Popcorn Asylum Opens In Lakeview

By Erika Kubick in Food on Jan 22, 2014 10:45PM

Artisanal doughnuts, artisanal cocktails… artisanal popcorn? If you’re addicted to Garret’s popcorn, but are craving something a little more interesting, then prepare yourself. Popcorn Asylum, a new artisanal popcorn shop, opened in Lakeview this week. The popcorn sanctuary is the brainchild of former attorney Ben Zion and his associates.

It all started when Zion began to bring batches of caramel corn to his court personnel. As the demand rapidly increased, Zion realized that he enjoyed popping corn far more than arguing in court. Rather than using butter-flavored oils and corn syrup, Zion concentrates on using alternative syrups, like maple and agave nectar, and lots of real butter. It’s certainly not health food, but there’s something seductive about the phrase “real butter. “
The popcorn is available in classic flavors, like cheddar corn. But Zion also loves to experiment with alternative flavors for the weekly menu, such as peanut butter and jelly which he makes using his dehydrator. While he admits that some of the more outlandish creations fair better than others, Zion is open to the public’s suggestion. So if you have a popcorn wish, then give the Asylum a call.

In addition to making crazy corn, the shop also specializes in the display of “outsider art,” an untrained and unbound style of art. Their website describes the genre as “not a hodgepodge, but a consistent reflection of the human mind’s interpretation of the world.“ It’s a snack and a show in one!

Popcorn Asylum is located at 2823 N. Lincoln Ave. Hours are Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bags range from $5 -15.