In this episode of the Lucie Content Spotlight Series, Atlanta-based media company Lucie Content highlights King of Pops, a local staple that transformed a single pushcart dream into one of the Southeast’s most recognizable feel-good brands. Their rise even caught national attention, earning recognition from Southern Living as “One of the South’s Best Frozen Treats.”
Co-founder Steve Carse sat down with our team to share how creativity, community, and Atlanta resilience helped a simple idea grow into a purpose-driven company.
Putting a Southern Twist on the Latin Paleta
Before King of Pops became a household name, Steve Carse was working an insurance job at AIG during the height of the Great Recession. After surviving several rounds of layoffs, he was eventually laid off himself, a moment that pushed him to take a risk on a dream he had shared with his brother: creating handcrafted pops.
When Craig Lucie asked Carse how he managed to break into a market where Latin paletas were already well-established, Carse explained that they realized early on that they could be inspired by the craft, but they couldn’t succeed by simply replicating it.
“Honestly, the first 3 or 4 months, we tried to just replicate what they were doing, and it wasn’t as good,” Carse said. “Our breakthrough, I think, was like incorporating what we like about food where we live in the South.”
When King of Pops began incorporating Southern flavors such as banana pudding, peach, sweet tea, and lemonade, all handmade with premium ingredients, the brand finally discovered its unique identity.
Sustainable Growth: A Blueprint for Small Business Success
Growing a business is rarely linear, and King of Pops found success by focusing on steady, intentional expansion. Instead of chasing rapid “hockey-stick” growth, the team prioritized hustle, adaptability, and community relationships.
Carse says the heart of the business has always been the cart experience.
When the pandemic hit and staying in business required a pivot, people started calling to ask if they could buy a cart and sell pops in their own neighborhoods. That unexpected demand became the spark that launched King of Pops’ franchising model.
What had once been a polite “thanks, but no thanks” suddenly became a lifeline and a necessary adaptation.
By embracing change instead of resisting it, King of Pops turned a pandemic pivot into a thriving Cartrepreneur® Crew spanning 51 territories in 7 states.
No matter the location, the strategy stays the same: “Show up at events, give them a great experience.”
Inside the King of Pops Headquarters: Where the Magic Happens
After the interview, filmed through our mobile studio service, the Lucie team toured the King of Pops headquarters, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how thousands of pops are crafted, frozen, and packed each day.
From their original 88-pop machine to their full-scale freeze room that can support 15,000 pops per day, the operation blends hustle and logistics seamlessly. New flavors are tested in their R&D kitchen, while carts, packaging, and distribution all operate under one energetic roof.
Why This Story Matters
What started as a single cart has grown into a community anchor. Today, King of Pops supports local events, collaborates with partners across the Southeast, and continues to give back through flavor campaigns, seasonal pops, and purpose-driven initiatives.
Lucie Content’s Spotlight Series is dedicated to telling positive stories, celebrating the people, places, and brands that uplift Atlanta. King of Pops embodies the heart of our mission: resilience, creativity, community, and purpose.
Whether you’re a small business, nonprofit, or creator, this story serves as a reminder that authenticity and perseverance can build a brand that truly connects.
