@blu_pineappl3 via Flickr
Great news for ice cream lovers! Salt & Straw, a popular ice cream brand started on the west coast in 2011, will open two stores in NYC this summer, including one at 360 Amsterdam Avenue at 77th Street. The other new location will be in the West Village.
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The space on the corner of 77th and Amsterdam Ave was previously home to The Cottage, which closed in 2020 and reopened on 78th and Broadway as New Cottage about a year later.
Cousins Kim and Tyler Malek originally launched Salt & Straw with a single pushcart in Portland, Oregon. The company now has more than two dozen locations in six states and counting, including shops at both Disneyland and Disney World. Their ice cream can also be ordered online.
“New York, we’re coming. It’s official — we’re thrilled to put down roots in the West Village and UWS,” Salt and Straw announced Wednesday on Instagram. “This dream is 6+ years in the making and it’s kicking off sooner than you think. Stay tuned.”
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And just when you thought ice cream flavors couldn’t get any more creative (or weird, depending on your perspective), Salt & Straw’s freezer – which will soon be situated about two blocks away from Emack & Bolio’s – is filled with options like Passionfruit Yuzu Mochi Donuts and Whey Curd (that’s one flavor), Honey Lavender, Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper, Arbequina Olive Oil, and Pear & Blue Cheese.
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Salt & Straw’s Honey Lavender (along with a few other summer flavors) was featured in Food & Wine in 2021, and the publication has praised the company for both its creativity and relatively rapid success. “From an experimental Portland ice cream shop to a national favorite in just a decade, it’s been quite the journey for Salt & Straw, one of the most consistent (and most consistently exciting) artisanal makers out there right now,” the magazine gushed.
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One of Salt & Straw’s investors is restaurateur Danny Meyer, founder and owner of Shake Shack, Daily Provisions and Manhatta, just to name a few.
In 2021, Food & Wine praised Salt & Straw for both its creativity and relatively rapid success. “From an experimental Portland ice cream shop to a national favorite in just a decade, it’s been quite the journey for Salt & Straw, one of the most consistent (and most consistently exciting) artisanal makers out there right now,” the magazine gushed.
Led by Tyler Malek, an award-winning chef and co-founder, the brand is renowned for its unique flavors showcased through rotating monthly menus. In 2015, Tyler was featured as a Forbes 30 Under 30 rising star and in 2017, was chosen as one of Zagat’s “30 Under 30 Culinary Superstars.”
Judging by the ice cream maker’s Instagram page, it looks like locals are ready to give Salt & Straw a big New York City welcome.
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“I moved from Portland to New York 9 years ago. Since then, I’ve had a honey lavender shaped hole in my heart. I am now healed and all is right,” wrote one excited person.
“This is literally the best news EVER!” wrote another. And on and on the comments go. One fan even wonders if may their pleas for a NYC shop were responsible for the good news. “Is this because I kept commenting and emailing about it? I am so so so so excited!,” the superfan wrote.
In her blog The Strong Buzz, Andrea Strong offers background on the brand’s founding, sharing that Tyler was studying business in China when his step-father was diagnosed with cancer and died suddenly. Rushing home to be with family, a devastated Tyler started cooking and found it was a way to heal.
“The power of food was fascinating to me,” he told Ms. Strong. “It has this superpower to bring people together in hard times and good times.”
We’ll provide updates when we find out when Salt & Straw is opening.
Salt & Straw, one of the few reasons to live in LA. My life in NYC just got even more perfect!
What was the name of the restaurant at 360 Amsterdam before The Cottage arrived in the early 1980s? Anyone remember? This mystery will likely haunt me forever….
These ice cream stores are so shady. The only one I want to see is the Carvel on Broadway and 98th. Open already.
I’m incredibly excited to have Salt and Straw on the UWS! My first time trying it was years ago at fundraiser for Union Square. Danny Meyer had samples of some pickled strawberry ice cream from Salt and Straw as well as his famous crullers from Daily Provisions and I was hooked. I always get Salt and Straw when I’m in California but it’s just not enough!!!!