Gourmet Popcorn shop to open at Peachtree Battle

By caleb j. spivak + on September 18, 2012

CaJa to celebrate grand opening Friday, Sept. 21.

CaJa Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn retailer, in a press release Tuesday announced plans to open its doors on Friday, September 21.

The store, located in the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center at 2333 Peachtree Road, will feature chef-inspired, small batch popcorn handmade daily.

Popcorn flavors include Sea Salt Caramel, Spicy BBQ, Pimento Cheese, Kettle Corn, and Butter, according to the release.

This is the first restaurant venture for owner Kevin Peak, who has worked in the financial industry for more than 20 years.

The name “CaJa” was inspired by the names of Peak’s two children, Caroline and Jack.

Photo courtesy of CaJa.

About caleb j. spivak

CJS is the Founder of What Now Atlanta. He was recently featured in The New York Times, Creative Loafing's "20 People to Watch in 2012," named "Lifestyle Blogger You Need To Know" by Rolling Out Magazine and highlighted as Atlanta's Metropolitan Male in fashion magazine, 944. WNA was named "Best of Atlanta" by Creative Loafing and Atlanta Magazine.

25 Comments

H

September 19, 2012 at 8:20 am

Shouldn’t the headline read “Gourmet Popcorn Shop to Close Soon”?

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AJ

September 19, 2012 at 8:58 am

Nice H. Yeah, let’s assume he’ll fail. That’s a good thing. What the **** is wrong with you people?

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Urbanist

September 19, 2012 at 9:57 am

New low-end trend to commence, and subsequently swallow up Atlanta’s strip mall snack shop scene in approximately 2 days…

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H

September 19, 2012 at 10:00 am

It’s a freaking “gourmet” popcorn store. This concept belongs in a mall from 1995 next to Build-A-Bear and a sports collectibles store.

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Johnny B

September 19, 2012 at 10:06 am

H; whomever you are, your comment was tasteless, rude and unnecessary. You have no idea what this persons business plan is, distribution plans or ultimate measures of success are. You should reserve judgment until you have experienced the store and product yourself. The market will decide if it is a success or failure.

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Mall King

September 19, 2012 at 10:45 am

Ha ha, Urbanist. You LIVE at the greatest strip mall of all, Atlantic Station.

At least you don’t discriminate. You love malls of all kinds.

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Brad

September 19, 2012 at 11:28 am

I’m sorry, but this is doomed. Those leaving comments to the contrary are probably connected to the store.

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H

September 19, 2012 at 11:31 am

Oh come on, Brad. They could probably last a few months in one of those fake carts between Auntie Anne’s and the cart making candles for Christmas shoppers.

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Dude

September 19, 2012 at 12:20 pm

I love popcorn.
…but this might work better next to health club or next to any public park.
…possibly in a food truck or food cart concept.

Driving to a strip mall for popcorn seems odd.
But driving to a strip mall for a $3.00 cup of burnt coffee seems odd to…

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Alan G

September 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm

Nothing wrong with a bit of cynical “reality”…statistics in the industry say that 50-55% of restaurant/bars fail within the first year…tell it like it is!!!

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396

September 19, 2012 at 3:03 pm

Hmmm….A gourmet popcorn food truck. Relatively low overhead, non-messy product, easy to pop up (no pun intended) at outdoor events, parks, retail areas. Dude might be onto something there.

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Love Me Some Corn

September 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm

I have tried this popcorn and it ROCKS. Kevin is a smart guy– I am betting for success.

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CathyL

September 19, 2012 at 4:57 pm

Assuming that the popcorn being sold is good, a popcorn store has a better chance of success at Peachtree Battle than at almost any other location in metro Atlanta other than at an indoor mall or the airport. It is at an extremely busy shopping center near some established food establishments including Baskin Robbins, Jalisco, and Zoe’s that bring lots of foot traffic. Also, it is in a shopping center that caters to a wealthy clientele who might purchase cans of gourmet popcorn to give as gifts.

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JJS

September 20, 2012 at 10:54 am

this store will do quite well with the upscale demographic of the area

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MJ

September 20, 2012 at 2:01 pm

A) This shop isn’t going up in a storefront at 1010. It’s across from an elementary school, next to a children’s clothing store and a Baskin Robbins, and in a neighborhood with plenty of disposable income.

B) If you go from the financial industry for 20 years to opening a popcorn store named after your kids, you obviously don’t need the money. This dude is living his dream, and you people wish you had the balls (and resources) to do the same.

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flerd_trandle

September 20, 2012 at 2:37 pm

I happen to remember the late 1980s when flavored popcorn stores were the rage and filled empty slots in strip malls across the country. The fad lasted a year, maybe two, before all of the stores were gone.

Maybe this guy does have a lot of disposable income, is living out his dream, and doesn’t care how money he loses. I just don’t expect this resurrected fad to last any longer than it did any other time.

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H

September 20, 2012 at 2:55 pm

Maybe everyone has blocked out the terrible Christmas gift tins of popcorn that no one ever wanted but got anyway.

In the end it’s a store selling popcorn. Dress it up all you want, the end product is a snack that sometimes some people like when they’re not watching a movie.

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MJ

September 20, 2012 at 3:17 pm

In the end it’s a store selling [coffee]. Dress it up all you want, the end product is a [drink] that sometimes some people like when [it’s not first thing in the morning]

Sound familar?

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H

September 20, 2012 at 4:32 pm

I hope you realize that you tried to put demand for popcorn and coffee on the same level.

Folks, there’s an untapped vein of white fluffy gold out there! Popcorn I say! Have you seen the corn fields in the midwest? We’ll be rich!

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Dan

September 20, 2012 at 4:49 pm

I thought Urbanist would have loved this considering it isn’t a chain and offers something different to what is out there currently….

Damn this man is hard to please!

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Obvi

September 20, 2012 at 5:50 pm

I went today to the friends and family soft opening. The spicy bar-b-que was pretty good. I can see this place surviving if not thriving.

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CLD

September 20, 2012 at 8:13 pm

Chicago still has a very successful gourmet popcorn company.

I never thought a place could sell just cup cakes and make it, but they have. In fact one company in particular is killing it.

At a time when people are looking for fresh and moving toward different flavors, I think this concept has a shot.

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priscilla

September 21, 2012 at 10:09 pm

A pop corn store also just opened at the Shallowford Exchange shopping center at Shallowford Rd and 85. Haven’t tried it yet.

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Renz

December 22, 2012 at 8:36 am

There are plenty of stores around Atlanta and the country…Tiffany’s Popcorn Cafe, near me, in Decatur is doing great…they started hiring, so you can’t be losing money to do that.

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