Pop art

Tulsa’s tiniest ‘sicle shack

The Pop House owners and brothers Chris and Robby Davis have made me a pop believer.

Wow was all I could think as I sampled the creamy Key Lime Pop made with yogurt, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and cream cheese.

“That is our standard for whether a pop makes it on the menu—is it a wow pop?” Chris said.

I eagerly moved on to the next flavor, blueberry cheesecake.

Coated in graham cracker crumbs, it’s reminiscent of the creamy strawberry shortcake treats you loved as a child—but better.

Chris’s idea for The Pop House grew from an itch to ditch his corporate job and work for himself. What started out as a bike cart peddling pops at Guthrie Green and events around town is now a charming blue and red shack at 3737 S. Peoria Ave. that opened June 9. Besides the Pop House’s growing popularity, winning $15,000 from the 2016 Tulsa StartUp Series helped propel them to their Brookside location.

“That’s what really made a lot of this possible,” Chris said.   

The Davises avoid artificial additives and partner with local businesses to source high-quality ingredients—so you can have a frozen treat without the added guilt. Blackberries and blueberries come from Thunderbird Berry Farm in Broken Arrow, the coffee pops’ cold brew from Tulsa’s Danger Cats Coffee, and the Pineapple Jalapeño Pop is spiced with subtle heat from another Kitchen 66 startup—Baby D’s Bee Sting hot sauce. The brothers are also looking into a partnership with Weber’s on South Peoria Avenue to create a root beer float pop.

The stand currently sells 19 different flavors, with a rotating “pop of the week,” like the Birthday Cake Pop that debuted the week of June 19th to commemorate their first anniversary of being in business.

You can also spoil your pup with a Pupsicle, made of yogurt, honey, and blueberries. (These are fine for human consumption, too, but are shaped like dog treats.)

As the seasons change, so will their flavors and ingredients. The shack will close for winter around November, but not before offering fall flavors such as pumpkin pie, caramel apple, and s’mores. Customers can also order pops from Kitchen 66 year-round.

As the Davises look toward the future, they see possibilities for more Pop Houses in Tulsa and nearby. 

For more from Mary, read her interview with John Oates.