The Portland-born ice cream company will take over the space previously home to Earth Wind & Sea boutique, positioned between Stake Chophouse and Better Buzz Coffee. The forthcoming shop will mark Salt & Straw’s fourth location in San Diego County, joining its existing outposts in Little Italy, Del Mar’s One Paseo, and Westfield UTC in La Jolla.
Founded in 2011 by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek, Salt & Straw has built a devoted following around its rotating menu of inventive, small-batch ice cream flavors that often blur the line between dessert and culinary experimentation. The brand began as a single pushcart operation in Portland before expanding steadily across the West Coast and beyond, with locations now spanning multiple states and a particularly high-traffic shop inside Downtown Disney.
According to the company, the Coronado location has been several years in the making. While specific design renderings have not yet been released, Salt & Straw is known for crafting highly customized interiors that feature handcrafted fixtures, ice-cream-inspired design elements, and ample seating intended to encourage lingering and conversation. The Coronado shop is expected to employ approximately 30 workers once fully staffed.
Salt & Straw’s menu typically consists of a core lineup of signature flavors, complemented by monthly “flavor drops” that rotate throughout the year. Past seasonal themes have included floral-forward ice creams in the spring, berry-driven flavors in the summer, and chocolate-focused offerings in the winter. Fan favorites such as Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero have helped define the brand’s identity, alongside more playful creations incorporating candy, cereal, and baked goods.
While all Salt & Straw ice cream is produced centrally, the company has made a point of collaborating with local farmers, bakers, and chefs in each market it enters, often incorporating regional ingredients or partnerships into limited-run flavors. The brand has also publicly emphasized efforts around sustainability and food waste reduction, themes that frequently inform its seasonal menus.
Salt & Straw is expected to open later this year at 1303 Orange Avenue in San Diego's Coronado community. For more information, visit saltandstraw.com.
Originally published on February 8, 2026. Information first reported by Jennifer Velez at The Coronado Times.
