I grew up eating popcorn pretty often. My dad made it most nights, the old-fashioned way — oil, kernels and a big heavy pot on the stove.
He usually only had salted popcorn, so any flavored popcorn was a treat. Even now, I find a bowl of gourmet popcorn to be a great treat and fun gift. One of my favorite local finds in Hendricks County, Indiana, has been PopAKernel Gourmet Popcorn, a small business that has continued to grow and adapt while staying rooted in the community.
A Local Business That Pops
Kim and Jerrod Cox started the process of opening PopAKernel toward the end of 2019 and finalized everything in March 2020. The timing wasn't great with the pandemic but they pushed on and opened in Brownsburg and quickly grew a loyal customer base!
In 2023, they moved their store to The Shops at Perry Crossing, where they remain today. PopAKernel uses that location to make its popcorn, fulfill orders and prep for events.
The Popcorn
The popcorn is made in-house and offered in a variety of flavors , which makes it fun to try new ones and fun to give as gifts.
Flavors include the more traditional options like caramel, as well as their own creations and even ideas from customers, like pickle and white chocolate caramel. They even have a 317 Mix that combines cheese, white cheddar, and caramel, and gets its name from the Indianapolis area code.
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More Than Just A Storefront
Their location at The Shops of Perry Crossing features popcorn and other snack options. They also have gifts available for purchase and fun photo ops throughout the store.
In addition to their storefront location, they are active at local farmers' markets in Hendricks County. You'll often see Jerrod happily welcoming you over and offering flavor suggestions. It's one of our favorite vendors, and we always make sure to stop!
Looking Ahead
PopAKernel continues to grow, but they have added additional snacks like chips, which you can find in-store. They also plan to continue serving customers remotely at those summer farmers' markets in 2026 and beyond.
For their current hours and upcoming market schedules, follow PopAKernel on Facebook.



