Salt & Straw debuts its first Utah ice cream shop in Riverton on Friday, with a second location in Trolley Square set to open in the coming weeks.
State of play: The Oregon-based chain is know for its inventive concoctions — like its olive oil ice cream — and rotating flavors.
What they’re saying: “There’s been so much energy going towards Salt Lake,” Kim Malek, the company’s CEO and co-founder, tells Axios, pointing to the 2034 Winter Olympics and the city’s growing economy.
- Malek, who grew up in Montana, says she’s spent a lot of time in Utah and was an early attendee of the Sundance Film Festival.
- She founded Salt & Straw to create gathering spaces. Salt Lake City, known for its strong sense of community, seemed like a natural fit, she says.
Between the lines: Malek viewed Trolley Square as a prime location to open a shop after learning that the historic shopping center was experiencing a revival. High-end brands like West Elm and Williams Sonoma have opened stores there in recent years…