Summer Staple

King of Pops continues to grow –one handmade popsicle at a time

By Isadora Pennington

We have all been there before: you’re at a festival or walking through your neighborhood and the sun is beating down on your back, the atmosphere thick and humid. You look around for some refreshment, some oasis from the heat, and then you catch a glimpse of a glimmering rainbow umbrella in the distance. Salvation looms in the form of frosty, handmade popsicles sold from a small, three wheel cart.

King of Pops is a staple of summers in Atlanta. Brothers Steve and Nick Carse came up with the concept back in 2009 while on vacation with their brother, Ashley, in Central America. During their trip, the brothers fell in love with the fresh fruit ice pops called paletas sold from roadside carts. When the brothers returned home they continued to talk and dream about one day starting a pop business of their very own. It was after mass layoffs at AIG, Steve’s employer, that they decided to bring their idea to life.

With the help of friends and family, the duo decided on the name King of Pops (not a reference to Michael Jackson, for the record) and started experimenting with creating the icy treats which Steve then sold at the corner of North and N. Highland avenue. Throughout the years, the company has expanded, grown, and accumulated a fanatical devotion and support from the community. The company has now opened kitchens and markets in Athens, Charleston, Charlotte, Greenville, Richmond and Savannah.

King of Pops is not only a company devoted to staying cool, they also have a desire to keep business local and use only fresh ingredients. For flavor combinations like Grapefruit Mint, Strawberry Lemonade and Raspberry Lime, the company has traditionally sourced fruits and veggies from smaller farms nearby and uses natural sweeteners like agave. The flavors often come and go with the seasons, a causality of their commitment to using fresh ingredients and, at times, a challenge for pop fans with less readily available favorites. “Popsicles are an easy medium for people to attach themselves to and we can ease them into local and sustainable foods,” said Steve.

On the opposite end of the pop spectrum from the light fruity pop is the creamy pop, one of which is arguably the most requested fan favorite of all flavors: the Chocolate Sea Salt. This rich and sweet chocolate pop is reminiscent of classic fudge pops with a taste of salt for added perk. Several of the creamy favorites include interesting textures, like Banana Puddin’ which contains chunks of fresh bananas, or the Key Lime Pie which features a graham cracker crust.

In addition to the initial corner spot of the Buddy’s lot in Poncey-Highlands, King of Pops can now be found at a variety of regular locations throughout the city. You can get your popsicle fix during hot months at spots like Decatur Square, the Window at King of Pops headquarters on the Atlanta BeltLine in Inman Park, and during most festivals and outdoor events or concerts. From outposts as obscure as the Georgia Renaissance Festival (complete with appropriate period clothing) to catered weddings, fundraisers, and corporate events, these pops are all over the place. You can even special order alcoholic Poptails in your favorite flavor combination or customize the popsicle sticks to fit the occasion.

In 2014 the Carse brothers embarked upon a new undertaking and bought their very own farm west of Douglasville dubbed “King of Crops.” The 68-acre property currently hosts nurseries, greenhouses, open farmland and horses. “We’ll be able to control what we’re using for our popsicles a bit better,” Steve explained. “Using fresh fruit ingredients are key, the farm is an extension of that.” Eventually the company hopes to incorporate an event space and possibly dairy of some kind, and they plan to incorporate smaller and more accessible farm plots near each of the major kitchens throughout the Southeast.

While Steve has made cultivating the farm his priority, Nick has turned his attention to another element of the pop business: distribution. As a small brand, the King of Pops company has had to learn the hard way about getting optimal results from wholesale distribution and how easy it is to get lost among the larger scale products in the market. Nick is currently working on Perfect 10, a small brand distribution center. The new endeavor will focus on merchandising, selling and distributing effectively for no more than 10 brands at any given time. “We are going to focus mostly on urban markets,” Nick said. Though they are not opposed to larger outlets like certain mainstream grocers, their focus is more on fast-casual restaurants and neighborhood shops. “Those are our best customers,” he said.

What makes King of Pops special goes beyond the implementation of local foods and smart distribution. It is also the commitment to providing a fun atmosphere. Equipped with bright slinger tees and the classic rainbow umbrella, the team stands apart from first glance. “We want to make something that tastes great and uses the best ingredients we can find,” Matt explained, “but beyond that we want to have a good experience to go with it.”

The Carse brothers are certainly doing something right. King of Pops reigns supreme among local handcrafted treats in Atlanta, and there are plenty of ways to get involved. Just last month on their 5 year anniversary the team paired up with Mailchimp to offer free pops at all locations as a thank you, recently they began selling during Braves games at Turner Field, and they also host a free yoga class at the Old Fourth Ward skate park on Tuesday evenings at 7. For more information including ingredients, a list of seasonal flavors, catering, fundraising and updates on current cart locations, go to the King of Pops website at atlanta.kingofpops.net. Stay cool, Atlanta!