King of Pops, the well-known Atlanta-based frozen pop vendor, is losing its cart parking spot on Decatur Square.
For about eight years, King of Pops — known for its creative flavors — has operated rent-free out of a stand on the square, thanks to a pilot program from the city that allowed one business to have a cart.
While the program was suspended last year, the city opened up applications for one vendor on the square this year, said Lyn Menne, Decatur’s assistant city manager for community and economic development.
Though King of Pops applied, the city instead chose Steel City Pops to have a cart. The Alabama-based business has a brick-and-mortar store around the corner from Decatur Square; Menne said it was chosen because Decatur is trying to prioritize local businesses.
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“Our job is to recruit and bring in businesses into the city of Decatur,” Menne said. “More importantly, once they're here, it's to find ways to support them.”
Steel City Pops will be able to vend on the square through the summer and into fall, according to a city memo about the program. Next year, a different vendor could be chosen, Menne said.
King of Pops co-founder Steven Carse said it is “disappointing” to not be able to vend on the square this year, but he understands the tough position the city was in.
“We’re super grateful for the opportunity we had to be there,” he said. “We spent a lot of time there.”
Carse said King of Pops, which has a location in Inman Park, will have a presence at the Decatur Arts Festival in May, and they hope to be at the AJC Decatur Book Festival later in the summer. Many businesses in Decatur also sell their pops.
“One way or another we’ll find out ways to be a part of the community there,” Carse said.
A general manager for Steel City Pops declined to comment.
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