Broadbent & Son
1882 - 2017
128 N 100 E Lehi, UT
No other family-owned enterprise in Lehi remained in business longer than Broadbent & Son, more commonly known as Broadbent’s Store.
More Than a Store: Generations of Service
In 1859, English immigrants Joseph Lees (1836-1920) and Sarah Ann Dixon (1833-1888) Broadbent arrived in Lehi after crossing the plains with fellow saints from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sarah started a home industry by turning bolts of blue denim into overalls and jumpers with copper rivets, a symbol of well-made clothing, added by Joseph.
In 1882, Sarah suggested the family open a small mercantile, which Joseph and 19-year-old son Joseph Samuel (1863-1937) did. In addition to watch repair and jewelry work, Broadbent & Son carried a small line of merchandise and furniture along with Sarah's work clothing.
Their industriousness brought immediate success. Over the years they made multiple additions and remodels and added departments until it carried everything needed to run a home.
In 1892, the Broadbents constructed the two-story structure with the four Victorian Romanesque Revival style semicircular arched windows, for which it was most famous. The windows are now replicated in the new Police Department building.
When Joseph S. died, the store passed to his 20-year-old son John (1917-2003), who ran the store with his wife, Alice (1918-2010) for five decades. Daughters Nann (1939-2015) and Betty, who had grown up in the store, transitioned into the store’s leadership as their parents aged. The property was sold to the city in 2017.
Broadbent’s Timeline
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1882
Joseph S. and Sarah Broadbent’s open a small 14' X 30' store off the side of their adobe home on First North and First East. Joseph repairs watches, and Sarah makes work clothing. They experience almost immediate success.
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Mid-1880s
The size of the store is doubled with a second wooden addition on the north of the original store. Joseph Samuel runs the store while his father mainly repairs watches.
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1889
Geneva Broadbent, daughter of Joseph L., becomes a full-time clerk.
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1891
Broadbent’s purchases the first sack of beet sugar from the Lehi Sugar Factory and refuses to carry cane sugar.
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1896
Geneva takes over management of the store while her brother Joseph Samuel serves a mission in Great Britain.
The store is closed while the family experiences an outbreak of diphtheria.
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1910
The Broadbent family replaced the canvas strip awning that was attached to the two-story building with a new wooden framed awning which extended out over the sidewalk.
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1922-1927
Joseph Samuel serves as mayor of Lehi.
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1933
Joseph Samuel revamps the grocery store with a “help yourself system,” where customers could choose their own items.
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1938
John marries Alice Davis.
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1942
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the store, John and Alice renovate by demolishing the original 1880s buildings and the old adobe home. A new brick “Food Market” is built where the original store had been.
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1944
Alice’s tradition of setting up a nativity in the display window begins.
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1967
A large showroom for furniture and a Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio is added to the south side of the building where the old adobe home had been.
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2009 & 2010
John and Alice Broadbent pass away.
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2017
Bill and Betty Broadbent Anderson, fifth generation owner.
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2019
Broadbent’s removed to make way for the new Police Department Building.
Roots and Branches of Lehi Podcast
From General Store to History: The Broadbent Tale
“Join host Ryan Harding on 'Roots and Branches of Lehi' as we dive into the rich history of the Broadbent family and their longstanding general store in Lehi, now transformed into a police station. Rebecca and Betty share personal memories and deep connections to their family's legacy, detailing the store's origins dating back to the 19th century, its evolution, and its impact on the community. Discover the essence of small-town life, the importance of community service, and the hard work that spanned generations, shaping the family's and town's history.”
Marker Location
128 N 100 E Lehi, UT
Marker Unveiling
May 22, 2025
More than 100 people turned out to honor the legacy of Broadbent’s Store at this unveiling held at the Broadbent Community Room at the Police Dept., at 128 N. 100 East. Speakers included Karen Sindson, Rebecca Anderson Asington and Paul Hancock, city council member.
The marker is the 10th of the Lehi Historical Marker Program.
Learn More
Investigate our online archive for more information on Broadbent & Son.
Content Contributors
——, Lehi Historical Society
Kasia May, University of Utah
Support our Mission
Purchase collector marker pins to show your Lehi spirit! Your purchase will support the Lehi Historical Marker Program and the Lehi Historical Society. There are currently 15 pins available in our gift shop
Celebrate Lehi’s history with our complete 15-pin collection. This special bundle includes one of each enamel pin from the Historical Marker Collection.
Pins included in the full set:
• Lehi Roundup Rodeo Marker Pin
• Margaret Wines Park Marker Pin
• Memorial Building Marker Pin
• 1983 Flood Marker Pin
• Heritage Day 2025 Collector Pin
• Austin House Marker Pin
• John Y Smith House Marker Pin
• PARC Pin
• Saratoga Resort Marker Pin
• Historical Marker Pin
• Lehi Roller Mills Marker Pin
• Tithing Barn Marker Pin
• Mary Wanlass Hutchings 1863 Pin
• Broadbent’s Marker Pin
• George Goates Farm Marker Pin
Each pin reflects a real story from Lehi’s past. Landmarks, founders, the rodeo, community legends, floods, and the places that shaped our city. This full set brings together every marker design in one place. It is perfect for collectors, teachers, longtime Lehi families, newcomers wanting to learn the stories behind our city, or anyone looking for a meaningful gift that supports local history.
Take home the complete collection and own 15 pieces of Lehi’s story.
Celebrate a Lehi icon with this Historical Marker collector pin honoring Broadbent’s Store, the longest-running business in Lehi’s history and a cornerstone of the community for 135 years.
Soft enamel with black dyed metal plating
Features the vintage neon Broadbent’s sign installed in 1954
Measures 1.25 inches in length
Single-post backing with secure rubber cover
Perfect for collectors, history lovers, and proud Lehi locals
Founded in 1882 by English immigrants Joseph and Sarah Broadbent, the store was passed down through four generations and became known for offering everything from dry goods to fine fabrics. It sold the first bag of sugar produced by the Lehi Sugar Factory and served as a trusted hub for generations of families. The iconic neon sign, featured in this pin, hung proudly from 1954 until the store’s closing in 2017. Today, the arched windows of the Lehi Police Department pay tribute to the building that once stood in its place.
A nostalgic keepsake celebrating a legacy of service, family, and small-town pride.
Celebrate one of Lehi’s most remarkable pioneers with this beautifully crafted Historical Marker collector pin honoring Mary Wanlass. This young woman's courage and determination helped shape the city’s early history.
Premium soft enamel with shiny gold-toned metal
Measures 1.25 inches tall
Single-post backing with secure rubber cover for comfortable wear
Perfect for collectors, history lovers, and proud Lehi locals
In 1863, 14-year-old Mary Wanlass journeyed west with her four younger siblings and bedridden father. When they became separated from their wagon company, Mary bravely guided her family across the plains, receiving help from kind Native Americans along the way. They arrived in Lehi and survived their first winter in a dugout before Mary went on to raise a family and instill the same pioneer grit in her son, John Hutchings, founder of the Hutchings Museum.
A meaningful keepsake honoring resilience, faith, and the strength of Lehi’s early settlers.