Trolley Square Compromise
May 10th, 2010
Trolley Wing Company and Wild Horse Coffee Reach A Great Compromise
The Trolley Wing Company became well known for being one of Salt Lake City's smallest but loudest bars. The bar was inside of a trolley car, maximum seating 20. With just five days notice that he would need to relocate, Jess Wilkerson feared he would need to go out of business, just weeks after finalizing a deal to purchase the bar from his friend.
But instead of closing Wilkerson got busy and found neighbor Kristy Gonzales was willing to move and let him have her space. Now the rowdy bunch of good-ole-boys who make up Trolley Wing Company have found a new much more spacious environment in Trolley Square.
Wild Horse Coffee is now serving from The Hive Gallery, and will feature the catering of Tom Catrow for lunch. The Trolley Wing Company owner, Jess Wilkerson helped her move, and then renovated and reopened in just 3 days. Jess is already asking all his regulars to bring their mugs back and hang them up at the new location.
There has been an outcry from the public over the loss of the historic Trolley Car. It was deemed too expensive to bring inside, but Jess has taken it upon himself to ensure the car finds a new home when the construction of Trolley Square clears.
While the construction has had some adverse effects on the merchants of Trolley Square, the generosity and compromise of Wild Horse Coffee and The Trolley Wing Company to help each other through this time is an example of the kindness adversity can bring out. "These guys would follow us to the end of the earth," Wilkerson said of his loyal customers who are returning to his new location on the upper floor of Trolley Square.
The move for Gonzales into the Hive Gallery has been good for her business as well, as visitors to the gallery can receive coffee and sandwiches while they peruse the work on display.
Learn More:
Read some of our previous articles on Trolley Square and its plans for redevelopment.
