HODGDON, Maine — Hoping to combine her passion for cooking with an opportunity to earn some extra income in the summer, a Hodgdon woman has opened her own gourmet popcorn stand.
Deb Wynes of Hodgdon has opened a seasonal popcorn stand on the London Road. The stand offers a variety of gourmet popcorn, has beverages, and provides picnic tables with spectacular views. (Joseph Cyr)
Nestled on a corner of the London Road, Wynes Trailside Popcorn opened for business on Saturday, July 8, selling gourmet caramel popcorn with peanuts or cashews, as well as plain popcorn.
“The idea was not original,” Deb Wynes admitted. “When we lived in Buffalo there was a popcorn stand we would go to and loved it. It’s been there for about 50 years and does very well.”
Wynes first came to Hodgdon in 2013 from Buffalo, New York, with her husband Tim. The couple purchased a piece of land and built their dream home at 126 London Road.
A special education teacher for Houlton High School, Wynes said she had been thinking about opening a summertime business for a couple of years to supplement her income.
“When we first came here, we saw potential for some kind of agricultural business,” she said. “We figured we would try this and see if it works. I like to cook and found a couple of recipes that I tweaked to get just the right crunch.”
A sample of some of the popcorn available at Wynes Trailside Popcorn in Hodgdon. (Joseph Cyr)
Wynes Trailside Popcorn may be off the beaten path, but boasts spectacular views. On a clear day, the wind turbines on top of Big Rock in Mars Hill are visible to the north. Situated on a popular all-terrain vehicle road, picnic tables are set up for people to relax and enjoy their popcorn and the views.
She hopes to one day add some walking trails along their 116-acre parcel of land. In the fall, Wynes also plans to have some pumpkins and corn stalks available for sale.
Wynes’ Trailside Popcorn is open Saturdays 4-8 p.m. and Sundays 1-8 p.m. She also plans to sell her popcorn at the Houlton Community Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call, 521-1339 or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WynesTrailsidePopcorn/.
