One of Ewing Township’s most colorful new businesses in recent years is Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn — an independent snack shop that opened in 2024.
Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn specializes in freshly made popcorn with a variety of flavorful twists. Treats on offer may include fairly standard varieties such as kettle corn, caramel, butter, and cheese.
But those with more adventurous palates might opt for flavors such as cookies and cream, Buffalo wing, blue raspberry, sriracha lime or peanut butter cup.
Dr. Auntie is Cynthia Fulford, 55, who made the decision to start up her own business after a career in academia. She spent 30 years working as a student development officer on college campuses, including The College Of New Jersey before embarking on life as an entrepreneur.
Fulford, who lives in Ewing, is a graduate of Trenton Central High School. She has degrees from Washington and Jefferson College, Syracuse University, and Bowling Green University. She is also a licensed minister and lay leader at Change Church in Ewing.
US 1 interviewed Fulford about starting up a new business in Mercer County, the choices that she made while creating the business, how business is going, and where she hopes to go from here.
US 1: Why did you decide to start a gourmet popcorn business?
Cynthia Fulford: What inspired me to start a gourmet popcorn business was my deep love for connecting people. To me, popcorn is more than just a snack — it’s comfort food that naturally brings people together.
As a student affairs professional, I often used popcorn as a way to draw students, faculty, and staff into shared spaces where they could build relationships and discover common ground. I realized I wanted to continue creating those meaningful connections beyond campus and within the broader community.
As I began researching, I discovered that popcorn consistently ranks as a top snack choice. Not only is it delicious, but it can also be a healthy option. The strong growth potential within the popcorn market confirmed that this idea was both personally fulfilling and financially viable.
Armed with this research and driven by my passion for serving both my church and my community, I felt that starting a gourmet popcorn business was a natural next step in my personal and professional journey.
Beyond building a business, I wanted to create something that could truly bless the community through fundraising and meaningful partnerships. This business allows me to combine purpose, connection, and opportunity in a way that is authentic to who I am.
US 1: Tell us about the name Dr. Auntie.
CF: My family gave me the name “Dr. Auntie” after I earned my doctorate in higher education. It started as a playful term of endearment, a lighthearted way of teasing me about collecting titles—especially since I am also a licensed minister. What began as a joke quickly stuck and became something meaningful.
I chose to use Dr. Auntie as the brand for my business because it reflects both my credentials and my heart. It captures the feeling of being the trusted neighborhood auntie—someone who is knowledgeable, approachable, caring, and invested in the growth and well-being of others.
US 1: How did you select Ewing as a home for your business?
CF: Ewing is a strong, diverse, and family-oriented community. It is centrally located and easily accessible by major roads, making it convenient for residents and neighboring towns alike.
I wanted to establish my business in a place where local families, schools, churches, and community organizations could easily connect with and access our services. Ewing provides that ideal hub for outreach, engagement, and impact.
US 1: How did you come up with recipes for your popcorn?
CF: We spend a lot of time experimenting in what we call our own version of a test kitchen. When we want to try a new flavor, we announce it to our customers and offer free tastings in exchange for their feedback.
Our customers have helped us refine our recipes by letting us know when a flavor is too salty, too sweet, too spicy—or not bold enough. Using their input, we adjust the recipes to find the perfect balance, ensuring every batch delivers just the right amount of flavor without overpowering the palate.
US 1: How did you come up with the range of flavors that you offer?
CF: Staying true to my love for engagement and bringing people together, I wanted to create a variety of flavors that would appeal to people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I initially purchased a gourmet popcorn recipe book, but I soon found myself adjusting many of the recipes and eventually creating original ones.
I carefully consider customer feedback and market trends, then get creative with the spices and flavor oils available to craft unique blends. While it’s important to offer classic favorites, gourmet popcorn should deliver an elevated flavor experience.
I believe in offering something for everyone — sweet, savory, spicy, and seasonal — going beyond the basics to provide memorable and exciting options for our customers.
US 1: Do the flavors stay the same or change? Do you have special flavors?
CF: We keep our core favorites available year-round, but we regularly rotate special and seasonal flavors. Around holidays, sporting events, and community celebrations, we introduce limited-edition options to keep things fresh and exciting. This gives our customers — especially our foodies who love trying new flavors — a reason to come back often.
As a small, local business, we also have the flexibility to create custom flavors for special orders. While we’re capable of making over 100 different flavors, we simply can’t offer that many on the menu at one time. Rotating selections allows us to maintain quality while still providing variety and creativity.
US 1: How is the popcorn made?
CF: Our popcorn is made fresh in-store using wholesome, high-quality ingredients. From carefully selected oil and spices to real sugar and chocolate wafers, we’re committed to creating a preservative-free experience whenever possible.
We pop our corn in small batches to ensure maximum freshness, quality, and flavor. Our popping schedule is based on customer demand, but with special fundraising orders, we can pop up to 100 gallons of popcorn in just one hour.
After popping, we carefully sift out excess kernels and husks and do our best to remove unpopped kernels to help prevent any unexpected tooth-cracking surprises. We believe you deserve a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a consistently flavorful experience in every bite.
US 1: Tell us about a day in the life of Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn.
CF: Every day for me begins with prayer and gratitude. I also care for my special needs adult cousin, making sure he has breakfast, meals for the day, and everything he needs to start his morning.
As the founder of Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn, my days are a blend of creativity, strategy, and hands-on work. I track sales trends, update our store board and website, and create social media content to showcase our newest flavors, gift boxes, and fundraising opportunities.
A major focus is building partnerships with schools, nonprofits, colleges, and corporations — helping them raise funds while sharing the joy of popcorn with their communities.
I coordinate orders, manage inventory, and oversee production, making fresh batches daily. Much of my day is hands-on: popping popcorn, preparing orders, cleaning machines, and keeping the store welcoming. Customer service is always the priority.
Running a growing business while balancing personal responsibilities isn’t easy, but the rewards are tangible. Seeing customers smile when they taste something they love reminds me why I started this journey. Every batch, every order, and every connection fuels my passion to grow Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn into a statewide and nation business.
US 1: Do you offer fundraising programs as part of the business plan?
CF: Fundraising is a core part of our mission. We offer several ways for organizations to raise funds for their programs.
We have a traditional program. Organizations sell our popcorn, we fill the orders, and they handle delivery. We also offer shipping options upon request.
We also do concession stand sales, where we provide popcorn wholesale at a discount to help schools and groups fund their initiatives. We also do event and PTA vending; we set up popcorn sales at meetings or events and give a portion of the proceeds back to the organization.
Finally, we will work with customers on custom fundraising ideas. We are open to creative ways to help organizations raise money.
We are committed to supporting our neighborhood, community, and the organizations that support us. Schools, churches, and nonprofits can earn 50 percent or more profit on sales. Last year alone, we helped local organizations raise nearly $10,000 — most of it without shipping costs cutting into profits.
Supporting youth programs and community initiatives is a priority for us, and we take pride in helping organizations reach their fundraising goals while sharing the joy of gourmet popcorn.
US 1: What are some things you hear from customers?
CF: Common reactions include: “This is the best popcorn I’ve ever had,” “I love that it’s fresh,” and “You don’t have a lot of kernels at the bottom!” Many are delighted to discover flavors they didn’t even know existed.
Equally heartwarming is how much customers value supporting a local small business. For us, it’s not just about popcorn — it’s about creating a connection with the community.
Hearing someone say they appreciate what we do is one of the most rewarding parts of running Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn.
US 1: How is the shop doing after a couple years in business?
CF: Like many small businesses in today’s economy, we face challenging times and work hard each month to stay open. Despite this, we remain committed to quality, excellent service, and making a meaningful impact in our community.
As a small business, we rely on word-of-mouth, social media shares, and reviews to reach new customers. We also welcome partnerships with corporations, wineries, and specialty shops, offering wholesale pricing to expand our reach. Volunteers and fresh ideas are always appreciated to help us better serve the community.
Although we are still growing as a business and I as a business owner, we are dedicated to staying local and making a difference. As the only popcorn shop in the area, we provide catering for weddings, reunions, corporate events, and birthday parties.
Our ultimate goal is to take our popcorn even further — with a food truck bringing our flavors to festivals, farmers markets, and events across New Jersey.
US 1: What else might be on the horizon?
CF: We are exploring expanded fundraising partnerships, corporate gifting, subscription programs, farmers markets, and increased community collaborations. Long term, I hope to see Dr. Auntie’s become a recognized regional brand known for quality, integrity, and unforgettable flavor.
We would love to create more local employment opportunities and collaborate with nonprofits to serve as a training site for job seekers. Additionally, we plan to expand our reach with a presence in areas like Quakerbridge, Mercer Mall, or Nassau Boulevard, so we can bring our popcorn to even more people.
Beyond business growth, I’m passionate about sharing the joys and challenges of small business ownership through speaking engagements and advocating for policies that help small businesses thrive.
By engaging with the community and policymakers, I hope to make it easier for local businesses like ours to serve customers, create jobs, and strengthen neighborhoods.
Dr. Auntie’s Gourmet Popcorn, 1400 Parkway Ave., Ewing. Web: draunties.com. Hours: Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays 3 to 7 p.m.
Cynthia Fulford, AKA Dr. Auntie, in her Gourmet Popcorn shop in Ewing Township. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
