How many times have you driven down Frederica St. and saw the sign for "Jader's Popcorn?" Every time we drive by, Jill and I always wonder about the man in the black apron. Our questions were, "How did he get started?" "Did he just decide to sell popcorn one day?"
We decided today would be the day we find out. We stopped at the Jader's Popcorn stand, and met "Jerry." We paid $5 for TWO bags of popcorn (one bag is $3), and began asking questions. We told him who we were and what we did and that we wanted to feature him on our social media pages. When we asked "How did you start?" his response was informative, yet charming. He said his brother had this popcorn business in San Antonio and actually sold popcorn at the Final Four at the Alamo Dome in 2008. His brother also owned car washes and decided the popcorn business was too much. He offered to bring the popcorn equipment to Owensboro for Jerry, who had just retired (he was a "suit and tie guy") from the hotel business. Jerry decided to "give it a shot" and discovered "from day one I felt like I was a part of that kettle."
Our next question was "what does the name Jader's popcorn mean?" "Is your name Jader?" Jerry is a storyteller ya'll. His brother (who brought him the popcorn stand) was called Jader as a young boy. His two brothers and his mother were downtown in front of the department store, JJ Newberry's, in the early 40's when they saw an organ player with a spider monkey named Jitter. His older brother said the monkey reminded him of the other brother, and the nickname Jitter was born for his brother Don. Over the years "Jitter" became "Jader." Jerry says he was pretty old before he even realized his brother's real name was Don.
Jerry says his business is dictated by the weather. He says he still does a few "gigs" here and there, but mostly sets up at his usual spot on the corner of Frederica and Hill Avenue. Jader's legacy lives on with Jerry and the popcorn stand on Frederica, that seriously turned this kettle corn hater into a believer.
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