Ice cream shop, bakery for dogs opens in Milwaukee’s Third Ward
A new ice cream shop and bakery is opening soon in Milwaukee’s Third Ward – but it’s not for humans.
It is for their furry four-legged friends.
Salty Paws Milwaukee—Wisconsin’s first franchise location in Delaware—will offer more than eight flavors of ice cream, plus a bakery and dog bones and toys.
“Dogs have been such a huge part of my life and they have brought so much joy that I feel like we need to celebrate them every single day because their lives are so short but their impact is so great,” said Milwaukee owner Linda Smith.
About a year ago, Smith threw her first birthday party for her Frenchie Coconut at Dogtopia, where the dog attended daycare. With 10 of Coconut’s canine friends and their parents, the princess-themed celebration featured a ball pit, dog cake and puppy-friendly sandwiches from Riley’s Sandwich Co. , a dog and decorator photographer.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is one of the best days of my life,'” said Smith, a lifelong dog lover. This is very interesting.”
She said she was a hit with dogs and humans alike, and guests told Smith she should be a dog party planner.
After Smith posted an Instagram Reel about the party, more dog-related videos began filling her feed, including those on Salty Paws Pittsburgh.
“I thought it was a really nice and fun idea,” said Smith.
This past spring, Smith decided to travel to Pennsylvania and browse the store. When she told her friends someone should bring one to Milwaukee, they told her. And now, that’s what you do.
“My goal in opening the shop is to be able to help people spend quality time with their dog and bring joy into people’s lives,” said Smith.
Salty Paws plans to debut at Brew City on March 18th. Here’s what to know about this business, from ice cream flavors and toppings to opening hours.
Salty Paws will carry 8 to 12 flavors of ice cream, plus toppings
The store will carry between 8 and 12 flavors of ice cream for dogs at any given time.
There will be eight basic toppings, including bacon, banana cream, blueberries, cheese, peanut butter, and carob. Seasonal offerings, such as the strawberry daiquiri, will rotate.
Smith said customers can also choose to mix flavors, like maple with bacon or banana cream with blueberries.
She said the ice cream has a “really limited ingredient palette” that includes lactose-free whole milk or goat’s milk and gelatin.
And like most ice cream parlors, toppings are available. They include cookies, yogurt chips, and a variety of dried proteins, including chicken, beef, turkey, venison, and rabbit.
Ice cream can be served in a dog bowl, cone, waffle bowl, or takeaway cup.
Shop bakery and bone bar
Smith said Salty Paws will have “a lot of great cookies,” including ones that look like hot dogs, cinnamon rolls, crowns, birthday cakes, pretzels, 3-D hamburgers, and those in cocktail shapes that feature “Maker’s Bark” and “barkarita” written on it.
There will also be dog muffins and muffins, as well as a “bone bar” with bones filled with peanut butter, beef or chicken; Collagen sticks bully horns sticks. pig ears sausage; dried meat and more.
Games that the store will sell
Salty Paws will have a variety of toys for sale, including stuffed toys, water toys, balls, hard chewers, and enrichment toys like licking mats.
Look at the store’s location and area
“Third Ward is just a very friendly dog, and he just keeps becoming more and more,” said Smith. “(I) felt like this was the right place for you.”
Salty Paws, 121 N Jefferson Street, is also home to other dog-friendly businesses, such as la Riley’s Sandwich Co. and Riley’s Social House.
As Smith was looking at a lot of spaces, she said, this one saw the most dogs. And as a “frequent” supporter of Riley’s, I really liked the idea of being “around the corner from them.”
Salty Paws’ space features tables and chairs that dogs and humans can sit on, and a photo booth with props.
The company plans to host birthday parties, breeding get-togethers, holiday events, and ice cream socials.
This isn’t the first time Smith and her dog have worked together
Coconut was a “co-worker” of Smith for nearly three years while she worked remotely from home as a software business analyst.
“It makes every day better,” said Smith. “She’s so funny and hilarious, and just makes me laugh.”
Now, the two will continue to work together, with Coconut being part of Salty Paws Milwaukee’s “Welcome Committee,” Smith said.
“She’s very social,” said Smith. “She loves going places…she just loves meeting people. She loves all dogs…it really works for her.”
Salty Paws Milwaukee watch, pricing at a glance
Salty Paws Milwaukee will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Ice cream starts at $4.99 for one scoop in a regular bowl, a waffle bowl is $6.99, and toppings are about $1 each. Cookies range in price from $2 to $6. Bone bar deals range from $2 to $18. Cakes cost from $15 to over $30.
For more information and updates, visit facebook.com/SaltyPawsMke.
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