STORY

While on vacation with my family in Nashville in the spring of 2002, we stumbled across a unique shop called Las Paletas. It was a simple store selling amazing treats called Mexican paletas, more commonly known as popsicles. Well, not really popsicles, but instead gourmet treats that are brightly colored, all-natural, delicious and healthy too. When we tasted these amazing pops, we immediately thought everyone needed to know about this.

Fast forward to 2011…knowing that pops would be a fun addition to the thriving culinary world in Alabama, we began thinking more seriously about this idea and the possibility of bringing it to Birmingham.

Along with countless family and friends, we put together a business plan and got the process in motion.  My family and I spent hours in my mom's kitchen, testing and tasting every flavor combination under the sun. Jan Moon, owner of Dreamcakes Bakery, also leant her flavoring expertise, as well as business model brainstorming.

And so, Steel City Pops was born! In early 2012 we brought Paul Brown on board to do the buildout of our storefront in Homewood, and hit the ground running.  It has been an invaluable experience to see every detail of a business - from inception, to navigating every possible license, to flavor creation, to pouring concrete in the store.

We opened for business in May of 2012, serving pops out of our store and also from vending carts at Farmer's Markets and various events. Now, we have opened a second location at the Summit in Birmingham, and have a 3rd location coming in Tuscaloosa!

I look forward to seeing all of you in our store, getting to know you, and sharing with you some delicious pops!

Jim Watkins, Owner