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Beloved — and Joe Biden-approved — Portland-based ice cream shop Salt & Straw is heading to Miami in 2020 with two new locations in Wynwood and Coconut Grove. This marks the brand’s first-ever East Coast scoop shop.
“Miami is at a pivot point. Within the next few years I think it will be known as one of the best food cities in the world. We want to be here for it,” says Tyler Malek, co-founder and head ice cream maker at Salt & Straw.
The ice cream company debuted in Portland in 2011 and soared in popularity due to its unique and seasonal ice cream offerings like churro horchata, honey lavender, black olive brittle and goat cheese, alongside classics like double fold vanilla, and mint chocolate chip. Taking inspiration from Miami, Malek will create a brand new menu for South Florida that will rotate monthly and will tell the “story of Miami chefs and artisans,” such as Panther Coffee and Wynwood Brewing.
It’s much buzzed about ice creams even piqued Shake Shack mastermind and empire-builder Danny Meyer’s interest, prompting him to make a “substantial” investment in the brand in 2017 — however co-founders Malek and his cousin Kim Malek maintain majority ownership.
And Miami can even credit Meyer for introducing the duo to South Florida in the first place. The Malek’s told Portland Monthly that they have been taking trips with Meyer to South Florida for more than 18 months to help create the menus — and have already tested more than 60 different flavors. And even said they are “studying” how to incorporate doughnuts into ice cream using local favorite, The Salty Donut.
No timeline has been set on the opening, but they plan to do pop-up events around the city in the meantime prior to opening. Stay tuned for more updates.
