Brenda Kidd, manager at Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Company in Lima, dumps a batch of “Caramel to die for” popcorn on Feb. 10, 2017.
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News
LIMA — The fresh smell of butter and salt on newly popped popcorn is a warm and friendly greeting when going to watch a new movie. A company that decided to expand its territory is now closing stores in Lima and Findlay.
Shirley’s Popcorn, a staple in the Northwest Ohio Region, announced the official closing for the Lima store will happen on Friday, Dec. 23.
Shirley’s Popcorn had its origin in a local movie theater in Bluffton. Shannon Theatre was always recognized for its great popcorn. Owners Pete and Kim Suter decided in 2009 to open stores for other regions to enjoy. The company, named after a loyal theater employee, is now planning to consolidate.
Fortunately, the doors will remain open in Bluffton. Pete Suter weighed in on the change.
“We’re hoping to increase overall efficiency by consolidating the three markets into one at our flagship store in Bluffton,” said Suter. “This will also help us maintain quality, and spend less time recruiting and training team members. Having fewer locations will also allow Kim and I to invest more time in our family as we shift into this new model.”
As they began to move forward with the transition, one leading factor that determined the consolidation was the cost.
“Continually increasing operational costs (utilities, insurance, space, labor) really drove the decision,” added Suter. “The labor market is probably the main driver — it’s a tighter market than I’ve ever experienced in over 20 years of retail management.”
Although the Suters have had great teams and customers, they faced the challenge of sustainability.
“We have fantastic teams in both markets, but like many other retail businesses, we continue to face challenges when recruiting new team members,” said Suter. “Our lease is up in Lima, and we simply weren’t interested in signing another renewal with increasing costs and the tight labor market.”
The family made the announcement on Nov. 11. The hope is to continue to provide quality popcorn to community members.
The Suters said they will miss operating in the Lima and Findlay regions. In Lima, Shirley’s was open for 6.5 years. In Findlay, Shirley’s was open for 7.5 years. Any current or future orders will be completed in Bluffton after the official closings.
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
