Downtown Rising yields City Creek Center — Photo courtesy of Bring Back Words

Since October 2006, the heart of downtown Salt Lake City has been increasingly cordoned off. Buildings have been torn down and streets have been narrowed and closed. Entire city blocks have been surrounded by fences. Filled with construction crews, cranes, enormous implements, loud noises and dust, central Salt Lake City first transformed into a demolition zone, and then into a massive construction project.

Called “Downtown Rising,” this nearly six-year project required the complete redevelopment of 20 downtown acres. Demolition for Downtown Rising began gradually in 2006, and included the impressive 2008 razing of two 1970s-era malls: the ZCMI Center and the Crossroads Plaza.

However spectacular these events of destruction were, most people eventually grew to forget the bygone malls and other buildings. Despite the traffic detours, people even ceased to notice this long-term project, and its promise of a state-of-the-art shopping, living, working, and dining center.

Now, as of early 2012, Downtown Rising has finally reached the end phases of completion. On March 22, the all-new City Creek Center will officially open to the public. In all, the center will contain retail, office, residential, and restaurant space.

The two biggest retail headliners are Nordstrom and Macy's, which will occupy a combined 300,000 square feet of floor space. You'll also be able to shop at Tiffany & Co., Coach, and roughly 75 more stores. A food court, containing a mix of local and national eateries, provides plenty of dining options. These include Red Iguana, Texas de Brazil Churrascaria, Blue Lemon, Roxberry, and Subway.