The Cheesecake Factory announced on May 7 that its first Utah County location will open at University Place in Orem this fall, taking a spot next to Dillard's and Itto Sushi at the 575 E. University Parkway property. Construction started immediately. No specific opening date has been confirmed beyond "fall 2026."
For Utah County diners, this fills an obvious gap. The Cheesecake Factory has had a presence in the Salt Lake metro since 2007 but no Utah County footprint until now — meaning anyone in Provo, Orem, or south who wanted the experience had to drive at least an hour. With a population of nearly 700,000 across the county and growing fast, that gap was visible to everyone except, apparently, the chain itself for almost two decades.
How It Fits Into Utah Valley's Dining Landscape
University Place has been positioning itself as Utah County's dining destination for a few years now, and this addition makes sense in that context. The shopping center already houses Itto Sushi, Texas Roadhouse, and a handful of other sit-down options, alongside The Orchard's outdoor food court setup. Adding Cheesecake Factory — with its massive menu, all-occasion appeal, and brand recognition — gives the property the kind of anchor that pulls in dinner crowds from Springville, Spanish Fork, and the south end of Utah Valley.
If you're planning around the broader Provo/Orem food scene, this slots in as a higher-end casual dining option rather than competing directly with local independents. Our 25 Best Restaurants in Provo guide covers the local-first picks, and our date night spots lean toward smaller venues with more atmosphere. Cheesecake Factory occupies a different category — the place you go when there are eight of you and three are picky and you want everyone to leave satisfied.
It also pairs naturally with what people already use University Place for: shopping at Dillard's, the LEGO store, the new Cloud Portal at Dreamwalk Park, a movie at the Cinemark across the parkway. The whole property is being designed as a place you spend three hours, not 30 minutes. A Cheesecake Factory fits that pattern.
What to Expect When It Opens
If you've been to one Cheesecake Factory, you know what's coming: a menu that runs to over 250 items, more than 30 varieties of cheesecake, and decor that lands somewhere between Art Deco and theme-park aspirational. Wait times for dinner on weekends will be long — that's been true at every location since 1978 and there's no reason to think Orem will be different. The to-go and DoorDash systems work well for skipping the wait.
Expect heavy traffic at University Place during the opening weeks. The intersection of University Parkway and 800 East already gets congested at dinner hours; adding a 300-seat destination restaurant won't make that better in the short term. If you're going opening month, consider parking at the south end of the property and walking in.
Tracking New Openings
Restaurant news in Utah Valley moves faster than most people realize — at least a dozen new spots have opened in Provo and Orem in the past 18 months alone. We track them in our Restaurant Finder and update our food guides as new options launch. If you want to stay current, that tool is the fastest way to filter by cuisine, neighborhood, and price.