Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah Huntsman.
Hi Noah, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Covid killed my 20-year event promotion business. In my mid-40s, I started a kettlecorn business so my family could build something together and my kids could have a safe place to work as they grow up.
I was a poor kid in Katy, and popcorn was the treat my family could afford even when times were tough.
As a 19-year-old missionary in Ecuador, families living in cane shacks with dirt floors would skip a meal to serve us our favorite dinners. When they’d ask me, I’d confidently reply, “Canguíl!” knowing it wouldn’t take food off their table, and everyone could enjoy a little treat together.
As a 40-something entrepreneur facing a new start in business and life, these memories rose to the top when I searched my soul. Kettlecorn, Popcorn, Canguíl, Palomitas, whatever you call it has changed everything.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Obstacles and challenges are learning curves, and they are abundant. I still get burned more by believing what an event organizer says when selling their event, market, or festival than I do, reaching into a 400-degree kettle to clean it after each batch of kernels I pop. We learned the hard way that cotton candy melts faster than it can be created in Houston’s extreme heat and humidity, and we adjusted. Finally, some wolves show up in mentors’ clothing–not everyone is there to help you and your business. The nice thing is that allies and foes identify themselves sooner or later.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I don’t see myself as a success story. I am a work in progress 100%. And I am not what I do though I believe our priorities are what we spend our time doing. And my family is my priority. They’re more than my taste testers and pushy salespeople. My kids are co-designers and decision-makers from day one, and my wife, Ashley, is a supportive partner.
Roadside Popcorn is known for delicious kettlecorn. I choose quality ingredients, and I don’t take shortcuts. If a batch of kettlecorn is even partially burnt, I toss the whole batch because every customer’s experience with my product is unique and important to both of us. Since mastering kettlecorn, I’ve added cheddar corn, caramel corn, caramel apple corn, buttered popcorn, Cinnamon Toast Crunch kettlecorn, and a few others. I’m working on jalapeño and white cheddar now. Find us at festivals, markets, and events. Follow us on Facebook to know where we’ll be. Call me and set up office parties, birthday parties, school parties, church events, and invite us where you are. Fundraising is my favorite because we grow and serve great causes at the same time.
We expanded to cotton candy a year ago, and my daughter turned it into an art form. I can’t wait to see where she takes it. It’s all about putting the wow face on anyone she serves. She put it on me when convinced that our Dad’s Root Beer Barrel cotton candy was the best, I tried her Lemonhead cotton candy infused with Cherry Pop Rocks. You can’t go wrong with either one or with the Skittles cotton candy we’re releasing in June and for special orders.
Roadside Sweets & Eats was our next expansion. The opportunity to buy and occupy a kiosk business at a gas station on Telge Road in Cypress arrived ahead of schedule, but is anyone ever really ready to grow? Cindy tends the shop, and she is wonderful and patient as we learn and grow together. At that store, we’re known for our raw local honey, Mexican vanilla, shave ice, Italian Ice, cotton candy, and popcorn. Every two weeks, we post on our Facebook page for folks to pre-order Louisiana Cracklins. We participate in the local high school craft fair fundraisers and love serving that community as well. Our next phase is to add fresh pork rinds, cacao products, piñatas, piñata supplies, and then freeze-dried products.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Houston is home for me even when I’ve lived elsewhere.
I love the diversity of Houston, which has always been a great teacher for me, and I like learning. We’re a beach family so we love our muddy water, and we especially love beachcombing after winter storms to see what treasures we can find and turn into jewelry. We even love the heat here because there are plenty of places to escape it in the summer. In the winter, we barely need a sweater while the rest of the country is bundled up and complaining about where they choose to live being so cold.
We love all the attractions Houston has to offer! Parks, beaches, trails, state parks, resorts, lazy rivers to tube, fishing, waterparks, theater district, the zoo, zoo parking, which is its own adventure, NASA, Museum of Natural History, and so many places we haven’t been yet but will keep us busy long after our kids are grown. Houston is a sports-crazy town and a tour stop for everything. We’ve been to Monster Jam at NRG Stadium many times. Supercross. Disney on Ice. All the tours come here. Garth Brooks. Elton John…he’ll be back! There are world-class venues and hole-in-the-wall spots all over town and in every major suburb. Let me know if any of y’all need world-class kettlecorn served at your venues.
Areas in which Houston could improve are many as well. I believe I make a difference as an advocate for mental health issues, suicide prevention, and anti-recidivism. I’d love to fight the good fight for property rental reform as well, but I’m not in that industry now. All I know is it’s ripe with fraud and steals from families who can’t afford to be stolen from or even report it when it happens.
Pricing:
- Kettlecorn $5-15 per bag
- Cracklins $10-18 per bag
- Cotton candy $5-10 per container
- Raw Local Honey $7-75 per container
- Mexican Vanilla $7-32 per bottle
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roadsidepopcorn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roadsidesweetsandeats/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roadsidesweetsandeats
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/roadside.popcorn
Image Credits
Ky Schieb
