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A Community Spot for Fun, Fellowship & Tasty Treats!

Fby Lauren Stumberg | photos by Ron Pritchett For Pat and Tina Cleary, along with their from my family’s business we were able three daughters, Salty and Sweet is a to see that vision become a reality.” dream come true. “Having spent a large That vision is that Salty and Sweet is portion of my life traveling for work, it a place that the whole community can was always a desire of mine to be able to come together for fun, fellowship and of start a business that we could run togethcourse delicious treats! er as a family,” said Pat. “Tina and I had As the Clearys began planning their thought long and hard about what kind new business venture they found the of business we wanted and once I retired perfect location, an old gas station

directly across from Boerne’s Main Plaza! After a major renovation they were able to open their doors in April of 2019. “We have filled Salty and Sweet with all kinds of deliciousness including a huge selection of nostalgic candy, homemade ice cream, gourmet popcorn, pretzels, fudge, and unique and hard to find sodas,” added Tina. “Our renovated building is right in the center of Boerne and we love that we get to be apart of all of the local events.”

To make sure that their products were extra special, Pat spent a year traveling and learning how to properly make and bake the items that they would sell. According to Pat, “I actually went to school to learn how to make ice cream and worked in an ice cream parlor in Florida. I went to Philadelphia to learn how to make the pretzels.”

When it comes to the flavors of the homemade ice cream that they sell at Salty and Sweet, Tina is the one in charge. “Our flavors are made and rotate daily and can include anything from your traditional chocolate and vanilla to our more unique flavors like lemon pie and avocado. We also have special seasonal flavors that we rotate in throughout the year,” said Tina. “Have them in a delicious waffle cone, a rich and creamy milkshake or a root beer float with your choice from our large root beer selection. You can also have it served up as an ice cream sandwich inside of our homemade cookies!”

The pretzels and popcorn are made fresh daily too. Choose from a whole pretzel or pretzel nuggets with your choice of dipping sauce. The popcorn is available in dozens of flavors. “Whether you prefer sweet or savory we have something you are sure to love,” said Pat.

One of the biggest draws of Salty and Sweet is their unmatched selection of classic, nostalgic and truly unique candy. The store is filled to the brim with a wide array of everything from sour to sweet and everything in between!

Tina and Pat’s three daughters, Bridget, Grace and Faith are instrumental in running this family owned business. The girls help with everything from working behind the counter to social media. In addition to their daughters, the Clearys also hire members of our special needs community to work in the store and enable them to learn everyday life experience while giving them independence, responsibility and confidence. According to the Clearys, “Including everyone in the experience is the key mission here.” continued on page 18

Pat and Tina Cleary

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Service in the community and giving back is also important to the Clearys. They are regular volunteers with Hill Country Family Services, board members for the YMCA, supporters of the Boerne Community Coalition, Special Olympics, The Miracle League and the local schools. Tina added, “We will even auction off our parking spaces during special events such as the Chocolate Walk or other local events where we know that parking will be in high demand to raise money for different charities!”

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Cleary family couldn’t be more happy with the way Boerne has embraced Salty and Sweet. “Having been in business now for over a year and surviving Covid-19, we are ready to keep serving up our tasty treats for years to come,” said Pat. “We are also excited to announce that we have something new in the works too! A new restaurant named Blacksmith Grill.” The Clearys have taken over the former Soda Pops and Sugar Shack

buildings that are next door to create an establishment that will feature American cuisine. According to Tina, “We are very excited for what is to come. Not only will the food be delicious, but we will have plenty of family fun events too!”

The Clearys love the local community and are thrilled to be able to provide family owned businesses to Main Street, Boerne. They invite you to come and enjoy something salty or sweet, sit at their picnic tables and enjoy all the charm that Boerne has to offer. BBM