LOGAN — A new fast-casual restaurant emphasizing fresh, customizable meals is set to open this week in the renovated former fire station in downtown Logan.
Vessel Kitchen will officially open Thursday, Jan. 22 at 11 a.m., with a ribbon cutting and brief remarks planned shortly beforehand. The restaurant occupies the city’s former Fire Station 70, a building constructed in the early 1970s and vacated in 2024 after firefighters moved across the street. Damaris Cittadini, a member of Vessel Kitchen’s corporate team, says the space drew interest because of both its history and its location near the heart of Logan.
“We’ve had our eye on Logan for a long time,” she says. “Anywhere we try to go that’s new, we always try to make sure it’s the right place, the right location, and then the right time.”
Cittadini says a contractor who took over the building approached the company about the space, believing the brand and menu would be a good fit. Vessel Kitchen’s founder visited Logan, toured the building and saw potential in the structure.
“It was such a historic building that we wanted to kind of honor some of that as well in the décor that you see,” she says.
The Logan restaurant is among Vessel Kitchen’s larger locations, with seating designed to feel open and comfortable rather than rushed. The total occupancy is 128 people, including staff, with a mix of table sizes intended to accommodate individuals, families and larger groups.
“We want it to feel open,” Cittadini says. “You can come with your friends or family and just be here and enjoy food.”
Vessel Kitchen describes itself as a New American restaurant, drawing inspiration from multiple cuisines rather than focusing on a single style.
“With New American, you are pulling inspiration from a lot of different cuisines, which is what we do,” Cittadini says. “It’s very much a fusion of things that we love and we don’t think that should be excluded to one type of food. We love some Latin American flavors, or Middle Eastern flavors, or Asian flavors, and we’ll pull that into our dishes.”
The concept is built around what the company calls an “elevated, fast, casual, dynamic experience.” Guests order at the counter, then sit down while food is brought to their table.
“You look at the menu, you order at the cashier, and we bring that out to you,” she says. “But we like to say elevated, because if you look at our space, our food and our service, that’s what brings you the elevated experience.”
The menu includes signature bowls, salads and tacos, as well as build-your-own options that allow diners to choose proteins, sides and sauces. According to Cittadini, four core dishes remain on the menu year-round, while seasonal items rotate in the spring and fall.
“We feel that if a dish is the best during a certain season or an ingredient is the best during a certain season, we want to highlight that ingredient during that season,” she says.
Menu items are clearly labeled for dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Cittadini says additional ingredient information is available for guests with less common allergies.
“We take a lot of pride in that because we believe in our mission is that good food should be available to everyone,” she says.
Some dishes also carry locally familiar names, such as “The Pioneer,” “Uncle Rico” and “Great Salt Lake,” reflecting the company’s Utah roots. Vessel Kitchen began in Park City more than a decade ago.
The Logan location will also offer family-style meals designed to feed two adults and two children, as well as a children’s menu.
“We recognize a drive-through is probably good maybe a couple times a month,” Cittadini says. “But you deserve good food, whether it’s on a rush or you want to sit down.”
Cittadini says the response from Cache Valley residents has been enthusiastic, including at a recent Storybook Festival in Smithfield, where the company offered samples and talked with families about the upcoming opening.
“Logan is truly a community, and we have felt that community welcome us,” she says. “We’re just happy to be here.”