Popular Portland-based ice cream chain Salt & Straw is continuing its West Coast expansion with a brand-new storefront in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, slated to open its doors on November 13.
The upcoming parlor is situated at 6300 College Avenue, directly adjacent to an existing Safeway location, where red-and-white window decals have already been posted to mark the incoming shop. The expansion marks the latest addition to the company’s footprint in Northern California, bringing its regional store count to 11 locations.
Founded in 2011 by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek, the brand began as a humble pushcart operation in Portland’s Alberta Arts District. In the years since, the business has grown into a major regional enterprise boasting more than 50 shops nationwide, with a particularly heavy concentration of stores across the West Coast.
The company attributes much of its product’s texture and taste to carefully sourced local ingredients. According to the company’s official website, the business sources its cream from the fifth-generation, family-owned Scott Brothers Dairy, utilizing milk from grass-fed cows raised without growth hormones or antibiotics. The founders state that they approach ice cream making by seeking out intriguing flavor angles and unconventional ingredients, resulting in past and present creations such as habanero goat cheese, wild nettles harvested from Washington, and almond brittle.
At the new Rockridge location, patrons will be able to sample seasonal and specialty flavors alongside the brand’s core offerings. Current menu items include Maple Koginut Squash with Pomegranate, Turkey and Bacon Caramel, and Pumpkin Pie with Almond Croissant Streusel.
Beyond traditional scoops served in cups or cones, the Oakland parlor will offer an expanded menu of specialty desserts. These include custom ice cream cakes and “Tacolates”—waffle-cone taco shells filled with distinct flavor combinations such as Strawberry Pretzel Cheesecake and a Chocolate Taco stuffed with Cinnamon-ancho ice cream.
The new Rockridge shop joins a network of 10 other storefronts across Northern California, which includes eight existing locations in the broader Bay Area, one in Sacramento, and another in Roseville. Further south, the chain maintains a significant presence with 11 shops in Los Angeles, two in Orange County, and three in San Diego.
