In the ensuing seven years, Johnson added a few popular popcorn flavors to those Paparella created and extended the menu by offering house-made fudge, cake pops, cotton candy and candy apples.
What’s special about it?
Poparella’s uses two types of popcorn kernels—Orville Redenbacher and mushroom which, when popped, looks like a round ball.
Johnson said they use a lot of butter, sugar and brown sugar in their recipes and also incorporate pure ground cinnamon, lemon oil, orange oil and cinnamon oil.
“We're working to get away from some of the artificial flavors and dyes,” Johnson said.
The top three selling popcorn flavors are movie time, buttery original and caramel. Another popular flavor is lemon pound cake, a recipe Johnson created.
“You have to smell it and try it,” Johnson said. “It's amazing.”
The approach
Popcorn can be purchased in a variety of bag sizes and containers including refillable tins.
“They'll bring in their tins monthly. They [the tins] are all banged up and have the old logo [on it] from before I even bought the store,” Johnson said. “It's just the cutest thing. I just love it.”
Customers include walk-ins, local school districts, cities, corporations and churches.
“I remember [saying], ‘If I take this on, I have to change the revenue stream or branch out to different revenue streams, because if we depended on foot traffic, we would die,’” Johnson said. “So I worked hard to do that, and it paid off.”
Quote of note
Johnson said her favorite thing about owning the business, which was established in 2008, is experimenting and creating new flavors.
“If someone comes in and says, ‘Hey, do you think you can make dill pickle cotton candy?’ I'll try it. I'm open to trying anything,” Johnson said. “We love to experiment here in the store.”
- 8873 Coleman Blvd., Frisco
- www.poparellas.com
