rentals at Maven LOFTS.

Furthermore, we are dedicating considerable effort to expanding our team now that we are fully staffed and capable of further extending our reach and impact.

How can individuals engage with the Maven District, whether as tenants, business proprietors, or otherwise?

Visit us! Whether in person on 900 South between 200 East and State Street or online at mavendistrict.com, everyone is welcome, and we can't wait to meet you!

About Tessa Arneson

Tessa Arneson is the founder of Maven District, a neighborhood comprised of 75+ businesses located on 900 S and 200 E in downtown Salt Lake City. Maven District is known for its collection of 100% locally owned shops, services, and startups, with 75% of them being women-owned. Tessa herself is an entrepreneur, a mother to a daughter, an angel investor, and a real estate developer dedicated to constructing community-driven spaces for founders.

As the daughter of a Utah pioneer, Tessa is cognizant of her white privilege and is committed to continual learning and growth. She proudly identifies as a wellness and self-growth enthusiast. Tessa finds inspiration for her designs from her travels around the world, which also broaden her perspectives. Connecting with people is a soul-nourishing experience for her, particularly following her recovery from a traumatic brain injury.

Tessa considers herself fortunate to have dedicated the majority of her career to her purpose: empowering women to lead brave and intentional lives.

About Rocky Donati

Rocky Donati possesses a quirky sense of humor, the wit of a sarcastic sailor, and a tendency to speak at supersonic speeds. Her relentless drive and talent for creative problem-solving led her to spearhead high-level business strategies in the outdoor industry for a decade. Now, she manages her own consulting firm, Donati Agency, and collaborates closely with Tessa Arneson in developing the Maven District.

More often than not, Rocky opts to play hooky with her partner in crime and their two Aussie pups. Whether they're wheeling or jet-setting from a remote Park City chalet nestled at 8,000 feet, Rocky and her husband are perpetually in pursuit of desolate wilderness and that elusive perfect pocket water for fly fishing. Embracing the hermit lifestyle this decade, she finds herself writing less-than-witty content for hire and renting out luxurious cabins, including a living treehouse (theforgottencabins.com).

Maven District, SLC Community

@mavenslc

Maven Create

@mavencreate