JUNE 18 • 2020 | 13
Jews in the D
Popping Off
Following owner’
s racist comments, Detroit
Popcorn Company sells to black-owned fi
rm.
P
ontiac-based Harris
Financial Group signed
a letter of intent June 11
to acquire the Detroit Popcorn
Company.
Detroit Popcorn Company
made headlines earlier this
month when owner Evan Singer
was called out on social media for
making racist comments under
the alias of “Even Sangria.
”
The original comments were
made on a post referencing the
killing of 46-year-old black man
George Floyd in Minneapolis by a
police officer and the protests that
have followed in cities around the
country, including in Detroit and
in other Michigan cities.
Shortly after screenshots of
Singer’
s comments surfaced
on Facebook, former Detroit
Popcorn Company owner David
Farber told the Jewish News he
intended to regain control of the
company from Singer and then
re-sell the company to a black-
owned group.
But after Singer and Farber
made a verbal agreement that
Farber would take the company
back, Singer decided not to sign
the papers that would make the
deal official.
According to a press release,
Farber removed himself from
exercising the contract clause
that would allow him to buy back
Detroit Popcorn when HFG,
which is a black-owned company
based in Pontiac, expressed inter-
est in acquiring the business. The
company will now move directly
from Singer to HFG, and Farber
will facilitate the sale.
“We’
re very much looking for-
ward to personally introducing
ourselves to every employee and
connecting with its diverse com-
munity in an inclusive
way that brings inspi-
ration and joy to those
we encounter,
” HFG
Managing Partner Ken
Harris said in the press
release.
Reggie Kelley, chief
operating officer of HFG, is
expected to handle the day-to-day
operations of Detroit Popcorn.
“Our minority company
members, including Reggie
Kelley, bring vast corporate and
entrepreneurial experience to the
Detroit Popcorn Company that
will take the business well into
the future,
” Harris said. “I’
m excit-
ed about this rare opportunity to
continue the company’
s legacy
and remain committed
to the high level of qual-
ity and service that its
customers have come to
expect.
”
Farber plans to con-
tinue on at the compa-
ny in an advisory role
during the transaction. The sale
is expected to close in about 30
days.
MAYA GOLDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
COURTESY JENNIFER FOSTER
Detroit Popcorn Company
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER FOSTER
Ken Harris