Pull to refresh
Logo
Salt Lake City pizzeria gains first liquor license under new park-waiver law

Salt Lake City pizzeria gains first liquor license under new park-waiver law

Rule Changes Salt Lake City, UT local

Via Veneto Pizzarium is the first business in nearly a decade to win an exception to Utah's proximity rule.

Today: DABS grants liquor license

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Via Veneto Pizzarium across the street from Salt Lake City's Liberty Park can now serve Italian beer, wine, and spritzes. The restaurant, at 511 E. 900 South, got the license after the Salt Lake City Council and the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS) approved a new waiver.

Utah law had long banned liquor licenses for establishments within 200 feet (straight line) or 300 feet (pedestrian path) of a park, library, or playground. A change in state law this year let cities grant exceptions for restaurants near parks, and Via Veneto was the first to use it.

A DABS spokesperson said this was the first such variance granted in almost a decade, signaling a shift in how the state handles liquor proximity rules.

Why it matters

This is the first test of a new legal path for restaurants near parks to serve alcohol, which could reshape where bars and dining options can open in Utah's growing cities.

Monday: what changed in Salt Lake City, UT

One short email a week with the openings, closings, permits and council votes we covered. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

1
Waivers granted since law took effect
Via Veneto Pizzarium is the first restaurant to win an exemption under the new state law.
~1 decade
Time since last such variance
Before this, no such variance had been granted since 2017, according to a DABS spokesperson.
156 ft
Restaurant's distance from Liberty Park property line
The restaurant is well within the old 200-foot straight-line proximity rule.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

March 2026 October 2026

6 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Via Veneto Pizzarium opens

    Opening

    The Roman-style pizzeria opened but could not apply for a liquor license because of its proximity to Liberty Park.

Scenarios

1

More Utah Restaurants Seek Waivers

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Salt Lake City Council members, KSL News

Silverside Deli in Sugar House has already filed a similar request. If the DABS approval holds, other restaurants near parks and libraries will likely follow, making the waiver a standard pathway.

2

State Legislature Amends or Repeals the Waiver Process

Unlikely Resolves by Mar 18, 2027

Discussed by: Rep. Jefferson Burton, Salt Lake City Council

If city councils or DABS are seen as abusing the new waiver power, state legislators could amend HB597 to restrict it. Council members have publicly worried about this possibility and emphasized following the new procedures to keep the power.

3

License Revoked After Complaints

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 6, 2027

Discussed by: Neighborhood residents

The restaurant's license could be challenged if the operation causes issues near the park, but there is no indication of organized opposition beyond the normal public comment period.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

Before 2017

Pre-2017 DABS variance system

Before 2017, the DABS liquor commission had the authority to grant variances for restaurants and bars too close to community locations like parks and schools.

Then

The authority was stripped, and no such variances were granted between 2017 and 2026.

Now

The prohibition created a blind spot for new development planned near large parks, which became a growing planning issue.

Why this matters now

This history explains why Via Veneto's case is the first in a decade and why the new law restores a broken path.

April 2026

Sugar House Park hotel rejection (2026)

A hotel near Sugar House Park was proposed, but the Salt Lake City Council ultimately nixed a rezone request for the project, partly due to proximity concerns.

Then

The project was blocked.

Now

It highlighted the need for a new mechanism to handle development near large public spaces.

Why this matters now

This nearby failure in the same city illustrates the planning pressure that led to the new waiver law.

1933-2020s

Prohibition-era liquor laws

Utah's strict liquor laws, including its state-run liquor stores, date back to the end of Prohibition in 1933. The proximity rule is one of several remnants that make Utah unique.

Then

Utah maintained a tightly controlled system for alcohol sales.

Now

Modern hospitality businesses have pushed back, leading to incremental modernization of the rules.

Why this matters now

This context frames the waiver as part of a slow, ongoing loosening of Utah's alcohol laws.

Sources

(4)