Born in a 1950s camper

Maxed-out credit cards and a Wynwood parking lot

Before the retail stores, The Salty was two students and a dream. In 2014, Amanda Pizarro and Andy Rodriguez — then boyfriend and girlfriend, now married — spent all their time outside of school dreaming up a community gathering place centered around donuts, coffee, and good vibes. A place you could have a first date, celebrate a birthday, or cheer you up after a long day.

After endless research and flavor development, they put school on hold, maxed out their credit cards, tapped friends and family for support, bought a 1950s vintage Aljoa camper, and leased a commissary kitchen to test their creations — asking anyone who would listen to come by the pop up in a Wynwood parking lot. After over a year of popping up out of the camper and spreading the word around town, the first retail store opened in Wynwood. The rest is history.