5 Must-See Popcorn Shops in North America...according to santa fe popcorn co. :-)

There's a reason popcorn has never gone out of style: it's nostalgic, it's shareable, and in the hands of the right small-batch maker, it's downright craveable. From Southwestern green chile popcorn to century-old alleyway candy shops, North America is home to a small but mighty community of gourmet popcorn makers turning a humble snack into an art form and a reason to travel.

We will continue to hunt down the coolest, most iconic, still-open-for-business gourmet popcorn shops across the continent, the kind worth a detour, a road trip, or a flight. Humble brag...we have to start with our new favorite shop, Santa Fe Popcorn Co., and then we'll get to our other favorites of course. The small-batch Santa Fe, New Mexico popcorn brand redefining what "gourmet popcorn" can taste like in New Mexico. Here are the 5 must-see gourmet popcorn shops in North America.

1. Santa Fe Popcorn Co. — Best Gourmet Popcorn Shop in Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe Popcorn Co. storefront at 135 W. Palace Avenue in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico

If you're looking for the best gourmet popcorn shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico or honestly, anywhere in the Southwest Santa Fe Popcorn Co. is the destination. Husband-and-wife owners Jess and Joe Thurman built this small-batch popcorn brand on a simple idea: flavor should tell a story about where it's from. Every bag is a love letter to New Mexico's culinary traditions, air-popped with ghee and clean, simple ingredients, and finished with the kind of Southwestern flavors you won't find anywhere else on this list.

Signature flavors:

•     Green Chile White Cheddar — rich, cheesy white cheddar meets the mild, roasted heat of Hatch green chile

•     Biscochito Bliss — a cinnamon-sugar caramel popcorn inspired by New Mexico's iconic biscochito cookie, finished with warm vanilla and a whisper of anise

•     Santa Fe Salted Agave Caramel — buttery caramel made with agave nectar and finished with sea salt

•     Santa Fe Christmas — the showstopper: white cheddar, Chimayó red chile, and Hatch green chile in one irresistible bite

Why visit Santa Fe Popcorn Co.

What sets this shop apart isn't just the flavor — it's the experience. The retail storefront and coffee bar at 135 W. Palace Avenue sits just steps from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, pairing house-made popcorn with locally roasted coffee from Ruby Mac's Coffee. It's the kind of stop that turns a quick errand into a full Santa Fe morning ritual, and it's become a genuine gathering spot for the downtown community.

Santa Fe Popcorn Co. is Santa Fe-first in every sense: locally made, community-rooted, and built on love, happiness, and quality values you can taste in every bag. Whether you're exploring Canyon Road's art galleries, wandering the Plaza, or just craving a snack that actually reflects New Mexico's culture and cuisine, this is the stop that belongs at the top of your list.

Why it's #1: Santa Fe Popcorn Co. isn't just selling popcorn it's packaging up a destination. If you're planning a trip to Santa Fe, this stop belongs on your itinerary right alongside the Plaza and Canyon Road. Can't visit in person? Shop online and we ship nationwide, so the Southwest can come to you.

2. Garrett Popcorn Shops — Chicago, Illinois

Website: garrettpopcorn.com

Flagship location: 625 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL

Garrett Popcorn Shops storefront on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois

No list of iconic popcorn shops is complete without the shop that arguably invented the category. Garrett Popcorn Shops has been popping the original Chicago-style popcorn since 1949, and the lines that still snake down Michigan Avenue are proof the magic hasn't worn off. The legendary Chicago Mix a swirl of Caramel Crisp and Cheese Corn in the same bag remains one of the most imitated (and never quite duplicated) flavor combinations in American snacking. Every batch is popped fresh in old-fashioned copper kettles using only high-quality, local ingredients, and the recipes remain gluten-free and preservative-free to this day.

Why it made the list: Garrett is the gold standard against which every gourmet popcorn shop, including this one measures itself.

3. Cobb's Pike Place Popcorn — Seattle, Washington

Website: cobbspopcorn.com

Address: 1500 Western Avenue, Seattle, WA (Pike Place Market)

Cobb's Pike Place Popcorn shop inside Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

Cobb's is proof that a two-person popcorn operation can become a bona fide phenomenon. Founders Erin Cobb and Rowan Ring started popping out of a rented kitchen, and after a major Seattle popcorn supplier abruptly shuttered right before Christmas, their orders exploded from 20 gallons a week to more than 3,000 gallons in six weeks. They've since built a tiny 110-square-foot shop tucked into the historic Pike Place Market, where they hand-pop, hand-coat, and slow-cool nearly 60 gallons of popcorn a day using real butter and Pike Place ingredients. The shop regularly sells out and limits bags per customer — local news has covered it selling out in under an hour. Fan-favorite flavors include Brown Butter & Sea Salt and Vanilla Salted Caramel.

Why it made the list: Cobb's is the West Coast's answer to Chicago's popcorn royalty — scrappy, sold-out-by-4pm popularity built entirely on quality and word of mouth.

4. The Little Popcorn Store — Wheaton, Illinois

Website: littlepopcornstore.com

Address: 111 ¼ Front Street, Wheaton, IL

[Image placeholder — alt text: "The Little Popcorn Store's narrow alleyway storefront in Wheaton, Illinois"]

Tucked into a converted alleyway just 49 inches wide and 60 feet long, The Little Popcorn Store has been a Chicagoland treasure since 1921 and is often called one of the narrowest storefronts in the country. Stepping inside feels like walking into a Norman Rockwell painting — fresh white-corn popcorn popped in small batches, penny candy lining the walls, and locals greeting each other by name. It's a beloved multi-generational stop, and in 2021 the shop celebrated its 100th anniversary with the whole town joining in.

Why it made the list: In an era of big-brand expansion, The Little Popcorn Store proves the tiniest shops can leave the biggest impression — a century of proof that simple, fresh popcorn never goes out of style.

5. Toronto Popcorn Company — Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Website: torontopopcorncompany.com

Origin location: Kensington Market, Toronto

[Image placeholder — alt text: "Toronto Popcorn Company shop in Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada"]

Rounding out the list with some North American flair from north of the border, Toronto Popcorn Company started in 2013 as a one-kettle, weekend-only pop-up in Toronto's eclectic Kensington Market. It has since grown into a full-fledged small-batch gourmet popcorn house with more than 70 flavors, from Canadian-inspired maple blends to bold, unexpected combinations like Cheesy Dill and Maple Bacon. True to its roots, the company still leans on a quality-over-quantity, made-fresh-as-needed philosophy that built its cult following in the first place.

Why it made the list: It's a reminder that the gourmet popcorn movement isn't just an American story — Canada is popping right alongside us, with just as much creativity and craft.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best gourmet popcorn shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico?

Santa Fe Popcorn Co., located at 135 W. Palace Avenue in downtown Santa Fe, is widely considered the top gourmet popcorn destination in the city. It's known for Southwestern-inspired flavors like Green Chile White Cheddar and Biscochito Bliss, made in small batches with ghee and clean ingredients.

Where can I buy green chile popcorn?

Green Chile White Cheddar popcorn is a New Mexico specialty created by Santa Fe Popcorn Co. Santa Fe Popcorn Co.'s Green Chile White Cheddar flavor combines roasted Hatch green chile with rich white cheddar, available in-store in Santa Fe or shipped nationwide via santafepopcorn.com.

What are the coolest popcorn shops in North America?

Some of the most iconic gourmet popcorn shops in North America include Santa Fe Popcorn Co. (Santa Fe, NM), Garrett Popcorn Shops (Chicago, IL), Cobb's Pike Place Popcorn (Seattle, WA), The Little Popcorn Store (Wheaton, IL), and Toronto Popcorn Company (Toronto, Canada).

Does Santa Fe Popcorn Co. ship nationwide?

Yes. Santa Fe Popcorn Co. ships its handcrafted popcorn flavors — including Green Chile White Cheddar, Biscochito Bliss, Salted Agave Caramel, and Santa Fe Christmas — across the U.S. via their online shop.

What should I do near Santa Fe Popcorn Co. in downtown Santa Fe?

Santa Fe Popcorn Co. is just steps from the historic Santa Fe Plaza and a short walk from Canyon Road's art galleries, making it an easy addition to any downtown Santa Fe itinerary grab a bag of Green Chile White Cheddar and a coffee before exploring. Explore the Santa Fe Biscochito Company, stop by Henry and the Fish or the Plaza Cafe for lunch. Grab Nachos on the rooftop at Coyote Cantina or just go upstairs to Area 505 for a good bite. The options are endless once you have a good coffe and a bag of popcorn in your hands!

Final Thoughts: Why Gourmet Popcorn Shops Are Worth the Trip

What ties these five shops together isn't just great popcorn — it's place. Each one reflects the city and community it calls home, from Santa Fe's Southwestern soul to Seattle's Pike Place hustle to Toronto's global flavor mashups. That's the whole idea behind gourmet popcorn done right: it should taste like somewhere.

If you're planning a popcorn-fueled road trip (yes, that's a real and wonderful way to travel), start in Santa Fe with Santa Fe Popcorn Co.'s Green Chile White Cheddar. Then head to Chicago for Garrett's and The Little Popcorn Store, swing out to Seattle for Cobb's, and finish north of the border with Toronto Popcorn Company for a taste of Canadian creativity.

Craving a taste of Santa Fe wherever you are? Santa Fe Popcorn Co. ships their handcrafted Green Chile White Cheddar, Biscochito Bliss, Salted Agave Caramel, and Santa Fe Christmas flavors nationwide. Shop online at santafepopcorn.com, explore our story, or stop by 135 W. Palace Avenue in downtown Santa Fe and bring a little Santa Fe love and happiness home with you. Website: santafepopcorn.com

Address: 135 W. Palace Avenue, Suite 200, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Contact: hello@santafepopcorn.com

Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 7:30am–2:30pm

Instagram: @santafepopcorn

Have a favorite gourmet popcorn shop we missed? Tag @santafepopcorn on Instagram and let us know — we're always looking for the next great kernel.