Minnesota Popcorn Stand
When it comes to popcorn, more is usually better. That is, until you run out of room. Which is exactly what happened to the Granite Falls Kiwanis. After years of record-breaking sales at their beloved Minnesota popcorn stand – all to benefit kids in the community – the volunteers had outgrown the space they’d used for two decades.
In partnership with the Granite Falls Area Community Foundation, the Kiwanis raised $30,000 to build a larger stand that opened in May 2024. But what to do with the old one?
When you have too much, the best thing to do is share. The iconic popcorn box-shaped stand with its red and white exterior has found a new home in Litchfield, where Litchfield Area Community Foundation’s (LACF) advisory board hopes it continues to serve snacks and generosity.
Both the Litchfield and Granite Falls are part of our network of 31 community foundations supporting passionate people with the resources to make positive change.
Judy Hulterstrum is a lifelong Litchfield community member, former local chamber director and LACF board member. She’s also childhood friends with the Granite Falls Kiwanis “Chief Popcorn Officer,” Les Bergquist. Les asked Judy whether the stand might be useful to Litchfield, so she and LACF board treasurer Tom Smith crunched the numbers and ran through the pros and cons along with fellow board member Joyce Kiehn. The Kiwanis were kind enough to share their financials to help get a picture of how it might work.
“I used their financials to extrapolate what we might make in the summer. And it looked like it would be profitable enough that we should pursue it. Perhaps we could significantly increase our endowment, which would allow us to make additional grants available to local nonprofits – all for projects that enhance our community,” Tom said.
And it turns out, this wouldn’t be the first popcorn stand to sit in that exact spot: “As a kid growing up in the 1960s, I remember the one that was there at that time. It was very busy and was kind of a fixture at the park and downtown. Another one was put up in the ‘80s on that same corner. A lot of people remember that and speak fondly of it.”
Tom also spotted one in the local newspaper’s “Back Then” section, which showed a popcorn stand 130 years ago in 1890, again in Litchfield’s Central Park.
“That kind of indicated that we had three different popcorn stands, and maybe it’s time for another,” Tom said. “The foundation doesn’t have much exposure here in Litchfield even though we’ve been in business for 20-some years. When you say, ‘I’m on the foundation,’ people don’t seem to know what it is. Here’s a popcorn stand in a very prominent location in Litchfield’s Central Park. Now they can ask, and we can continue to talk about what we do in the community.”
With the support of local government and the downtown council, LACF is making plans to open in 2025. But they need a little help first. It will take an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 to outfit the stand with a popcorn machine, cooler and butter maker along with refurbishing the stand. The goal is to raise the money, complete the updates and be popping corn in the spring. Fundraising is well under way.
As for staffing the stand, LACF board members will pitch in. They’ll also ask for help from local nonprofits who’ve received grants in the past.
“We’ll put a sign up on the stand with their name, so they’ll get some good exposure. We think it’s good for the community, we think it’s good for nonprofits, we think it’s going to be good for the foundation in providing some additional dollars to improve our community,” Tom said. “And pretty soon everyone will know what the foundation does in the community.”
Tom himself didn’t know a lot about LACF when he joined the board 6 years ago, despite being an incredibly active community volunteer. Being more visible with the popcorn stand is one approach. At a recent board gathering, members also explored new ways to boost revenue and address local needs, possibly through larger projects.
“We still haven’t identified one particular project. There are a lot of ideas,” Tom said. “We’ve got a good crew of volunteers on the board, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.
Get involved with a gift
The Litchfield Area Community Foundation’s popcorn stand is ready for a makeover, but the board needs your help to make it POP! Support a fresh, fun spot for community to gather and fundraising that benefits local nonprofits.