Joe Brown's Carmel Corn

Joe Brown's Carmel Corn

Company type	Private
Industry	Food retail
Founded	1932
Founder	George Brown, Joe Brown
Headquarters	Portland, Oregon , United States
Area served	Portland metropolitan area
Key people	David Ferguson (CEO)
Products	Caramel corn, candy apples, caramel apples, fudge, peppermint bark, assorted popcorn flavors

Joe Brown's Carmel Corn is a caramel corn retailer situated in Portland, Oregon’s Lloyd District. Established in 1932 by George Brown and his son Joe, the enterprise started as a single outlet in downtown Portland. By the time World War II began, the Brown family had grown the business to include two more stores within Portland and one in Seaside, although wartime manufacturing interruptions caused a suspension of operations until 1960. At that point, George’s daughter Betty Brown and her husband Gordon Kalk revived the brand by opening a shop in the newly constructed Lloyd Center. Leadership passed to their son Lee from approximately 1980 until 1992. Later proprietors included siblings Ron Ertler and Diana Ray, followed by Marc and Ratha Chouinard, then Cyndee Kurahara. In 2019, David Ferguson purchased the company and now holds the position of CEO.

The product lineup at Joe Brown's centers around its signature caramel corn, which has retained its original recipe with minimal modifications. Additional offerings include candy apples, caramel apples, fudge, peppermint bark, and assorted popcorn flavors. The brand has sustained a notable presence in its market segment through steadfast product consistency and strong local brand awareness.

Brown family (1932–1940; 1960–1992)

Joe Brown's Carmel Corn was founded in 1932 by George Brown and his son Joe after relocating from Nebraska. The initial location was near Portland’s Paramount Theater, with subsequent expansion to Southwest Washington Street, Hollywood neighborhood in northeast Portland, and Seaside. George crafted caramel corn using large copper kettles at their home in Laurelhurst, while the family sold packaged caramel corn and popcorn at community events. Operations ceased during World War II.

Betty Ann Brown, George’s daughter who joined the business in 1938, married Gordon Kalk in 1940. After her parents retired, the stores closed for roughly two decades as Betty concentrated on family life. In 1960, she and Kalk reopened a single shop within the newly built Lloyd Center mall—the last remaining original tenant there.

Betty played an active role in day-to-day management, often working every day alongside relatives. When her son Lee took over around 1980, she continued producing hallmark products such as candy apples, caramel popcorn, cheese popcorn, peanut butter fudge made with Ghirardelli white chocolate, and peppermint bark. Betty remained involved until her mid-70s before Lee sold the company in 1992.

Subsequent history

In November 1998, Ron Ertler and Diana Ray purchased Joe Brown's and established a modest production facility in Gresham, Oregon to serve wholesale clients including amusement parks, grocery chains, cinemas, and zoos. Wholesale operations began in March 1999 with retailers like Food 4 Less stocking their goods.

From 2003 to 2006, Joe Brown's ran locations on Southwest Sixth Avenue downtown Portland and at Lloyd Center offering six popcorn varieties such as kettle corn and white cheddar cheese. Ownership transferred to Marc and Ratha Chouinard by 2006.

By 2010, the business operated four retail outlets plus an online storefront. Portland native Cyndee Kurahara owned it for approximately five years until 2015; during this period the product range expanded to include caramel apples, multiple popcorn flavors, Icees, licorice, mint truffles, and Swedish Fish.

The caramel corn recipe has remained mostly unchanged since its original creation. In 2019, Joe Brown's served roughly 200–300 customers daily at Lloyd Center and supplied products to Enchanted Forest amusement park near Salem along with Portland International Airport. That year David Ferguson assumed ownership.

During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Joe Brown's initiated "Feed the Family," purchasing between 60 and 75 meals daily from local eateries for distribution. The pandemic forced temporary closure of Lloyd Center; prior to this closure Joe Brown's collaborated with Hana’s PDX—a vendor specializing in New Orleans-style snowballs. Recognized as a Black-owned business, Joe Brown's continues to offer popcorn sales through its online platform.

In December 2022, plans were announced for a second store on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard within northeast Portland’s King neighborhood aiming for a January 1, 2023 opening date.

Reception

In 2005, Amy Martinez Starke of The Oregonian emphasized Joe Brown's reputation under the guidance of Betty Brown and Kalk, particularly for its signature caramel corn, a product that drew patrons from distant locations. Situated in a prime location on the west end above the ice rink, the establishment saw heightened seasonal popularity, with queues often extending beyond those of neighboring shops. Following Betty Brown's passing in 2005, Starke remarked on her enduring legacy within Portland’s marketplace, symbolized by the persistent scent of the caramel corn.

By 2015, Matthew Korfhage from Willamette Week characterized Joe Brown’s caramel corn as rich, crisp, and reminiscent of homemade quality, highlighting its kettle corn—featuring a balance of saltiness and sweet bursts—as a signature item that resonated with discerning customers. In 2016, both Enid Spitz of Willamette Week and Morgan Troper from the Portland Mercury identified Joe Brown’s as an essential Portland destination, reinforcing its lasting presence in the market and strong customer loyalty.

See also

• List of Black-owned restaurants