Steel City Pops

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Steel City Pops logo.jpg

Steel City Pops is a gourmet popsicle company operating from pushcarts and brick-and-mortar storefronts around the Birmingham area. The company was founded in 2012 by Jim Watkins. Pete Srodoski has been president and CEO since January 2020.

Watkins interned with Jan Moon of Dreamcakes to learn how to run a business before opening Steel City Pops. Richard and Lynielle Long designed the main store, most of which Watkins and Brown constructed themselves.

Steel City offers more than 25 flavors of fruity and cream-based popsicles, made with fresh ingredients and inspired by Mexican "paletas". The business also sells bottled water, with all proceeds from water sales donated to NeverThirst.

Steel City Pops opened new locations at The Summit and behind The Pantry in Crestline Village in 2013. In 2014 they opened a freestanding shop with a drive-thru window in a remodeled 1961 Airstream trailer in the parking lot of the Vapor Thrift Store at 5443 U.S. Highway 280. That same year the company opened two locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex as well as locations in Auburn and Tuscaloosa.

In 2015 Steel City Pops was named one of thirteen "Alabama Retailers of the Year" by the Alabama Retail Association.

Birmingham area locations

former locations

References

  • Carlton, Bob (May 25, 2012) "Cool treats at Steel City Pops are hot in Homewood." The Birmingham News
  • Carlton, Bob (May 9, 2013) "Way cool! Steel City Pops opens a third location today in Mountain Brook's Crestline Village." The Birmingham News
  • Carlton, Bob (March 13, 2014) "Birmingham's Steel City Pops expanding into Texas, opening shops in Dallas and Fort Worth ." The Birmingham News
  • "Steel City Pops to be honored as an Alabama Retailer of the Year." (September 21, 2015) The Homewood Star
  • Rebman, Stephanie (January 19, 2021) "Steel City Pops closes Homewood location, but another on the way." Birmingham Business Journal

External links