Here’s an idea for a Valentine’s Day gift next week or for any day that you would like a snack while doing good! Gourmet Prospector Popcorn.
Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT: The Story
The Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT is the vision of its founder, Valerie Jensen, whose sister Hope was born with Down Syndrome in 1979. After Valerie got her Master’s degree in Special Education, she became the executive director of an arts non-profit for adults with disabilities. She knew how much adults with disabilities could contribute while also experiencing the joys of competitive, integrated and meaningful employment.
While driving through the downtown in Ridgefield CT, she noticed the old Playhouse, the first movie theater in town, that was scheduled for demolition. She had the idea that the Playhouse could become a customer-focused business providing jobs for adults with disabilities. The Playhouse opened for business in November 2014, and has sold more than 700,000 tickets with more than 290+ people employed.
About 75% of the the Playhouse’s employees, called “Prospects”, identify has having a disability. Each Prospect employee must be able to do their own job and teach it to another employee. The jobs range from greeting guests, seating guests in the audience, making yummy popcorn, leading tours through the theater, hosting rental parties in the theater, and more.
Since its inception, Prospector Theater has been featured on local and national TV and newspapers. They’ve been invited to the White House in 2015 to discuss the employment of adults with disabilities in the arts and entertainment industry. Recently, National Popcorn Day was celebrated by the Prospector Theater. In fact, three of their employees were interviewed on CBS News New York: “Celebrating National Popcorn Day with Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT”. Check it out!
Gourmet Prospector Popcorn
All of the Gourmet Prospector Popcorn is manufactured and packaged right at the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT by the Prospector employees! They have a store as well as a cafe right in the theater where it is sold. But they also have an online store where the popcorn in all of its iterations are sold and shipped out all over the country!
I was sent three bags of Gourmet Prospector Popcorn! I am trying so hard to restrain myself from eating it all!
The original version of the popcorn is Classic Caramel, and I must tell you how scrumptious it is! From Classic Caramel, many other flavors have been added with drizzles of chocolate, pieces of pretzel, other flavors like strawberry and cheeses. In fact, Chocolate and Strawberry was created for Valentine’s Day! My favorites are the cheese and spicy ones as well the caramel. You can buy them in about a million different gift boxes in 2 oz. and 4 oz. size bags. Right now, some flavors are on sale for Valentine’s Day. Plus if you sign up for emails, you can get 10% off your order.
Gourmet Prospector Popcorn is a gift or a treat that does good while it tastes great!
What a wonderful sounding company, and their popcorn sounds DELICIOUS! Thank you for this review, Allison!
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GPP is such delicious popcorn. I truly have to hold myself back!
This is a delight to learn about. The mission of the store and company warms my heart. It’s so needed. We have a restaurant down the street that is run by disabled young adults. They are taught all aspects of working in a food busines. They serve wonderful food. They now also run a bakery that has amazing breads and that we buy from every week. It’s a joy to support this effort.
Such a great idea! I love that they support people with disabilities. FTW!