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