GULF SHORES — The people behind Hog Wild Beach & BBQ have started a new ice cream spot on the property with Piggie Palms Ice Cream ‘n Waffles.

Located on the patio of Hog Wild at 911 Gulf Shores Parkway, owners Caitlin and T.J. Allen decided to expand their dessert options after 12 years of running the barbecue restaurant. Without enough space inside, they opted to open a separate ice cream shop.

“We’re just most excited to offer something we feel like is unique with a waffle addition to it and just offering something else to our guests so they don’t have to travel any farther for ice cream,” T.J. Allen said. “... We feel like we’ve done barbecue for so long. It’s something else for us to get our feet wet with.”

The business is a family operation, giving their children, including daughter Emilynn, a chance to help out with Mom and Dad. Caitlin Allen credits her with helping pick out the ice cream flavors and helping them out along the way.

"This has been really fun being able to create something with them because we created the restaurant before they were born, so now they’re able to do that with us, and we love that,” Caitlin Allen said.

Piggie Palms serves Tillamook ice cream wrapped around a bubble-style waffle. There are three styles to choose from: the Get Piggie With It, featuring vanilla ice cream, sprinkles and cherries; Shredding the Gnar, with mudslide ice cream, chocolate syrup and Pocky sticks; and Cookie Monster, which includes cookies ’n cream ice cream, chocolate syrup and Oreos. Each order is topped with whipped cream.

Patrons can also make their own ice cream and waffle combination with toppings such as sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, Biscoff cookies, Oreos, gummy bears, Pocky sticks and cherries, in addition to chocolate and caramel syrup. They also serve standalone scooped ice cream and milkshakes.

Piggie Palms is currently undergoing a soft opening, open daily from 5 to 9 p.m. They plan to expand their hours in the summer.