Salty Pup Coffeehouse and Bakeshop opens in Gulfport

Salty Pup Coffeehouse and Bakeshop has opened at 5004 Tangerine Avenue South in Gulfport | Salty Pup

Gulfport residents and their pups can enjoy a new cozy cafe serving coffee, baked goods, and a selection of breakfast and lunch items.

Jeff and Jody Musselman quietly opened the Salty Pup Coffeehouse and Bakeshop several weeks ago at 5004 Tangerine Avenue South, which was formerly home to Mama Pearl’s.

“Whenever we travel, we love visiting coffee shops for their different atmosphere and vibes. We’ve always talked about opening a shop one day,” Jody said to St. Pete Rising.

Jody (left) and Jeff (right) musselman with their beloved dog, Hampton, who recently passed | salty pup

Named in tribute to their beloved dog Hampton, who recently passed, Salty Pup is working with a small Tampa-based wholesale coffee roaster to source beans for their espresso-based drinks, cold brew, and drip coffee. They also serve chai and matcha lattes.

A small menu of four smoothies include selections like the Funky Monkey made with bananas, peanut butter, cacao nibs, chocolate protein, and almond milk.

As for the baked goods, Jody said the desserts will rotate daily, but visitors can expect to find homemade pop-tarts, muffins, cinnamon rolls, scones, cookies, as well as dog-safe baked treats.

Customers wanting a heartier breakfast can order croissant and bagel sandwiches, waffles, French toast, and mini omelets with cheese, spinach, and ham served with fresh fruit.

The lunch menu features items like chicken salad and chickpea salad sandwiches, a soup of the day, and one of their more popular items — a grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with herbed caramelized onions, and a blend of gruyere, muenster, and white cheddar cheeses on toasted sourdough bread.

Strawberry pop-tarts and other sweet treats the cafe offers | salty pup

“I grew up in the South outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee so some of the items on the menu are dishes I grew up eating like our chicken salad that is made ‘Southern style’,” Jody said.

Jody, who previously lived in St. Pete’s Kenwood neighborhood in the early 2000s before moving to Atlanta, Georgia with his partner, always dreamed of returning to the community.

The couple returned to the area a few months ago and executed the lease for the 2,200-square-foot space in November.

“It’s is a little off the beaten path, but we have ample parking and we’re located across from the Trolley Market Square public park,” added Jody.

Coming from the world of marketing and management, Jeff spent his career in the hospitality sector overseeing hotels, and Jody has a background in marketing and retail management.

One of the smoothies at Salty Pup in Gulfport | salty pup

“Life is too short and we started thinking about what to do for our next chapter,” Jody explained. “While we were selling our house [in Atlanta] this past summer, we lost our 14-year-old labradoodle, Hampton. We always called him our 'salty dog' because he had a little attitude.”

Salty Pup will have a bulletin board filled with Polaroid pictures of the furry friends who visit the cafe.

While the cafe allows customers to come in with their pups and order coffee and food, they cannot dine inside the restaurant due to health codes, Jody said.

The Musselmans plan to add green astroturf to the outdoor patio so dogs and their “parents” can enjoy their meals together.

The 40-seat cafe has indoor and outdoor seating and offers free WiFi for customers. There is also a portion of the cafe that can be reserve for private parties and events after 2 p.m. when the shop closes to the public.