In the mood for a savory snack? Pop into Austin’s new gourmet popcorn shop, Poppin’ Out Pal, located at 5607 W. Division St. The new shop, which officially opened on June 8, offers a variety of flavors, including white cheddar, caramel, dill, “spicy red,” BBQ and cheese. For customers with a sweet tooth, Italian ice is also on the menu.
Two years ago, owner Conchita Lewis decided that the Austin area needed a popcorn shop. She noticed that people had to either go downtown or to the South Side if they wanted to find gourmet popcorn. That’s when the idea for Poppin’ Out Pal was born.
Determined to open her own popcorn shop on the West Side, Lewis found a vacant storefront in a shopping strip on Division Street and set her idea into motion.
“The process was slow, as far as getting the store open and working with the city,” she said. “It’s very refreshing to finally open and get started.”
Lewis, who is an Austin native, is a retired employee of The Chicago Department of Aviation. She said opening her own business has been her goal for a long time.
“Now instead of going downtown to Garrett, people can get popcorn right here in the neighborhood,” she said. “When you come in, I greet you by saying, ‘Welcome to the POP shop.’”
Since opening last month, Lewis has noticed that a favorite among older customers is a classic cheese and caramel mix. Teenagers and the younger crowd, she said, have typically opted for more adventurous flavors like dill and “spicy red.”
“I want to get the community’s feedback so I can give them the treats that they want,” she said.
Crystal Dyer, Board Chairperson for the Austin Chamber of Commerce, said it’s great that Poppin’ Out Pal is open for business because there is nothing else like it in the neighborhood.
Dyer said that although Bitoy’s Sweet Treats, which sells gourmet popcorn, has been located on Chicago Avenue in Austin for years, it is no longer a storefront operation. Instead, it is now focused on catering and online orders.
“They are not open for daily operations anymore.” she said. “They are distributors now.”
Austin resident Elacetria Ecford and her 11-year-old daughter Makinley recently visited Poppin’ Out Pal for the first time. They enjoyed it so much that they returned the next day.
Ecford said she is a fan of the dill and “spicy red” mix, and her daughter likes the shop’s cherry-flavored Italian Ice. In addition to cherry, the shop also offers Italian ice in lemon, blue raspberry, pineapple, strawberry and passion fruit.
“The popcorn is really good,” Ecford said. “This is definitely something different for the neighborhood.”
Poppin’ Out Pal is open Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sundays from 12 – 5 p.m.
