Image courtesy Hill Pops
We know it’s October, but last weekend felt more like mid-August. And, if you’re like me, living in denial that colder days are ahead, why not pretend like it’s still summer and visit the Hill Pops stand this weekend for their final street-side sale this year.
The pop-up stand appears only on specific weekends and is a new addition to the neighborhood. The stand features Mexican-style fruit pops, imported from where else but Virginia.
Longtime Capitol Hill resident, Corey Ramsden, stumbled across these Popsicles, called paletas, on a recent road trip to North Carolina. He made a quick pit-stop in central Virginia, only to find a Mexican restaurant selling the flavored pops. The store sold more than 30 specialty flavors and Ramsden says he was immediately hooked.
Upon his return to Washington, he stopped again at the restaurant, this time speaking with the store’s owner to establish a business relationship. Ramsden eventually became a Popsicle middleman, overseeing the delivery and sales of the frozen goods on Capitol Hill.
“I decided to start a small neighborhood business to sell Popsicles in an attempt to be more neighborly,” he says.
Hill Pops is a small operation. Ramsden can’t apply for a street vendors license because of a legislative tie-up in the D.C. City Council to establish new regulations for the permitting process. He also steered clear of a mobile food truck license because he says maintaining a route would be too expensive. So for now, his stand appears on various weekends outside The Cupboard, a retail shop located by the intersection of 15th Street and East Capitol. Ramsden says he wants to sell at other locations but is happy with the weekend-only schedule. This Saturday is the stand’s final sale day for the season, but you can find it at the same spot next year with the start of warmer weather.
You can buy a Hill Pop for $3 each or $10 for four, “the family special”. There are a variety of flavors too. The stand stocks Strawberry, Pineapple, Chile Mango, Coconut, and Pistachio flavored bars, and they add a few “guest star” flavors on occasion. The Hill Pops stand will be open this Saturday, October 15 from 2-4 p.m.
The Hill Pops Stand, outside The Cupboard, located at 15th and East Capitol Streets, Photo Courtesy Hill Pops.
The fact that the DC Express Market has changed names…is it possible to do a story on the Cupboard, and if that store may really change and who the new ownership is?
The fact that the DC Express Market has changed names…is it possible to do a story on the Cupboard, and if that store may really change and who the new ownership is?
Good idea @John! We would like to know more too! We’ve seen the exterior changes and they have changed many of the goods stocked inside the store too! Wes is THRILLED to finally be able to get 1/2 and 1/2 without having to go to Safeway! Would love to see an interview of the new owner(s)!
Hi all, the new owners of The Cupboard (formerly DC Express Market) are longtime Hill residents Mary Ann Brazell and Brian Campbell. Hill Pops is thankful to them for supporting us as we launched our new little venture!