![Salt Lake County's government is set to abandon its State Street location and relocate to a new campus in Midvale - BILL FROST](https://media2.fdncms.com/saltlake/imager/u/original/22628438/small_lake_city_jan_25.webp)
- Bill Frost
- Salt Lake County's government is set to abandon its State Street location and relocate to a new campus in Midvale
In December, it was announced that Salt Lake County will move its government headquarters in 2026 from 2100 South and State Street to the former Overstock/Beyond Inc. building in Midvale.
An internal review determined that it would be cheaper to buy a newer office space in "the heart of the valley" than to renovate the currently 40-year-old county offices.
It can be argued that Midvale is an entirely different body part than "the heart," but there's something more important at play here: State Street is going to end up with yet another empty building.
State Street has more abandoned structures than the entire first season of The Last of Us, and we can't even blame it on a global fungal pandemic (in case you've forgotten what that HBO series is about since it's been, like, 15 years between seasons). Some have been torn down, most are still standing, and I'm certain one is being used to host secret raves.
I'm not saying it's Coachman's, but I'm not not saying it.
It's clear that State Street has a vacant building problem, and I'm here to solve it—at least for my neighborhood in South Salt Lake (a.k.a. "the underboob of the valley").
![small_lake_city.png](https://media1.fdncms.com/saltlake/imager/u/original/22628028/small_lake_city.png)
Over the past several years, the intersection of 2100 South and State Street has transformed from a decent place to get stabbed and/or solicit a sex worker (you could even do both on any random Tuesday) to a fast-food mecca of Draperian proportions. Since I'd rather be knifed by a prostitute than ever set foot in Draper, this bounty of quick eats is a convenience windfall for me as a SoSaLa resident and indiscriminate gourmand.
To the southeast, there's Starbucks, Domino's, and Cafe Rio. To the southwest lie 7-Eleven, Raising Cane's, Chipotle and a brand new In-N-Out Burger. To the northwest, you have Subway, Jack in the Box and Del Taco. (South Salt Lake officials might huff that the northern corners don't count because it's technically in Salt Lake City, but I have a point to make, so I'm just going to steamroll forward.)
And on the northeast corner of 2100 South and State Street? That's the big ol' soon-to-be-empty Salt Lake County building. Opportunity awaits, franchisers!
Hear me out: We have the chance to create a fast-food Voltron in South Salt Lake if we but only believe. Imagine, if you will, a glorious munchies multiplex made up of White Castle, Long John Silver's, Wahlburgers, Voodoo Doughnut, Shakey's Pizza Parlor and whatever other Utah-absent chains we can trick ... er, incentivize ... to come here.
Yes, it can feature a dirty soda shop, too, if that'll get the deal done.
Let's make South Salt Lake fat again! MSSLFA!