BOUTIQUE ICE CREAMERY SALT & STRAW TO OPEN NEW LOS GATOS LOCATION

In taking a step forward, business owner is reminded of another Silicon Valley era

Drew Penner, Reporter

Back in the late ‘90s when Kim Malek worked at Yahoo! in Mountain View, she learned to surf in Santa Cruz—one of her fondest memories—and hung out amid Los Gatos’ cute shops.

Now, after launching one of the West Coast’s most in-demand ice cream chains, rolling out 30 Salt & Straw locations with her cousin Tyler, she’s returning to the town of cats to open #31.

“I would go to Los Gatos and walk the streets and go shopping—and dream of even living there one day,” she said, reflecting on what their latest expansion means to her. “It’s an honor for sure.”

For the past few years, the duo has been growing their influence throughout the Bay Area. They’ve produced ice cream flavors that tap into the work of local entrepreneurs and artisans, such as bean-to-bar chocolate maker Dandelion Chocolate and Oakland-based Don Bugito—with whom they’ve crafted “Creepy Crawly Critters,” a menu item featuring chocolate-covered crickets.

Salt & Straw plans to have its 50 University Ave. storefront in Old Town, ready to go for summer.

It will be the company’s second South Bay location—they’re already in Westfield’s Valley Fair mall.

And Los Gatans may have sampled some of the quirky and creative Salt & Straw creations at the downtown

Palo Alto locale or in Burlingame, up the peninsula.

“I hope people are familiar with us,” Malek said, adding she sees each new shop as a chance to help contribute to the vibe of the surrounding neighborhood. “I have a hunch we’ll meet a lot of new people.”

While Malek, who serves as CEO, spent most of her adult life in Portland—and recently took a surf trip up to Ucluelet on Vancouver Island—she says she’s forever been shaped by her Silicon Valley days, back when she led an auctions group for Yahoo!

How could you forget going to retirement parties for 20-year-olds, for example, after all?, she remarks.

“That was before the whole bubble