Locals Boutique opening in Park City: A new hub for artisans and crafters

Utah family-owned artisan collective is expanding to Outlets Park City later this summer. Photo: Outlets Park City // Locals

PARK CITY, Utah — Locals, a modern boutique featuring locally made home decor, seasonal items, and unique gifts, is set to open at Junction Commons in August.

Locals aims to be more than just a retail destination; it serves as a community hub supporting local artisans, crafters, and creators and offering them a platform to sell their handcrafted goods.

“We definitely plan on featuring local artists from Park City. While most of our current booth spaces are nearly sold out due to interest from vendors at our other stores, who mostly live in the valley, we have already had some inquiries from Park City area artists. We will prioritize these local vendors to ensure we have as many as possible represented in our new space,” owner Darren Dunford shared.

Although a new boutique to Park City, Locals’ origins trace back to the 1980s when Dunford’s mother, began selling crafts to supplement the family income, which evolved into her organizing her own boutiques, which eventually led to her opening a full-time business, “The Quilted Bear,” in 1992.

Dunford worked there part-time during his childhood and teenage years, and in 2008, he bought “The Quilted Bear” from his parents.

“Our business stands out by not only being locally owned but also supporting 50 to 60 smaller local businesses, providing them with a low-risk outlet to sell their products.”

This unique approach allows customers to purchase gifts that come from their community, supporting local entrepreneurs.