Pop Pop Hurray’s POP-A-THON is a St. Louis community call-to-action: show up, buy local, and help protect jobs at a Black-owned small business during a critical weekend.1
POP-A-THON St. Louis: Tony Davis Turns Popcorn Into a Movement for Local Jobs
When Tony Davis opened Pop Pop Hurray in 2020, he wasn’t just launching a gourmet popcorn brand. He was making a promise to St. Louis—to create jobs, invest in communities, and build something that lasts. Six years later, he’s calling on the city to help him keep it.
From June 5–7, 2026, Pop Pop Hurray is hosting the POP-A-THON: a three-day community rally spread across three St. Louis locations. The goal is straightforward—drive enough sales to protect local jobs, sustain operations, and prove that a Black-owned small business can weather economic pressure when its community shows up.
This isn’t a clearance sale. It’s a movement.
What Is the POP-A-THON—and Why Does It Matter?
The POP-A-THON is Pop Pop Hurray’s most ambitious community activation to date. Over three days, the brand is asking St. Louis residents to visit its locations, buy popcorn, grab a $3 slushy, and bring people with them.
Simple actions. Real stakes.
Like many small businesses across the country, Pop Pop Hurray is facing the combined weight of inflation, rising operational costs, and shifting consumer habits. Rather than make quiet cuts or reduce its workforce without warning, Davis chose transparency—and community.
“It’s been a long six-year journey, but as you grow, there are growing pains,” Davis said. “The economy is tough right now. We didn’t want to abruptly lay people off. So we wanted to really put it out to the community to rally around us. This is bigger than just a sale—this is a pivotal moment for Pop Pop Hurray. The POP-A-THON is a call to action. It’s about making a collective impact.”
That kind of honesty is rare from a business owner. It’s also what makes this weekend worth paying attention to.
A Brand Built From the Ground Up—Literally
Pop Pop Hurray’s first location wasn’t handed to Davis. It was built.
He transformed an abandoned Quiznos into a lively, community-centered space—a move that set the tone for everything that followed. From day one, giving back wasn’t a marketing strategy. It was the business model.
The company has since built partnerships with local schools, hospitals, nonprofits, and youth programs. It has grown to multiple locations across St. Louis, each one anchored in the same spirit that launched the brand.
“It was birthed in the spirit of giving back and working with youth and the community,” Davis explained. “We were built into it. We love not only serving the community but being a part of it.”
That foundation is exactly what makes the stakes of this weekend so significant. Pop Pop Hurray isn’t just a gourmet popcorn shop—it’s a neighborhood employer, a youth partner, and a symbol of what intentional Black-owned business ownership looks like in St. Louis.
Why Small Purchases Have a Big Impact
One of the most important things Davis wants people to understand: you don’t need to spend a lot to make a difference.
A bag of popcorn. A slushy. A shared social media post. These things add up—and for a small business managing tight margins, consistent customer traffic can be the difference between keeping staff employed and making painful cuts.
“A lot of people assume once a business opens and they come to the grand opening, that’s enough,” Davis said. “But what people forget is that a business has to sustain. Coming back and continuing to support is important. Even small purchases keep us in business.”
This is the reality of local business survival that often goes unspoken. Grand openings generate buzz, but sustainability requires ongoing community investment. The POP-A-THON is designed to close that gap—and remind St. Louis residents that their everyday spending choices have real consequences for their neighbors.
Where to Show Up: POP-A-THON Locations and Schedule
The three-day event spans three distinct St. Louis neighborhoods, giving the broader metro area multiple chances to participate.
Friday, June 5
City Foundry — 3730 Foundry Way
Saturday, June 6
Downtown — 1100 Locust St
Sunday, June 7
Ferguson — 256 S. Florissant Rd
Each location reflects a community that has supported Pop Pop Hurray’s growth. Davis is inviting customers to bring friends, bring family, and share what he calls Popcorn Love—the brand’s signature spirit of warmth, generosity, and connection.
More Than Popcorn: What’s Really Being Protected
At its core, the POP-A-THON is about jobs.
Every employee at Pop Pop Hurray is a St. Louis resident. Every partnership the brand holds—with schools, youth organizations, and hospitals—serves someone in the community. When a business like this struggles, the ripple effect extends well beyond the storefront.
Supporting local isn’t an abstract concept here. It means real people keeping their paychecks. It means youth programs maintaining a reliable partner. It means a Black-owned business in St. Louis getting to keep writing its story.
“We need your support—and we appreciate your support,” Davis said. “I want everybody to come out, bring a friend, spread the word, and really show how we can show up for each other.”
That message—show up for each other—is the heartbeat of this entire effort.
St. Louis Has Done This Before. It Can Do It Again.
St. Louis has a long history of rallying around its own. From neighborhood block parties to crowdfunded local landmarks, the city knows how to show up when it counts.
The POP-A-THON is this weekend’s version of that tradition.
A thriving Black-owned small business built on community values is asking for community support—not in the form of donations or charity, but in the most straightforward way possible: come buy something, bring someone with you, and tell others to do the same.
Every bag of popcorn sold this weekend is a vote for the kind of St. Louis that invests in its own people.
The Bottom Line
Pop Pop Hurray’s POP-A-THON runs June 5–7, 2026, across three St. Louis locations. The brand is asking for foot traffic, word-of-mouth, and the kind of collective energy that only a community can generate.
Tony Davis built something real. He’s asking St. Louis to help him protect it.
Show up at City Foundry on Friday, Downtown on Saturday, or Ferguson on Sunday. Grab a bag of popcorn. Bring someone who hasn’t been before. Share it online. Let the people in your circle know that this weekend, spending $10 on a snack is an act of community solidarity.
Because this isn’t just about popcorn.
It’s about people—and what St. Louis chooses to protect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the POP-A-THON?
The POP-A-THON is a three-day community sales rally hosted by Pop Pop Hurray, a gourmet popcorn brand based in St. Louis, running June 5–7, 2026. It’s designed to drive community support, protect local jobs, and sustain the business during a challenging economic period.
Where are the Pop Pop Hurray POP-A-THON locations?
Friday at City Foundry (3730 Foundry Way), Saturday Downtown (1100 Locust St), and Sunday in Ferguson (256 S. Florissant Rd).
Is Pop Pop Hurray a Black-owned business?
Yes. Pop Pop Hurray was founded by Tony Davis in 2020 and is a Black-owned, community-driven small business with multiple St. Louis locations.
How can I support Pop Pop Hurray during the POP-A-THON?
Visit a location, make a purchase—even something as small as a $3 slushy counts—and spread the word on social media. Bringing friends and family multiplies the impact.
Why is community support so important for small businesses?
Small businesses operate on thin margins and rely on consistent customer traffic to cover operational costs and maintain staff. One-time visits help, but sustained support—returning customers, word-of-mouth referrals—is what allows local businesses to grow and keep people employed.
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