A Popping Nuisance?

A Popping Nuisance?

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A popcorn chain has opened its fifth store in downtown Chicago over the objection of some of its neighbors. This comes after a Cook County judge allowed the store to open despite a lawsuit calling the snack’s odor a public nuisance.

The manager at the new Garrett’s Popcorn Store on Randolph Street admits they pipe the strong smell out onto the sidewalk to attract customers. He hasn’t heard any complaints and business has been good so far.

Valerie Anderson works in the building whose owners object to the scent. She can’t detect the popcorn odor in her office, but enjoys the smell on the street.

“I like popcorn so it doesn’t matter to me,” she laughs.

Kofi Lee was passing by the store and has a theory for why some have a problem with the scent.

“I think it’s troubling them because they have to stop doing what they doing just to come down and get some of that good-smelling popcorn,” he jokes.

The lawyer for the neighboring building says the lawsuit is ongoing with another court date later this month.