Embodying the taste of a city steeped in history, Garrett Popcorn stands tall at the ripe age of 75, an icon that has seen Chicago through countless changes. Established in 1949, this gourmet popcorn purveyor has become synonymous with the Windy City's bustling street corners and has continued to capture the hearts and palates of both locals and tourists alike. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, owner Megan Chody believes in the authenticity of their method, saying, "We are authentic and we’re still making Garrett popcorn the same way that they did at 10 W. Madison in 1949."
As part of its commemorative festivities, Garrett Popcorn is offering fans an anniversary deal that's hard to pass up. Starting Monday, customers can walk into any Garrett store and walk out with a small bag of any signature recipe for merely $1.75. This special price is a nod to their founding year and will run from 1 to 3 p.m. every weekday. However, there's a catch: the deal is in-store only and excludes airport and sports venue shops, with customers limited to one bag per transaction—and one offer per item. Over the past year, Garrett Popcorn has produced 122 million gallons of their beloved treat, sustaining a taste that has transcended generations, NBC Chicago reports.
Garrett's affection for Chicago extends beyond the borders of the city, with shops located as far afield as Atlanta, Las Vegas, and across Asia. Its appeal, often attributed to the secret family recipe and high-quality, non-GMO kernels, has reached global heights. Firmly rooted in the local community, the company maintains a cornucopia of flavors including the CheeseCorn and CaramelCrisp, famously admired by none other than media queen Oprah and the late Donda West, who regularly shipped the iconic mixture to her son Kanye West.
In line with the anniversary celebration, the company is eager to roll out new flavors, such as Apple CaramelCrisp, set to launch on September 23rd. “I like the smell. You can smell it a block away,” Richard Phelps, an 87-year-old retired physician and enticed patron, told the Chicago Sun-Times, emphasizing the nearly magnetic pull of the Garrett aroma that has become a sensory landmark of the city.
The legacy of Garrett Popcorn is one steeped in tradition and entrenched in the fabric of Chicago's bustling food scene. With their 75th-anniversary celebrations underway, Garrett Popcorn invites residents and visitors to indulge in a pop of history, ensuring the timeless taste continues to evoke the pleasures of simple, well-crafted food for many years to come. "When I’m at a shop, I always leave with a bag because I believe in quality control," she affirmed in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "You might as well make sure the boss is happy."
