A new restaurant is coming to Orem — one that will be familiar to Salt Lake County diners.

The Cheesecake Factory has announced that it’s opening a new location at University Place mall, at 575 E. University Parkway, this fall, according to a news release. This will be the upscale casual dining establishment’s first location in Utah County.

The restaurant, which is known for its huge menu with more than 250 items and more than 30 cheesecakes, will be located next to Dillard’s and Itto Sushi, the release stated. Construction will begin immediately.

“The Cheesecake Factory is very pleased to be opening a restaurant at University Place, allowing us to serve Utah County families and visitors,” David Overton, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, said in a statement. “The Cheesecake Factory has enjoyed being part of the greater Salt Lake City area since first opening there in 2007, and we look forward to being part of the community.”

There are two locations of The Cheesecake Factory in Salt Lake County — at City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City, and at Fashion Place in Murray, according to the restaurant’s website. The new location in Orem will be the third in Utah.

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OREM, Utah (ABC4) — The Cheesecake Factory is coming to Utah County with a new location opening soon between the Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University campuses.

Construction will begin immediately on the new Cheesecake Factory at the University Place mall located at 575 East University Parkway. According to a press release, the restaurant will be situated next to Dillard’s and Itto Sushi, at the former location of Los Hermanos.

“The Cheesecake Factory is very pleased to be opening a restaurant at University Place, allowing us to serve Utah county families and visitors,” said Cheesecake Factory Founder, Chairman and CEO David Overton. “The Cheesecake Factory has enjoyed being part of the greater Salt Lake City area since first opening there in 2007 and we look forward to being part of the community.”

The new Utah County location will be the third Cheesecake Factory in Utah, according to the restaurant’s website. Currently, the “upscale casual” restaurant has two locations along the Wasatch Front, one in the City Creek Mall in downtown Salt Lake City and another in the Fashion Place Mall in Murray.

The restaurant chain is known for its distinctive décor and wide selection of cheesecakes of various creative flavors. The new Orem location will be open seven days a week and will serve lunch, dinner and a weekend brunch.

University Place, which opened in the 1970s, is in the middle of a $500 million revitalization under its current owner and operator, the Woodbury Corporation. senior Vice President of Leasing Danny Woodbury anticipates the Cheesecake Factory to be a welcomed addition to the shopping center.

“When we ask customers at University Place what new restaurant they most want, Cheesecake Factory always tops the list,” said Woodbury. “Woodbury Corporation is thrilled to bring this dynamic restaurant to Utah County and believe it is the perfect complement to our lineup of entertainment, dining and shopping options.”

While construction will begin as soon as possible, there is no timeline for when the restaurant will open for business.

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Utah County will get its first Cheesecake Factory, with University Place officially announcing Tuesday that the restaurant chain will begin construction immediately to move into the shopping mall.

The Cheesecake Factory will move into the space soon to be vacated by Los Hermanos, which has been at Orem’s mall since 2019.

“The Cheesecake Factory is very pleased to be opening a restaurant at University Place, allowing us to serve Utah County families and visitors,” said David Overton, founder and CEO of The Cheesecake Factory Inc., in a press release. “The Cheesecake Factory has enjoyed being part of the greater Salt Lake City area since first opening there in 2007, and we look forward to being part of the community.”

Currently, there are two Cheesecake Factory locations in Utah, both located in Salt Lake County.

Aside from its namesake dessert, The Cheesecake Factory offers a voluminous, multicultural menu featuring salads, sandwiches, pasta, seafood and steaks.

“When we ask customers at University Place what new restaurant they most want, Cheesecake Factory always tops the list,” said Danny Woodbury, senior vice president of leasing at Woodbury Corp. “Woodbury Corp. is thrilled to bring this dynamic restaurant to Utah County and believes it is the perfect complement to our lineup of entertainment, dining and shopping options.”

Los Hermanos announced last Friday on Facebook that it will be returning to downtown Provo and hopes to reopen in early February. The restaurant’s last open day in Orem is on Wednesday.

The local Mexican restaurant spent 30 years serving customers in Provo before a fire in 2019 caused the business to move from Provo’s Center Street to University Place.

“The decision whether to move to a different spot at University Place weighed heavily on the owners, however after some time, the opportunity to move into the iconic Knight Block building on the corner of University Ave. and Center Street in Historic Downtown Provo presented itself, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to our roots,” Los Hermanos said on Facebook.

According to The Cheesecake Factory’s press release, construction will begin immediately. The company later told the Daily Herald it is anticipating opening the restaurant closer to fall.

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There is nothing more fun than giving presents at Christmas time, which could explain why the Light the World Giving Machines are so popular. The machines at University Place in Orem typically receive some of the largest quantities of donations when compared to other machines around the world.

What a lot of donors — or would-be donors — may not know is they can give to charities in Utah County through these same machines that also help people globally. The machines are sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To encourage that giving spirit, local charities are sharing what they provide in Utah County.

The United Way of Utah County always needs donations for its programs. Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO, said the agency constantly seeks to make lives better in Utah County.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Giving Machines again this year. This is such an incredible opportunity for our community to connect and give to where help is needed most. Each donation is absolutely making a difference in the lives of our neighbors,” Hulterstrom said.

Recreation and Habilitation Services is another local charity chosen this year to been a recipient of Giving Machine donations. RAH is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides services and supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities who are 18 or older.

“We feel tremendously blessed for RAH to have two giving opportunities included in the 2023 Giving Machines,” said Cheryl Adamson, executive director. “As a not-for-profit organization that does not receive state or federal funding, we are dependent on the generosity of individuals, businesses and local communities to fund our programs for adults who have intellectual disabilities.”

“Financial challenges following the pandemic have been especially difficult for our small independent organization,” Adamson added. “We are so grateful we have had the capacity to continue to provide services and supports to our participants and their families and are excited about the continued opportunities that will be available because of the kindness of those who choose to light the world by donating to our projects through the Giving Machines.”

Jackie Larson, executive director of Centro Hispano, which provides assistance and resources to new immigrants and refugees from Spanish-speaking countries, said there are new and exciting additions to their program this year and that donations are always needed and used.

“Centro Hispano is working hard to combat the injustices and challenges experienced by Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees by offering equitable resources that empower them to thrive in the community,” Larson said. “Some of those resources include a food and hygiene pantry, health classes for the Hispanic and Latino youth, English classes, vocational training, immigration legal paperwork assistance, business accounting classes and much more.”

Centro Hispano recently became accredited through the Department of Justice and is now able to represent individuals in courts for cases of asylum, family petitions and victims of domestic as well as other kinds of violence. It is the only nonprofit in the Utah County area that can perform this service, according to Larson.

“Being part of the Giving Machines initiative with the LDS church is an incredible opportunity. To see the generosity of individuals who contribute to these machines, knowing that their donations will directly benefit our immigrant and refugee neighbors, is heartwarming,” Larson said. “It reminds us that by working together, we can make a profound and positive impact on the lives of those who may be facing challenges as they build new lives in our community. It’s a beautiful reminder of all the good there is in the world.”

Holly Johnson, outreach housing coordinator for The Refuge, said the charity serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout Utah, Juab and Wasatch counties. Among its free and confidential services is an emergency shelter, temporary rental assistance, individual and group therapy, educational support groups and hospital response advocates.

The Refuge has two 24/7 hotlines to respond to victims and anyone seeking information about services that could be helpful.

“The donations we receive from the Giving Machine greatly impact the lives of those we serve for good. These generous donations let survivors know that they are not alone, their voices matter and they are being heard,” Johnson said. “From something as simple as a warm, comforting blanket to school supplies for a child affected by domestic violence, survivors feel the respect and dignity they deserve. The assistance with safe, secure housing enables victims to leave abuse behind and go on to live a peaceful life. It’s very difficult to leave an abusive relationship and The Refuge Utah provides much-needed emotional and temporal support.”

Karen McCandless, CEO of Community Action Services and Food Bank, is grateful for every donation they receive and that they have been included in the Giving Machines this holiday season.

“CASFB is grateful to be part of the Light the World Giving Machines. There is an urgent need for food to be donated to help our neighbors and a great way to donate is through the agency’s food-based items in the machines,” McCandless said. “I am very thankful for the continued support our community gives Community Action. The Giving Machines are a fun way to provide that support.”

CASFB was founded in 1967 with the mission to foster self-reliance in individuals, families and the community. The organization serves Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties with one food bank, six pantries and nearly 100 community partners. Services include a learning center, homebuyer education classes, rent and utility assistance, food assistance, community gardens, the Circles Initiative, Bridges Out of Poverty trainings and resource connection.

CASFB also participates in the Mountainland Continuum of Care, which is actively working with government, faith-based and private organizations to provide support to homeless residents, McCandless added.

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Giving Machines start accepting donations for local and worldwide charities

From now through the end of the year, Light The World Giving Machines will be ready to accept donations at their typical location in front of Dillards at University Place in Orem.

The machines are sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They work like this: Instead of someone buying something for themselves, their purchase is a donation for someone in need.

According to the church, this year’s machines will offer 1,200 unique gift options across all locations — 61 in total spread out around the globe, more than double the 28 put out last year. Some of the donations include meals, groceries, shelter, clothing, health care, education, bedding, hygiene kits, job and career training, crops and livestock.

If desired, users can even type in “777” to purchase one of everything in a machine.

The theme of this year’s Light the World Christmas initiative is “Let Your Light Shine.”

Utah County is known for its giving and often is the top donation getter in the lineup of Giving Machines worldwide.

Last year, the local giving was substantial. About $1.1 million came through the Orem machines. Thousands of Utah County residents, and even more people worldwide, were fed, clothed and cared for in 2023 because of donations made at the Giving Machines in Orem.

This year, 10 local charities will be part of the giving as well as several international options. Local charities include Community Action Services and Food Bank, Tabitha’s Way, United Way of Utah County, Family Haven, Centro Hispano, RAH, Show UP, Refuge and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

“We are fortunate here in Utah County to have such great charities to choose from and work with,” said Mark Seastrand, local Giving Machines committee member. “Each year, we research and review these charities to identify a good variety of services and products that are offered for the needs of our local community. We also work with selected international charities to help those in need in other parts of the world.”

Seastrand said this is done so families and individuals making donations find things important to them that they want to give to others.

“Lighting the world begins with giving something important to you for someone else,” Seastrand said. “It can identify different needs and can direct the donation to those needs people want to help.”

Many times, people want to donate or help but don’t know how or where the help is needed, according to Seastrand.

“By working with these charities that are so good at providing help every day,” he said, “we are able to identify the greatest needs and get the resources to where it’s needed most. The donations from the Giving Machines go directly to the source that can best provide the desired benefit.”

“This community sets the standard of giving, both in time and financial means. We really appreciate the volunteers, the organizations that support this effort and especially the people who give so generously to help our community and people in need. It’s not just the funding that comes from the process, it’s the community working together to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and friends,” he added.

According to the church, donations to Giving Machines in 2022 provided 2.2 million meals; 31 million water purification tablets, or enough to purify 3.9 million gallons of water; vaccinations for 517,000 children; 41,000 chickens; school supplies for 28,000 children; 25,000 ducks; safe shelter for 3,400 people; scholarships for 3,000 children and teens; shoes, socks and warm winter clothing for 35,000 children and adults; 3,800 beehives; and protection for 459 women and children from further domestic violence or child abuse.

During the 2023 Christmas season, Light the World Giving Machines can be found in 42 U.S. cities, including Orem and Salt Lake City, as well as six other countries.

More than 250 local and global nonprofits are participating this year — more than all previous years combined, the church noted.

Those unable to visit a physical machine can participate at GivingMachine.org.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The giving machines program run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of its “Light the World” initiative is expanding this year, as the machines spread to twice as many cities as the previous Christmas season.

The church announced on Friday the machines, which mimic vending machines but allow people to buy items for others, will be located in 61 cities, including at the City Creek Mall in Salt Lake City and the University Place Mall in Orem, beginning Nov. 20.

Almost one-third of the machines will be located internationally in Mexico, Guatemala, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines.

Chickens bring transformation

Mary Concepter Obiero, the director of relief development and protection for Church World Service Africa, said at a press conference on Friday that she represents about 20,000 communities that have benefited from the giving machines.

“The impact that this project has had is huge,” she said, emphasizing the outcomes are fast.

Obiero spoke about one community in Tanzania where 90 women were given three chicks each. One year later, the women had 5,000 chickens, helping children go to school and be fed.

She said the chicks brought a transformation that can only be explained by God’s word.

Now the program buys chicks from these women who are currently getting about 6,000 eggs each day from their hens.

The giving machines also help Church World Service Africa provide beehives and goats. Obiero said because they give goats to women, for the first time men talk to women about the livestock, and men have reported it “brought love and unity” to their families.

Karl Cheney, a member of the church’s missionary department, said he had opportunities to travel with representatives from organizations with products in the machines, including Obiero. He said the lives of the people they visited “are absolutely changing for good, simply because people are participating in this initiative.”

Small donations have a big impact

Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, said both the giver and the receiver are transformed by the experience. She said giving machines often have lines of individuals and families who want to give and are excited about it. She said people never fully grasp the effect of their giving.

In the seven years giving machines have been available, she said about 1.5 million people have donated over $22 million. She said because of the interest in the machines, the program will likely continue to grow.

Sister Wright said one of her favorite things to donate at the machines is water. At the machines, people can purchase water bottles to drink or give away, or water purification tablets for people around the world.

She said people are never more like Jesus Christ than when they are doing something for others.

“We have a sacred responsibility … to help reignite (the light of Christ) in each others’ lives so that receiver and giver will come to know together, in that moment, the full measure of their divine worth,” she said.

Sister Wright said the Light the World initiative is a wonderful opportunity for members to look beyond themselves and share God’s love during the Christmas season. She hopes people learn to be creative about how they give, like the giving machines.

“It doesn’t need to be big. If we’ve learned anything from this, (it’s that) small and simple things can impact the world in a big way,” she said.

Joy from giving

Elder William K. Jackson, general authority seventy of the church, said there are people everywhere with an “innate desire to serve,” but they often don’t know where to donate — the giving machines can help.

“What we’re looking forward to this year is an even greater, fruitful experience for our brothers and sisters around the globe. Regardless of their socioeconomic status, they will have the opportunity to experience the joy and the fulfillment that comes from helping anonymously … another member of our human family,” he said.

At some point, Elder Jackson said he would love to have giving machines available online. He said the machines are not just for members, who can donate through the church at any point, but everyone.

“This is an opportunity to … enlarge our net a little bit and bring a lot of our other fabulous brothers and sisters around the world into this, as well, to give them the opportunity to give and to share,” he said.

Elder Jackson said purchasing an item from the machine last year was “uplifting” because he knew someone else would benefit.

He said organizations have agreed to not use more than 10% of the funds for overhead costs. The church is partnering with over 250 nonprofits to provide 1,200 different items people can purchase for others.

Jessica Kendrick, director of outreach with Lifting Hands International, said because of the giving machines her program is going to be able to provide immediate aid to refugees, including hygiene kits, sanitary pads and diapers; food and medical supplies to people in Ukraine; and goats to Syrian refugees in Jordan.

She said the goats allow refugees to use the milk now, and eventually build a herd of goats and become financially stable enough to leave the refugee camp.

In each hygiene kit, Kendrick said the program includes a handwritten card, and often those cards stay with the receiver longer than the bottle of shampoo.

“People keep those cards because they just feel so appreciated and like they’re not alone in their journey anymore, and that’s what the giving machine does,” she said.

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