New business poppin’ into Downtown Hartselle
Later this spring a person walking in Downtown Hartselle will be greeted by a new sound – the popping of popcorn and the sounds of shaved ice. Ice Works and What’s Popp’N will be taking up residence in the old Bentley’s building, and will be bringing shaved ice, gourmet popcorn and more to Main Street.
Lisa Shiver is the owner of What’s Popp’N and Norm Stoddart is the owner of Ice Works. The two have been partners for two years now and said they are excited to be bringing the business to Hartselle. According to Shiver, they are aiming to be able to open by March after some renovations to the building.
“We fell in love with Hartselle. When we walked up and down the little street there, we just felt like it had that hometown atmosphere and we just really wanted to be a part of that,” Shiver said.
The two had been looking to expand their business for sometime now and had looked at other locations in Madison, but ultimately chose to go with Hartselle. Stoddart said he first noticed the for sale sign at the old Bentley’s location when his son bought a home in the area. “It just has a good feel to it, it’s a fun little place,” Stoddart said.
Shiver has owned What’s Popp’N for over seven years, and said the shop offers gourmet popcorn, cotton candy, nuts and will be expanding into fudge. According to Shiver there are over 75 popcorn flavors as well as 21 flavors of cotton candy. Although all of the flavors are not always kept on hand to preserve freshness, Shiver said they can be ordered. “We also sell gift boxes and gift tins. We do the gift packaging. We sell popcorn supplies. Anything you would need from the salt to the popcorn we have it and if we dont we can get it,” Shiver said.
Stodart has worked his business for several years as well. He began working as a mobile business and eventually partnered with Shiver. The store offers shaved ice, frozen lemonade and gourmet ice cream. He says that with the partnership, the products work really well with each other and offer something unique for the community to enjoy. “We want it to be a fun place to visit and spend the afternoon,” Stoddart said.
Shiver and Stoddart said they are excited to be part of the changes happening in Hartselle. “We feel like we can grow in Hartselle. Hartselle seems to be going through a little bit of change right now. You are starting to get some restaurants down there. You have the Ed’s Pizza that is opening up next to us and got Bentleys expanding. It seems like you are going through a little bit of a change and maybe a little bit of a growth and we would like to be a part of that and getting in on that,” Shiver said.