A legendary ice cream shop has threatened to move its Portland headquarters from Oregon as crime, drug use and homelessness continue to plague the woke Democratic city.
According to its website, Salt & Straw was created as a community gathering place.
Established as a salon in 2011, it quickly became known as one of the top scoop shops in the United States, further cementing Portland’s reputation as one of America’s top foodie cities.
But co-founder Kim Malek said on Wednesday that if things don’t change, her company will be forced to leave.
“We would consider all options,” Malek told Oregon Live. “We don’t have any concrete plans. But our intention is to sit at the table with the city and county to find a solution, not move. Portland is part of the soul of our company. We love this city. This is about creating a safe workplace for our team.”
Rising crime and homeless encampments that have spread from downtown to the suburbs have displaced countless businesses and residents.
In a recent incident, someone pointed a gun at a Salt & Straw employee in the head, according to citizen attorney Thomas Lauderdale, who emailed two dozen community leaders at Portland, Multnomah County City Hall and the Oregon congressional delegation.
The email highlights other incidents that occurred near the company’s headquarters, including a fire in an RV parked near the company, which led to a power outage.
Dilapidated RVs are used by homeless people across the city and are often spotted parked near encampments.
The democratic city has one of the least crowded downtown areas in the United States as rising crime rates and homelessness scare both locals and tourists alike.
2021 saw 90 homicides amid a spike in gun violence that shattered the city’s previous record high of 66, set more than three decades ago. In 2022, 72 murders have been registered so far.
Salt & Straw was founded as a community meeting place, according to its website, but co-founder Kim Malek said on Wednesday that unless things change, they would be forced to leave
Ice cream company Salt & Straw has threatened to move its Portland headquarters out of Oregon as crime, drug use and homelessness continue to plague the Democratic city
Rising crime and homeless encampments that have spread from downtown to the suburbs have displaced countless businesses and residents
On Monday, the fire in an RV near the company’s headquarters brought down a transformer and caused a power outage at Salt & Straw and several other companies.
The fire and guns incident was detailed in the Lauderdale email.
“Their lease expires in April, and while the move will cost them millions and millions, they are at a breaking point and planning to move out of state,” Lauderdale wrote.
“This is less of a homelessness problem; it is a health and public safety and drug problem. The schizophrenia we’re seeing, the violence, the fires… this is drug driven and needs to be addressed immediately.’
Malek, who co-founded the company with her cousin Tyler Malek in Portland, told Oregon Live that she doesn’t want the company to move and would prefer to find a solution by working with elected leaders.
“It’s really hard for a lot of people right now,” she said. “I’m not here to point fingers. I want to be part of the solution.” She didn’t say where Salt & Straw might move instead, though the company now has salons across the US — including in Florida.
Malek added that one solution she wants to explore is cutting off the supply of drugs to Portland, which she believes are fueling crime.
“If we can’t make it safe, I can’t stay here,” Malek said. “It’s just not my responsibility to put my team in that position.”
Residents and business owners have been saying for months that escalating crime and homelessness are affecting their way of life and safety.
“Our intention is to work through that,” Malek said. ‘I can’t stay here if we don’t.’
The ice cream parlor started in Portland but now has stores across the United States, including the cities of Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami and even Disney.
Jason Bolt, the owner of Revant Optics, who also threatened to leave the area, testified at City Hall in early November that his employees feel unsafe going to work.
“If the city doesn’t take care of its citizens and create a safe place for business, then we’ll go somewhere else,” Bolt said. “We have to keep our teams safe.”
Malek, who founded the company in Portland with her cousin Tyler Malek, said she does not want to relocate and would prefer to find a solution by working with elected leaders
Malek added that one solution she wants to explore is cutting off the supply of drugs to Portland, which she believes are fueling crime
Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle also received the email from Lauderdale, which said the company would be moving its Sorel brand from its downtown Portland offices to its parent company’s Washington County campus early next year.
In response to the ice cream shop’s possible move, he said: “I’m not surprised. It is a challenge.’
Portland currently has more than 700 homeless encampments located across the city within less than 150 square miles, and the ordeal has also led to skyrocketing crime in the area.
And some of the Pacific Northwest city’s most charming, trendiest, and priciest neighborhoods are now overrun with tent cities that clutter residential sidewalks and are littered with trash — and the problem is putting off locals and tourists alike.
Portland currently has more than 700 homeless encampments located across the city within less than 150 square miles, and the ordeal has also led to skyrocketing crime in the area
Some of the Pacific Northwest city’s most charming, trendiest, and expensive neighborhoods are now overrun with tent cities that crowd residential sidewalks and are littered with trash — and the problem is putting off locals and tourists alike
The Portland City Council rushed to reimburse police last November after defunding them by more than $15 million in 2020. Officials voted to add $5.4 million to the force’s budget.
When the police were stripped of funds in 2020, the Portland Police Bureau suffered a series of retirements and layoffs.
Portland saw a dramatic spike in shootings and homicides following Floyd’s death. The city saw a 250 percent increase in homicides within the first six months after Floyd’s death, and shootings increased nearly 175 percent.