Have you ever entered a store and honestly exclaimed, “WHERE have you been all my life!?” Anyone who has traveled to the southeastern corner of Salt Lake County and discovered the wonderment that is Pirate O’s understands what I mean. Not only is Pirate O’s the most unique store in Utah, but I think it’s also the best store in Utah…and fortunately not too far away from my house!
Tucked away in a narrow, mostly residential street is an unassuming dirt parking lot, full of large rocks and potholes sits a nondescript green building. When you pull into your fictitious parking spot, you look around, roll your eyes a bit, and wonder if you’re actually in the right location. Surely this is the home of an eccentric thousand-aire (because there’s no way a millionaire would live this close to the train tracks). You wonder…am I about to be punk’d?
“This must be a simply enormous wardrobe!” thought Lucy, going still further in and pushing the soft folds of the coats aside to make room for her. Then she noticed that there was something crunching under her feet. “I wonder is that more moth balls?” she thought, stooping down to feel it with her hands. But instead of feeling the hard, smooth wood of the floor of the wardrobe, she felt something soft and powdery and extremely cold. “This is very queer,” she said, and went on a step or two further.
The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
Not unlike Lucy entering Narnia for the first time, stepping across the threshold into Pirate O’s transports visitors into another world entirely.
Pirate O’s is divided into sections, for lack of a better description. Instead of a single-roomed building, picture a smaller, easier-to-navigate Ikea.
Each section of Pirate O’s has a theme: candy, sauces, spices, pasta, and everything in between. Want to throw a party and have farm animal-shaped chocolate? Or add mealworms to your charcuterie platter? Pirate O’s has you covered.
Need a crazy soda flavor to spice up a game night? Or some imported sausages and local cheese? Pirate O’s has an amazing cold storage room, just lined with cheddars, fizzy drinks and all the sausages and brats you can imagine. Just make sure to bring in a blanket or sweater…it gets really cold in there!
One of my favorite things to do in Pirate O’s is just wander around, aimlessly looking at all the knick-knacks and “discovering” some of the most unique curiosities. I always say that when you enter Pirate O’s, you wind up finding so many different items you were unaware you needed. Of course I need to cook with black salt. Why yes, I do believe I need canned escargot for the card game. How did you know I was looking for a pair of handerpants!
I debated for a while whether or not I should have written this post. Some things are better left “unknown” to visitors…leaving some local havens that are a “secret.” Whelp, the secret’s out! Just do us all a favor and don’t park like a jerk when you come to visit!
Related: 5 Essential Things to Do for First Time Visitors to Salt Lake City
Address: 11901 South 700 East, Draper, UT 84020
Need a teapot in the shape of an elephant? Of course you do! And yes – that cowbell does in fact jingle when you pick it up!
Have you ever been to Pirate O’s? Is there something you think you might want to try?
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