Join Our Upcoming Event

/ Business of the Month / Minocqua Popcorn & Puffs

Business of the Month:

Minocqua Popcorn & Puffs



Minocqua Popcorn & Puffs

(Eagle River & Minocqua)

Eagle River
102 Wall Street

Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521

(715) 614-3132

Website:  https://www.minocquapoppuff.com/
Owner: Jim Gleich
[email protected]


Entrepreneurs Jim and Pam Gleich, owners of Minocqua Popcorn & Puffs, have a thriving business, simply making people happy in the Northwoods – with popcorn.  “It just makes people happy,” said Jim. 

In 2019, the prior owners of Popcorn & Puffs opened their second location in Eagle River and hired Pam to manage the store.  In 2021, Jim and Pam purchased the business and continue to operate both stores year-round.  Jim recalls, “Pam and I both had retail and customer service backgrounds, so it was just a matter of learning about popcorn.”  He added, the Eagle River location was opened to enable people from Eagle River to the UP a place to get their favorite popcorn and puffs without having to drive to Minocqua.

With the increase in summer tourism, like most businesses they add part-time help in summer.

Eric Schirmer “AKA Captain Carmel” operates the off-site popping factory directly behind the Minocqua store.  Specialized products clean all popping equipment regularly.  Ingredients are sourced from over 20 US vendors and Spain. Their wholesale business provides products locally to more than 20 grocery stores, gas stations and bars in Oneida and Vilas Counties.

Customers are always invited to taste test new flavors.  So far, 32 flavors have passed the test.  Jim smiles, “We love giving our guests free samples in the stores. The most sampled are the Lemon Bar Puffs and the White Chocolate Pretzel popcorn. Most people who sample these flavors end up purchasing some on the spot.”

Business has been growing exponentially via fabulous products, high-quality customer service, and through word of mouth.  Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK), receives a 50-cent donation for every grab bag or small fun flavors sold.  

Visit the website for on-line shopping for popcorn in bags, tins, pillowcase packages of popcorn (that’s seven gallons of popped popcorn!) for gift giving, celebrations and family/friend gatherings.  Additional products include jerky, kernel popcorn, coconut oil and flavored salts.

White popcorn is popped fresh daily in the stores where you’ll hear, “It smells so good in here!” Check the website for the monthly Featured Flavor.  

Popcorn is always welcome for celebrations, corporate gifts and special events.  Their products are shipped to more than 100 weddings each year in the US.  Popcorn & Puff’s e-commerce business performs extremely well, especially around the holidays when online sales comprise 25-30 percent of the business revenue. 

Jim is always amazed and states, “Often we get calls about an upcoming wedding from people who tell us they had our popcorn at a friend’s wedding and after tasting it, decided they had to have it for their wedding as well.”  

With the upcoming holidays, Jim encourages customers to visit their online store for gift ideas the whole family will enjoy. 

Congratulations Jim & Pam!!



Do you know of a wonderful Vilas County business?

Nominate A Business »

See More Business of the Month


October 2024

The Guides Inn

The Guide's Inn named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


September 2024

Eagle River Pet Company

Eagle River Pet Company named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


August 2024

Headwaters Services

Headwaters Services named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


July 2024

Camp Marimeta

Camp Marimeta named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


June 2024

North Lakeland Discovery Center

North Lakeland Discovery Center named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


May 2024

Roots - The Northwoods Juice Bar

Roots - The Northwoods Juice Bar named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


April 2024

Backwoods DCB

Backwoods DCB named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


March 2024

Eagle River Office Supply & Copy Center

Eagle River Office Supply & Copy Center Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


January 2024

Eagle River Animal Hospital

Eagle River Animal Hospital named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


December 2023

VCEDC 2023 Business of the Year Award

Private Chef Luke Selected as the VCEDC Business of the Year


November 2023

Eagle River Tire

Eagle River Tire named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


October 2023

Advanced Welding Institute

AWI named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


September 2023

WinMan Trails

WinMan Trails named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


August 2023

Private Chef Luke

Private Chef Luke named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


July 2023

Aqualand Ale House

Aqualand Ale House named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


June 2023

Eagle River Roasters

Eagle River Roasters named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


May 2023

VFW Post 8637 Eagle River

VFW Post 8637 Eagle River named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


April 2023

Conover Gardens

Conover Gardens named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


March 2023

The Hiker Box

The Hiker Box named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


February 2023

Hooked & Tagged

Hooked & Tagged named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


January 2023

Trackside

Track Side named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


November 2022

Lac du Flambeau Workforce Training & Business Development Center

Lac du Flambeau Workforce Training & Business Development Center Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


October 2022

LakeTime Management

LakeTime Management Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


September 2022

Iconik Etchings and Innovations

Iconik Etchings and Innovations Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


August 2022

Trout Lake Station

Trout Lake Station named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation.


July 2022

Pitlik & Wick, Inc.

Pitlik & Wick, Inc. named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


June 2022

Eagle River Historical Society

Eagle River Historical Society named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


May 2022

Jensen-Akins Appliances/ Hardware/ Docks

Jensen-Akins Appliances/Hardware/Docks named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation.


April 2022

Boulder Junction Coffee Company

Boulder Junction Coffee Company named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


March 2022

Schindelholz Dental

Schindelholz Dental named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


February 2022

Arrow Gift Shop

Arrow Gift Shop named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


January 2022

Ahlborn Equipment

Ahlborn Equipment named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


December 2021

Hillbilly Hollow

Hillbilly Hollow named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


November 2021

Trees For Tomorrow

Trees for Tomorrow named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


October 2021

Simpson Electric Company

Simpson Electric Company named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


September 2021

Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company

Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Company named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


July 2021

Camp Manito-wish YMCA

Camp Manito-wish YMCA Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


June 2021

Eagle River Light and Water

Eagle River Light & Water Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


May 2021

Great Headwaters Trails

Great Headwaters Trails Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


April 2021

Allied 100


March 2021

Charlie's Market

Charlie's Market Named Business of the Month by Vilas Economic Development Corporation


February 2021

Parsons of Eagle River


January 2021

Feeding Our Rural Kids


2020 Business of the Year

VCEDC 2020 Business of the Year Award



October 2020

The Thrift Shop


September 2020

Northwoods Children's Museum

Located in Eagle River, the Northwoods Children's Museum has thought outside the box continuing its programming and mission to give back to the community even during Covid-19.



July 2020

LDF Country Market

Congratulations to the new $3.3 million Country Market in Lac du Flambeau (LdF) for being selected as the VCEDC July Business of the Month. According to Melissa Doud, LDF Business Development Corp. Interim COO, the Country Market which opened in June, has enhanced the entire shopping experience.


June 2020

Land O' Lakes Arts

Congratulations to Land O' Lakes Arts, a cultural establishment that offers people of all ages that sense of wonder and purpose.


May 2020

Coontail

Steve and Lisa Coon have turned their passion for the outdoors into a successful business and yet, feel their true success comes from being integrated into the community, a community they feel is like family.


April 2020

Little Bohemia Lodge

Among being a stellar lodge, restaurant, and destination of choice for tourists and area residents, we congratulate Debby and Dan Johns and all of their staff for their generosity and commitment to Vilas County to ensure our history and culture live on for future generations.


March 2020

Eagle River's Last Resort

Congratulations to Eagle River's Last Resort for 38 years in business providing great customer service and experiences to Eagle River visitors, and providing a positive influence on the Eagle River community.


February 2020

Starlight Centers for Inclusion

In 2016, April graduated from a business startup course, now called Nicolet Entrepreneur Training (NET) program, offered through a partnership with the VCEDC and Nicolet College. "With ongoing support from the VCEDC, including rental space within the Eagle River Business Incubator, I was able to develop and implement my business plan, founding Starlight in 2016," said April.


See All Business of the Month

Want to learn why Vilas County is one of the best places to live, work, and play?

Reach out to the folks at the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation today!

Contact Us

Want to learn why Vilas County is one of the best places to live, work, and play?

We can email you a PDF highlighting many of the wonderful aspects of our area.

Download this 8-page PDF article here: