Local first: how Junction Commons rewrote its own story

Photo: fulFILLed Lifestyle Co.

PARK CITY, Utah — When Junction Commons decided to reimagine itself as a neighborhood hub, it didn’t fill its storefronts with national chains. It called on local businesses instead.

One of those calls went to Kim Flores, who in June 2021 had just launched fulFILLed Lifestyle Co. out of a van, selling sustainable goods at the Park City Farmers Market. A Chicago sales rep had found her account, all 250 of its followers, and made a pitch she wasn’t expecting.

“Hey, do you want to do a pop-up?” the rep said. Flores, who lives in Pinebrook, figured she’d just pull the van over to Junction Commons parking lot. What she found instead was an empty former Talbots storefront and a property manager with an unusual offer: come build something here.

“I thought it was so ingenious of them to go towards local businesses,” Flores said, “and in particular ones that they felt brought something unique or something that was serving the public good.”

A different kind of mall

Junction Commons, formerly known as the Outlets Park City, has spent the past several years reinventing itself. Where national chains once lined every storefront, local and independent businesses have moved in, drawn by a leasing structure that keeps rent accessible and the space vibrant.

After the pandemic, Junction Commons began filling vacancies with local operators rather than waiting for big-box tenants to return. The result is a roster that feels less like a directory and more like a neighborhood block, with businesses including fulFILLed, Beau Collective, Blue Sky Nomads, Nuzzles and Co., Savannah’s Unique Boutique, among others.

Beyond storefronts, are local food trucks and restaurants like Hokulia, Mountain Berry Bowls, The Border, and Tosh’s Ramen (soon to come).

“[Junction Commons] has really made good on their promise, and have not only created a space that locals want to come to, but a space where local businesses can thrive,” Flores said.

More than shopping

What makes Junction Commons feel less outlet mall and more neighborhood is the range of reasons people show up. Park City Nail Lounge draws locals in for routine appointments. Paint Fusion and JC Country offer experiences you can take home and enjoy forever. fulFILLed hosts women’s circles and green drinks gatherings, drawing people who might not otherwise wander into a retail center.

“That programming introduces the space to people who are maybe not regular mall-goers,” Flores said.

The shift shows up in her own sales data. fulFILLed typically sees about 60% first-time visitors during slower seasons, but this past winter that ratio flipped.

“Even through this difficult winter season, we were almost at an inverse, so around 60% returning and 40% new,” Flores said. “We’d like to see that we’ve created a community in our space, much like what they’re trying to do with Junction Commons. This is a place for locals. We’re trying to say this is a community of like-minded individuals that believe in conscious consumerism and sustainability.”

Junction Commons has leaned into that same idea on a larger scale, hosting tree-lighting ceremonies and live music through Mountain Town Music. The events calendar, Flores said, is another way Junction Commons has helped shift perceptions among longtime locals who have a dated view of the area.

“In the circles that I run in, people are like, ‘Oh, what are they doing over there again? It sounds pretty cool,'” she said. “They are hearing about it, getting curious, and coming and trying it out.”

What comes next

Junction Commons to host graduation bash with live music, food trucks and more

Junction Commons announces Tosh’s Ramen, Pandora as next additions