Maigan Lennon
CBS and NBC fared quite well in promoting patriarchal wisdom in airing “Father Knows Best” from 1954 to ’60, but based on her experience, Maigan Lennon would likely lobby for lauding moms and dads equally. Thanks to input from parents Steve and Maureen Namiotka, the latter being her co-proprietor, she last year overcame fears of opening a business by establishing MoJo’s Pop Co. and has gladly touted her creators’ insights in acquiring regard among her clientele.
“I’d never run a site before, but that’s true, at one point, for everyone with aspirations,” the 30-year-old said from the Pennsport location. “If you keep your mind on your tasks, though, everything becomes much easier.”
Lennon, who lives in the neighborhood, loves the burgeoning connections that the location has helped her to make with fellow residents. The space serves as “the icing on the cake” for the ladies, as it complements travel opportunities to peddle their toffee corn products. With roots in Maureen’s home-based popping prowess and Maigan’s pastry chef background, the Friday-Sunday operation calls on a non-GMO commodity from Lancaster County to satisfy cravings and does so with “All Natural. Gluten Free. Made with Love.” as its motto.
“Retail can be tough,” Lennon said of deciding to helm a weekend destination. “However, we’ve done well here because the products have such flavor and people love the variety.”
The alumnus of Johnson & Wales University’s North Carolina campus noted that production of the goodies occurs in the store almost every day and that each moment within its walls finds her focusing on how to be constantly creative, a desire that will grow come December when she will welcome her first child. That urge to forge novelty comes through courtesy of numerous options, including bacon bourbon and pumpkin spice pecan popcorn. For this publication, Lennon chose to share the recipe for her space’s Salted Caramel, Pretzel, and Peanut MoJo Bar.
“I’m thinking it’s going to be a limited time item,” she said, assuring its availability for Halloween weekend. “… Maybe we’ll let it be an option throughout the holiday season. Regardless of that, I hope readers will want to try it because the combination of flavors is so amazingly good.”
Ingredients:
12 cups of popped popcorn
4 cups of chopped salted pretzels
1 cup of chopped salted peanuts
2 cups of granulated sugar
1/2cup of water
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
2/3 cup of heavy cream
2 cups of miniature marshmallows
Milk chocolate chips (optional)
Semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, and set aside. In a large bowl, toss the popcorn, peanuts and pretzels, and set aside.
Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, and boil without stirring until the caramel is amber in color. Meanwhile, heat the heavy cream until warm.
Remove the caramel from the heat, and slowly pour in the warm heavy cream. Stir in the salt. Add the marshmallows to the caramel, and stir until melted. Pour the marshmallow-caramel mixture over the popcorn, peanuts, and pretzels, and stir to combine with a rubber spatula.
Pour the mixture into your prepared pan, and press down with a piece of wax paper sprayed with cooking spray. Cool completely, and then cut into squares.
Melt semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips (or both) over a water bath or in microwave (slowly, in increments of 10 to 15 seconds and stirring after each time). Drizzle the melted chocolate over the bars. SPR
MoJo’s Pop Co.
Owners: Maigan Lennon and
Maureen Namiotka
Opened: May 2015
1321 S. Second St. • 610–308–0127
Mojopopco.com
Photos by Tina Garceau
