Portland-based ice cream company Salt & Straw will open its first Oakland scoop shop later this year at 6310 College Avenue, replacing Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, which opened in 2016 (Ike’s other Bay Area locations remain open).
Founded in 2011 by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek, Salt & Straw has grown from a neighborhood ice cream cart into a nationally recognized company with about 50 locations. The Rockridge shop will join the company’s other Bay Area locations in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Clara and Santa Rosa.
Known for inventive flavors and locally inspired ingredients, Salt & Straw will offer signature favorites including Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Double Fold Vanilla and Salted, Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, along with seasonal flavors highlighting ingredients and producers from the region. The company describes its shops as a welcoming “third place” designed to encourage discovery and community connection.
The arrival of Salt & Straw means another chain on College Avenue, a commercial district long characterized by independent shops and restaurants. Its addition raises the question: Can nationally recognized brands find a place on College Avenue while preserving the distinctive local character that has made the neighborhood the success that it is today?
Salt & Straw is expected to open later this year.
