5 Reasons Why You Should Stand in Line to Eat Garrett's Popcorn in Chicago

Garrett's Popcorn is a Chicago tradition that has been in existence since 1949. Their first store was located at 10 West Madison Street in Chicago's downtown. As of now they only have four flavors: Caramel Crisp®, CheeseCorn™, Plain, and Buttery. The one thing you'll probably notice from any of their locations is that the lines wrap around the block and down the street... any time of day or night... at EVERY location. Granted, the spaces are fairly small, but mind you this is over some popcorn. I've had both the cheese and the caramel flavors, and yes they are very good, but are they worth standing in line for? I'll let you in on a few reasons why they ARE worth standing in line for.

Reason #1 - You won't find it anywhere else.

If you've tried to find this stuff in grocery stores, you won't find it. If you have found it PLEASE let me know where it is. I've lived here all of my life and haven't found it anywhere but the actual Garrett Popcorn stores and online. Popcorn is not exactly a dessert, it's a snack. Garrett's Popcorn is a gourmet snack. It's a Chicago snack. You feel like it's your duty as a Chicago citizen to eat this popcorn every once in a while. Will you pay for it? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

Reason #2 - If you're visiting Chicago, you have to do this.

Make this one of your first stops for food. If you have a hotel in downtown Chicago, you MUST try it. You really have no excuse not to. There are plenty of locations within downtown Chicago. Actually, the majority, if not all of the locations are in downtown Chicago. I guess they figure they have a good market in the downtown sector, why branch out into the inner city? Regardless of that, it is a Chicago staple that won't die anytime soon. Get some for a snack, then buy a tin to take back home with you. Be sure to put it in your carry-on bag for that flight home to avoid buying food you may not like.

Reason #3 - You know it's going to be good.

Why else would you stand in line for a half hour or longer... especially for popcorn? You know it's going to be good! Experience tells you it will be worth the long line. It'll be worth getting home a half an hour later than usual. It'll be worth catching a later bus or train. You'll have Garrett's gourmet popcorn to eat on your ride home. I mean, that's why you left work a few minutes early isn't it? Isn't it???

Reason #4 - If you start waiting and then leave, you'll be mad you left.

Once you commit to the line, you must stay in the line. If you leave, and want to come back, you'll have to stand in the line again. I've never seen Garrett's without a line. It's the equivalent of Wisconsin without the cheese, or New York City without the Empire State Building, you won't find it. You can literally smell the popcorn from around the block. The smell of a food can be a powerful marketing draw. Garrett's utilizes this with brilliance. I don't know of another company that can attract so many people with four flavors of a food known as popcorn.

Reason #5 - Caramel Crisp®, CheeseCorn™, or "The Garrett Mix®".

The Garrett Mix® is a combination of the Caramel Crisp® and the CheeseCorn™ products combined. I'm still preferential to just the caramel product, but I've heard raving reviews about the combination of cheese and caramel popcorn together. Somehow the tanginess of the cheese meshes well with the sweet of the caramel. You stand in line for one of these three reasons usually.

Overall, it's worth the wait, and it's worth standing in the long lines. Be sure to wear comfortable foot gear such as gym shoes before getting in line. I've seen lines that are literally a block long and then some. You don't want to be in that kind of line with high heels or dress shoes. Also be sure to take a small umbrella with you just in case it rains. If it's snowing, wear boots. If it's hot, take a fan with you. You get the idea. The comfort of eating the popcorn is worth the smaller discomfort of the wait. However, if you get weary in well-doing, just think about the caramel goodness you're about to partake...