LAYTON — This city developed into the retail leader of Davis County during the later part of the 20th century, with such big-name businesses as the Layton Hills Mall, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and its "Restaurant Row." However, Layton still has a heritage of retaining older businesses, and the City Council recently honored 11 that have been operating in the city under the same ownership for 50 years or more.
"Businesses contribute very heavily to the tax base," Mayor Jerry Stevenson said. "We're fortunate to have so many businesses."
Earlier this month, the council learned through research conducted by former Mayor James Layton and local historian Harris Adams that First National Bank of Layton, 12 S. Main, is the city's oldest business at almost 95 years.
The bank will celebrate its 95th anniversary on May 15. It started in a small building across the street from where it is now in the historic Farmers Union Building.
The second-oldest Layton business is Hines and Co., 1140 W. Gentile, at 81 years; and next-oldest is Whitesides Plumbing, 10 Whitesides, at 74 years.
Stevenson said that most of the veteran companies in the city are third-generation businesses now. He said the research excluded agricultural enterprises.
He said 50 years ago Layton was still an agricultural-based community in the post-World War II era with the newly opened Hill Air Force Base becoming a major area employer.
Stevenson said at one time, a large portion of the property where the Layton Hills Mall is now located was zoned for residential development. Today, that area is the center of the city's business district and is a regional shopping center.
The other veteran businesses in Layton include: Davis County Glass, 123 Cross St. (1946); Young Chevrolet, 645 N. Main (1938, started as Olson Chevrolet); Stott Welding and Radiator, 1035 W. Gentile (1947); Bill's Sheet Metal, 159 S. Main (1947); Tom Randall Distributing, 137 S. Main (1947); Barlow Corp., realty and insurance, 377 N. Main, (1948); Simmons Auto Repair, 687 N. Main (1949); and LeRoy Terry's Barber Shop, 26 N. Main, rear (1949).
Layton is also the county's capital for restaurants with its "Restaurant Row," located north of the Layton Hills Mall. Layton boasts 72 of Davis County's 165 restaurant listed in the Davis County Directory. In fact, Layton is a three-McDonald's town.
However, it wasn't always so. As recent as the early 1980s, Laytonites found their restaurant selections slim and frequently traveled to Ogden or Salt Lake to dine.
For example, in early 1980s, this was the extent of Layton's restaurants, just over a dozen choices — Anthony's, Arctic Circle, Don Pedros Mexican, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Liesel's European Delicatessen, Sizzler, Dee's, Taco Time, Layton Drug's Snack Bar, Sill's Cafe, Stockman's Bar, Bessie's/Staley's snack bar, Main Street Station — the forerunner to Doug & Emmy's Restaurant and a few small eating establishments inside the Layton Hills Mall.
What are Layton's oldest surviving restaurants?
Adams said the Bessie's/Staley's Store, 1378 West Gentile Street, with its small snack bar, started up in the fall of 1939. Sill's Cafe, 281 S. Main, is probably next-oldest, having started in 1954. Third is probably Stockman's Bar, 80 N. Main, that opened in 1963.