Timeko Davis-Wade’s gourmet Memphis popcorn business, Pop’s Kernel, was born out of hardship and sparked by a nudge from God. Searching for direction after the economy shut down the childcare business she was managing and a flood destroyed her home, the Memphis native was inspired to make the nostalgic snack after visiting a Chicago popcorn shop that reawakened her love of its crunchy goodness.
A decade later, Timeko has built Pop’s Kernel into a thriving business with a local storefront, celebrity fans, and a mission to hire people with special needs. Popcorn lovers can splurge on bags of Pop’s Kernel, featuring more than 50 flavors in several sizes, or customize bags for birthday parties, weddings, baby showers, and other events. Get to know this creative FACE of Memphis!
Tell us about launching Pop’s Kernel. What sparked the idea?
It was truly an act of God. The year before, 2011, had not been the best year for me and my family. I was running a childcare business for my church, and we had to close because of the economy. We also lost our house in a flood that hit Memphis. My husband was the sole provider for me and our two children.
In January 2012, I was visiting my grandma in Chicago. As I was getting ready to leave, she said, “Why don’t you take a special treat home to your family?” So, I went to the closest Garrett Popcorn Shop, Chicago’s famous gourmet popcorn brand.
When I got there, a long line had formed outside, and I couldn’t believe all these people were standing around in seven-degree weather just to get popcorn. But when the door opened and the caramel smell hit me, I forgot about the freezing weather. I was just thinking about the experience and popping that first kernel into my mouth.
Later that night, I was on the train with a gigantic bag of caramel corn and a few smaller bags of different flavors. It was quiet, and I prayed, “Lord, I need a job because I’m so used to working.” So, God said to me, “Make popcorn.” The words were so clear.
A few days later, that voice was still in my head. My husband and I found a basic caramel corn recipe online and bought an air popper and kernels. He made the first batch. (Our kids call him Pops, so we named the business Pop’s Kernel.) I did some research to find mushroom kernels like Garrett used — they pop up bigger and fluffier, and caramel adheres to them better.
We spent a few years testing our product and selling it here and there. In 2015, several teams from our church were going on mission trips, and our pastor asked me to do a fundraiser with my popcorn. The only flavor I had was caramel, so I decided to try my hand at cheese. I went to the grocery store and bought 20 boxes of macaroni and cheese just so I could use the cheese packets. We added a few other flavors, like white cheddar ranch and cinnamon roll.
Then, my church requested 1,400 bags of popcorn for a women’s conference. We had to figure out where to buy everything in bulk and what type of bags to put the popcorn in to keep it fresh. The night before the conference, my whole family came over to help us make popcorn. That was a turning point.
How did Pop’s Kernel evolve from there?
I got my business license in 2016 and started applying to be a vendor at events around Memphis. Almost every weekend, I was selling popcorn and trying to get our name out there. We started getting more orders, but the biggest turnaround came when I did a Soul Food Sunday event with Cynthia Daniels, who promotes Black-owned businesses in Memphis.
It was cold and rainy like the day I first visited Garrett’s. We brought 700 bags of popcorn, and by the end of the day, we sold out. People loved it and were mad when we ran out. I did more events with Cynthia, and we sold out at every one. We eventually started partnering with other local businesses that sold our popcorn. Meanwhile, my entire kitchen, living room, dining room, and bonus room had become a popcorn factory!
What makes your popcorn special?
We use simple ingredients like real butter and vanilla flavoring instead of powder mixes, so you get that butter flavor in every bite. I make it the old-fashioned way in a pot on the stove. I make the caramel by hand, hand pouring and tossing it. After it cools, we put it in the oven. That’s an extra step in the process, but that’s who we are. We want to make sure that when it gets to you, it’s crunchy, nostalgic, and memorable.
What are your most popular flavors?
Buffalo Ranch. We put each seasoning on two different kernels, so you have the mild spice of the buffalo on one kernel and the coolness of the ranch on the other. It’s like a dance party in your mouth! We also have a vegan flavor called “I Love Tuscan,” made with olive oil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, parsley, and sun-dried tomato. It’s a favorite for me, especially with a glass of wine. I’ve also created a barbecue flavor I sell in the summer called Q’ued. It’s wild, smokey, and has a bit of heat to it.
What motivated you to open your storefront?
I wanted a place where customers could come to have all of their senses engaged — to see the popcorn being made, smell it, taste it, and hear it popping. When our customers leave, we always say, “You’re a-maizing,” because maize is the Spanish word for corn. We do dance parties on Fun Fridays and karaoke on Sing-Along Saturdays.
I also wanted to create an atmosphere where young adults with special needs could work and be surrounded by people who love and encourage them. That’s important to me because my son Devin learns differently and used to have trouble keeping jobs. I have one employee, Alex, who is high-functioning autistic and works on Fridays and Saturdays. He’s an ambassador for the Special Olympics and starred in the movie “Champions” with Woody Harrelson. Our customers love him because he’s so bubbly and gives great customer service.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start a business but doesn’t know where to start?
You’ve got to pray about it and have great passion and patience because it doesn’t happen overnight. Everything we did, we bootstrapped. There’s always something new to learn, especially if it’s something you didn’t go to school for. I’ve burned a lot of popcorn over the years, but now I call myself “Timeko the Popcornista” because I’ve learned so much and have processes my competitors don’t have.
Keep pushing yourself, and always have a bigger reason for what you do aside from just making money.
Where can we find you when you’re not working?
I love to travel. I’ve been to all 50 states and eight countries. My husband promised at the altar to take me places I’ve never been — and he’s kept that promise!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t give up!
Name three things you can’t live without (aside from faith, family, and friends).
A good (pizza) pie, watching the sunrise, and the beach.
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