By james art PoshPop, a gourmet popcorn shop founded by sisters Bailey Monet, 14, and Harper Juliet, 9, in Zachary, has opened a brick-and-mortar store in the Acadian Perkins Plaza shopping center on Perkins Road — with their mother, Ebony McCallister, at the helm of the operation.
The store offers a wide selection of popcorn mixes: Coco Crunch, Praline Paradise, Slumber Party, Cajun Critter, Gold Rush, Power Up and more. Posh Pop also serves local favorite Leroy’s Lemonade, as well as macarons, cupcakes, caramel-dipped pretzels, caramel apples, spicy hotdogs and more.
Bailey McCallister, right, and her little sister, Harper McCallister, co-own Posh Pop Gourmet Popcorn at the Zachary Farmers Market.
“It had to be more than just snacks,” Eboni McCallister said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I wanted to have more than snacks to cater to families and students who are studying who need a little more to get them through dinner.”
PoshPop Gourmet Popcorn was born in 2020 when the McCallister family was setting up for the Grinch movie. Harper, who was 5 at the time, asked their mother to make her own popcorn in the kitchen while McCallister put her baby to bed. McCallister backed down after the third question.
Instead of just popping popcorn, Harper and Bailey mixed together all the snacks and treats they made during the day, including cookies, caramel, chocolate chip bagels and more. As they ate the mixture, they thought, “I think we’re on to something.”
After the pandemic, after Harper, Bailey and their mother started the business as an online popcorn-to-order service, the startup became a staple in the local community. The store sold products at the Zachary Farmer’s Market and Live After 5 before moving to Tiger Park (LSU’s softball stadium), Tiger Stadium, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and Southern football games.
Bailey, now a freshman in high school, often works at the store and at the many events PoshPop caters — unless she has an exam, according to McCallister.
For the upcoming holiday season, McCallister hopes to bring in the holiday spirit with personalized gourmet popcorn gifts. Catering, online delivery and these special holiday gifts can be ordered online at poshpop.shop or by texting (225) 268-8000.
PoshPop Gourmet Popcorn, 3617 Perkins Road, Suite 1F, is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The store is closed on Mondays, so McCallister can spend the day making fresh popcorn and on Tuesdays meeting with clients.