Local gourmet popsicle makers MEMpopS are expanding again, this time with a new brick-and-mortar location opening in March in Collierville along with a beefed up mobile fleet for events across the area.
“When I started this, I didn’t know what would happen, so it’s been really cool who watch it catch on and for people to get excited,” said owner Chris Taylor. “People have their favorite flavors, and some of the regulars always love to try the new flavors we come up with.”
The new location will be the company’s third store in as many years, joining its successful Crosstown Concourse and East Memphis stores. The new 1,000-square-foot store will be located at 3670 Houston Levee, just south of Poplar Avenue.
“We do a lot of events in Collierville and have gotten a lot of positive feedback,” said Taylor. “Out there, we won’t be making popsicles. We’re going to do all of our production between Crosstown and East Memphis. So in Collierville there will actually be more seating because our kitchen will be really small.”
Taylor expects to hire six to eight people for the new location.
Ingredients for MEMPopS fruit- and cream-based popsicles are sourced from local farmers when seasonally available. Wildly creative flavors range from hibiscus lemonade to bananas foster to toasted marshmallow to drunken pear and many more, and new flavors are always in the works.
“Flavors change sometimes every day,” said Taylor. “We’re getting a little more creative because we have more time now. We currently have a lot of really cool cream pops.”
For Valentine’s Day, MEMpopS is taking preorders for chocolate dipped and drizzled strawberries.
Adding to its mobile presence, which had consisted of two converted mail trucks and one Airstream, Taylor recently purchased a 1963 Airstream trailer.
“We plan on having a bigger mobile presence this season than we did last season,” said Taylor. “My plan starting out was to do as many events as possible so people would see the name, try the product, and then at that point come into one of the stores.”
MEMpopS gives back to the local community by collecting tips for a designated monthly charity, as well as at special events and other functions. In 2017, MEMpopS helped raise more than $35,000 for local charities and schools.
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