Many of you have probably visited or at least driven by Ogden's Historic 25th Street. Union Station sits at the west end of the street and the Ogden Municipal Gardens begin at the east end. In between, little shops line both sides of the street and cars are usually parked in every parking spot.
That is just the passerby's view. If you actually take time to look in the stores and just browse, you will find hidden treasures and bits of history. It's even rumored that the infamous gangster Al Capone walked this very street in the '20s and said that our dear Ogden was too hard of a town for him.
Ogden's 25th Street has been around since 1869 and was the hub of activity while Union Station was a main stop on the transcontinental railroad. It was popularly known as "Two-Bit Street" because of all the illegal things available for two bits that went on down the street and even underneath it, such as gambling, prostitution and bootlegging. Urban legend says there are even tunnels underneath the very street we adore that lead from Union Station to the Ben Lomond Hotel.
But don't let that old reputation taint the shining star that is 25th Street; it was cleaned up in 1954 by Mayor Lorin Farr as a part of a city-wide crime reduction effort. Now it has been almost 100 years since the days of prohibition, bootlegging and prostitution and 25th Street is a wonderful place to be.
Let me tell you about my favorite places to hang out on 25th Street.
Sock Monkey'n Around. This large antique store has a lot of cool items to browse through. The people are really friendly and will help you in any way they can. You can try on an assortment of vintage clothing and hats, look at fancy jewelry, and see all the cute little sock monkeys sitting around. I really enjoy spending my time there; the shop has more antiques than most stores on the street and has a comfortable atmosphere.
If you go: The shop is located at 236 E. Historic 25th St. and is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. To find out more, call 801-644-3886.
Note: There are other antique stores on 25th Street; one is Artists & Heirlooms, 115 Historic 25th Street. It has a nice selection but I'm not too fond of going down in a basement to look at hundreds of antiques. The atmosphere is kind of creepy, but upstairs try the café and the counter with jewelry.
Onyx Salon. Another place I frequently stop by is this salon where I get my hair done. It is an open salon with brick walls lining each side and colorful walls. I love it there; they do my hair just right every time. My style usually comes to about $65 to $75 dollars but I'm sure men and children's haircuts are a lower price.
If you go: Onyx Salon is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The salon is located at 278 Historic 25th St.; for an appointment, call 801-393-1988.
The Bistro 258. The next place I frequent is The Bistro 258 which serves lunch and dinner with prices ranging from $9 for lunch to $24.50 for dinner. The atmosphere is very cozy; in the front of the restaurant there is a mirror on one side and a brick wall on the other. There is also an open eating area in the back with windows for a ceiling. It is very nice to be able to look up at the sky while you are eating. The bistro also has an outdoor eating area where you can sit at when the weather permits. It's the perfect place to bring a date.
If you go: The Bistro 258 is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays at 258 Historic 25th St. For more information, call 801-394-1614.
Bright Blessings. Another of my favorite shops is this pagan store. Many people have misconceptions about pagans, wiccans and other non-Christian faiths. They do not worship the devil, sacrifice animals, or do any other weird things that pop into your head. Bright Blessings sells artwork, herbs and jewelry, and is a place of self exploration; you can sit down and read any of the books they have on the shelf or go up the stairs and buy some coffee. You can socialize with anyone in the store, they don't judge anyone.
If you go: The shop is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 107 Historic 25th St. To find out more, call 801-621-1116 or email brightblessingsogden@gmail.com.
Endless Indulgence. The last place on our short tour of 25th Street is this quaint little dress shop located on the top floor of Vintage Cupcake. Endless Indulgence sells vintage-looking dresses with brand names like Bernie Dexter and Bettie Page. The dress sizes range from extra small through extra large. They have many styles to choose from and it's always fun to go in and dress up like the ladies of yore.
If you go: Endless Indulgence is located at 105 Historic 25th St. and is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. You can call and make an appointment to visit on Sunday or Monday at 801-540-8390.
So that is it for our 25th Street tour. There are many other shops and restaurants to stop by and see such as Union Station, The Athenian, Indigo Sage Furniture Gallery and Lucky Slice Pizza. Remember that even though 25th Street has a wild past, it is growing rapidly and is a wonderful place to take a date, your family, or even a friend. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
Katie Baker is a senior at Two Rivers High School. Email her at californiagirl194@gmail.com.
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