Royal Gorge Gourmet Popcorn
About Us
Popcorn Flavors (pdf)
Popcorn Tins
In the News
Local Links
Map to Florence
The Pueblo Chieftain
Wednesday February 18, 2004 Lifestyle
Popcorn with a Twist
CHIEFTAIN PHOTOS/TRACY HARMON
Tom Speirs is helping run the family's popcorn business after losing his computer job in Colorado Springs.
Gourmet shop expands the flavor of popular treat
By TRACY HARMON THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
FLORENCE - Tom Speirs returned to his long-forgotten roots as a candy man after he recently lost his computer job.
Speirs was convinced by his wife, Lois, that running a popcorn and candy shop is what they should be doing. After all, his great-grandparents on his mother's side, Nellie and John Burpee, had run a candy, popcorn and roasted peanut store during the 1930s in Whitefish, Mont. - a community smaller than Florence.
COURTESY PHOTO
Ironically, Nellie and John Burpee, Speirs' great-grandparents, operated a candy, popcorn and roasted peanut store during the 1930s in Whitefish, Mont.
So, with the help of their daughters, Margie Davis of Woodland Park and Sabrina Eddens of Colorado Springs, the Canon City couple opened Royal Gorge Gourmet Popcorn at 116 1/2 E. Main St., in downtown Florence in November.
Working in a shiny new stainless-steel kitchen at the back of the store, Lois experiments with different flavors and toppings to put some zing into popcorn offerings. She relies on her background as an exceptional cook and as a popcorn shop worker in Cascade.
Lois Speirs is the kitchen whiz whipping up exotic popcorn recipes for her customers to try.
"I am the cook - I like doing it. I'm back in the kitchen coming up with a new flavor every week," Lois said.
To date she has created more than 20 different kinds of popcorn, from savory barbecue or cheddar to candied cinnamon or traditional caramel. Her "royal" line of popcorns are drizzled with chocolate and may have everything from toasted coconut and nuts to dried cherries or banana chips.
The most popular royal popcorn has turned out to be the Royal English Toffee which was a big hit around the holidays. She has come up with so many different kinds of popcorn that there are more flavors than there is room for samples on the free sample shelf.
"I take suggestions too - I'll come up with anything new that customers want," Lois said.
Margie Davis fills a birthday tin for a customer with cherry, green apple and blueberry candied popcorn.
Recently a customer suggested an amaretto and nut flavor, which Lois hopes to perfect.
Customers don't have to be popcorn fanatics to enjoy Lois’ offerings. With the help of Margie and Sabrina, a diverse line of candies is hitting the shelves.
There is traditional peanut brittle, cashew brittle, even jalapeno peanut brittle.
Casey Davis, 5, shows off a bag of tropical punch old-fashioned stained-glass candy and a creative tin which are among offerings at his family's Royal Gorge Gourmet Popcorn in Florence.
Old-fashioned stained-glass candy (which resembles pieces of colorful glass) is available in the popular hot cinnamon flavor as well as many other varieties, such as fruit punch. The hard candy is meant to be savored and slowly sucked. A word to the wise: Don't try to chew it or it will stick to your teeth.
Chocolates in plain, nutty, peanut butter and mint varieties compete with chocolate cashew clusters, marbled peanut bark and almond clusters. This is the rich stuff - Lois uses real butter.
Once Lois has worked her magic in the kitchen the rest of the family pitches in to package the goodies and mark them with their own personalized labels.
Even plain popcorn is available.
Tins and baskets for all occasions can be filled with popcorn and candy and shipped anywhere. Balloons and cards are available to attach for last-minute shoppers.
The homemade fare has gone as far away as Iraq as well as throughout Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio, New York and Washington state, just to name a few. Maps on one wall show a pin where each shipment has gone or where in-store customers hail from.
Chocolates with nuts, peanut butter and mint are among tasty homemade candies.
"The people in Florence have been wonderful since we have opened. Many of the stores are passing out samples to their customers and telling them where we are," Lois said.
The family hopes to branch out with the business come summertime, when they will unveil their concession cart at fairs and festivals such as Canon City's Music and Blossom Festival, slated for May 1-2.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will expand to include Sundays this spring. The business phone number is 784-2335.
