People's Pops Owner Helps New Food Vendors

A popsicle stand secures a location and a platform for other emerging food companies.

Owner David Carrell (right) with People's Pops team. [Photo by: ny-made]

On the fourth floor of the old Pfizer factory in Williamsburg, People’s Pops owner David Carrell tidies up his commercial kitchen from the yesterday’s snowstorm catering event. While it’s technically off-season for his popsicle company — his Chelsea location closed up before Halloween — his wholesale business is hopping and has a year-round contract with the Whole Foods. “People still buy ice cream during the winter, they just go to the grocery store,” Carrell said.

However he does recognize that with his 15 retail location ranging from Chelsea Market to Green Grape Provisions in Fort Greene closed for the season, business will be slower. So when he secured a seven year lease on Union Street in Park Slope and a kitchen in Williamburg, he planned to sublet his space out to other seasonal shops. “Four years ago I couldn’t even get our business credit card to raise our spending limit above $500,” he said. “Now that we can make this a stepping stone for other businesses.”

Already his 500-square foot store front has been sublet to Landhaus, a sustainable sandwich shop from Brooklyn Flea until the popsicle company resumes business in April. “We never wanted to do a split store," Carrell said, referring to ice cream partnerships like Dunkin Donuts and Basket Robbins. “It was a leap of faith when we first did it, but we saw a demand from small business.” His commercial kitchen has hosted juice maker The Stand. 

Carrell said through markets like Brooklyn Flea and Chelsea Market food businesses have developed a support network. Before moving in the Pfizer building, he and other Flea vendors Brooklyn Soda Works and Kombucha Brooklyn would meet up at 61 Local. “When you see the same people every week, you really do create a bond,” he said.