The wooden Big Ed’s sign hangs on the inside wall next to the front door. The wooden chairs and church pews have been painted black. And there is a new version of the “gawdawful” breakfast — albeit with tater tots, pickled onions and creme fraiche — on the menu.
These are a few of the historic touches incorporated into the new Publik Ed’s, an all-day coffee shop and restaurant that opened last week near the University of Utah.
It is the fourth store for Salt Lake City’s popular Publik Coffee Roasters, and it has opened — in Big Ed’s beloved spot across from Presidents Circle — just in time for Monday’s start of fall semester.