Karsyn’s Soule and Pop Pop Hurray are among the latest recipients of awards from the Downtown Retail Incentive Program, a partnership between Greater St. Louis Inc. and the St. Louis Development Corporation.
The program is designed to help attract new businesses and increase street-level activity in downtown St. Louis.
Pop Pop Hurray is opening its third location at 1100 Locust St. in downtown St. Louis.
“This expansion is about more than popcorn,” said Tony Davis, founder and CEO of Pop Pop Hurray, in a release.
“It’s about investing back into St. Louis, creating jobs, building energy in downtown, and proving that local brands can grow into something much bigger while staying rooted in community.”
The downtown location will serve as both a retail storefront and an expanded production hub.
“It will allow the company to scale operations into grocery stores, hotels, airports and more,” according to Davis.
The company was founded in 2020 in Ferguson and also operates a location at City Foundry.
JaNerra Carson-Slaughter and Vernon Slaughter opened Karsyn’s Soule at 635 Washington Ave. in May. The restaurant offers “food for the spirit and the soul,” according to Carson-Slaughter in a FOX2 interview.
Carson-Slaughter serves as the restaurant’s chef, while Vernon Slaughter manages the front of the house, greeting customers and overseeing marketing and public relations.
Menu items include catfish, chicken wings, pork chops, shrimp and grits, and cabbage-and-collard-green protein bowls.
“We’ve seen several companies affirming their commitment to downtown by signing new leases and putting their names on building exteriors. Along with crime rates continuing to decrease and new infrastructure projects going in, we are seeing how public-private partnership is helping build momentum downtown,” said Ron Kitchens, managing partner of Greater St. Louis Inc.
Other Downtown Retail Incentive Program award recipients include:
Bella’s Café & Coffee (1021 Washington Ave.) — Reimagined from the original Bella’s Frozen Yogurt, the café offers grab-and-go coffee, baked goods and dessert shakes.
Lit Life Creations (214 N. 18th St.) — A vendor at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, the spiritual wellness brand opened its first brick-and-mortar store offering classes, candles, incense and other wellness products.
The Italian Soda Club (2228 Olive St.) — The quick-service restaurant serves Italian American sandwiches, toasted ravioli and Italian sodas.
The Downtown Retail Incentive Program was created to help local businesses open or improve street-level storefronts downtown. Its goal is to spur economic activity, create jobs and strengthen public safety, according to a release.