By Daniel Human
Tribune business writer
Kokomo — A Howard County business that has caught the attention of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kim Kardashian and cast members of “Good Times” has plans to move into the heart of Kokomo.
Sweet Poppin’s LLC owner Tashia Johnson-St. Clair has been operating her business in a store off U.S. 31 just south of the Howard-Miami County line near Cassville.
She began preparing gourmet popcorn, which comes in flavors like pralines and cream and strawberry cheesecake, and delivering it in 2003.
She opened a retail store front earlier this year at the location.
“I thought that being on [U.S.] 31, I would have all this traffic,” she said. “But we don’t have a stop light, so everyone just drives by.”
Johnson-St. Clair plans to open her business at the former Sycamore Street location for Victory Bike Shop, 107 E. Sycamore St.
There will be few changes to they way Sweet Poppin’s operates, she said, except maybe hiring a few more staff members. However, the store will be twice the size and it will be more accessible.
The new location, Johnson-St. Clair hopes, could lead to the business becoming a franchise.
The popcorn shop might also revive a program it began in 2005, but discontinued, called Popcorn Fridays.
Several Kokomo businesses would order popcorn early in the week and Sweet Poppin’s delivered it on Fridays as an end-of-the-week treat for the employees.
“People talk about how much they miss it,” she said, referring to it as a good “morale booster” for businesses.
Johnson-St. Clair’s business has grown enough in popularity to earn her a trip to California next year for the Emmy Awards.
She won’t be able to watch the TV award program, she said, but she’ll be serving her gourmet popcorn to celebrities by placing the treats into gift baskets.
An upcoming children’s movie also plans to feature Sweet Poppin’s when a few of the cast members eat it on camera.
“The people you get popcorn to, you can’t beat that,” Johnson-St. Clair said.
• Daniel Human is the Kokomo Tribune business reporter. He can be reached at 765-454-8570 or at daniel.human@kokomotribune.com.
