Gourmet Popcorn Nearby: Popcorn World in Gary, Indiana, has over 250 flavors

GARY, Ind. — “We put the gourmet in gourmet popcorn.”

Popcorn World owner and operator LeBarron Burton isn’t shy about using his diverse palate to deliver over 250 unique (and wild) flavors of gourmet popcorn. You already know caramel and cheese popcorn, but what about crab flavored popcorn? Or pizza and steak flavor? Well, LeBarron’s motto is: if it’s out there, he’ll find a popcorn flavor for it.

Popcorn World, whose flagship location is in Gary, Indiana, started as Popcorn Haven in 2008. Two of LeBarron’s childhood friends started the business when they needed a change careers.

In 2013, LeBarron, then working as an IT consultant, received a call from them to join the popcorn business. After they joined, LeBarron helped them relaunch as Popcorn World and doubled down on their branding to go national.

A few years later his friends decided to sell the business to LeBarron and in 2019 he officially opened Gary’s storefront. Since then, Popcorn World has been a huge success!

Unofficially dubbed “The Disney World of Popcorn”, Popcorn World and its crazy popcorn flavors have caught the eye of several online celebrities including Casey Neistat, All Def Digital and more. LeBarron even says that after being featured by All Def Digital, they made over $60,000 in sales in one day!

Some of Popcorn World’s flavors include classics like caramel, cheese, and cheese-covered caramel. Then they have sweet concoctions such as Key Lime Pie, Oreo Cheesecake, Banana Pudding, Twix, Butterfinger, and Lucky Charms. And then you get the savory flavors like crab, steak, loaded baked potato, pizza, and a LeBarron is currently working on, collard greens.

But the common statement from its customers is that the flavors actually taste the same as real flavors.

“I love all the crazy flavors. I try something new every time,” said one customer. LeBarron’s secret is that he uses fresh ingredients in his seasonings. If it’s Twix flavored, it uses real Twix candy bars. If it’s crab, he uses real seasonings. He loves being challenged by his customers to come up with new flavors and add them to the growing list of Popcorn Worlds.

LeBarron says he owes much of his success to the constant support of his family. His wife Nina Burton, five children and aunt all work at the store to help deliver quality popcorn to the Gary area.

The company is even supported by franchisees across the country with stores in areas such as Long Beach, California and Las Vegas.

LeBarron is grateful for the success and widespread reception of Popcorn World, and that he can share that success with Gary, Indiana, which has a predominantly black population.

“We support and nurture our school district’s boys and girls basketball team, give back to the community through food drives and outreach programs, and do so much more,” LeBarron said. “That’s being a business in the community. You help support the community.”

You can try over 250 gourmet popcorn flavors by visiting the Popcorn World website at https://doingtheworldaflavor.com/.