From High School Graduate to Popcorn Shop Owner | GoodyPop | Building Nebraska

Just days after graduating high school in 2024, Emory Conrad took a leap that most people her age wouldn’t consider — purchasing the local popcorn shop where she had worked throughout high school. Instead of heading to college, she chose the entrepreneurial path and became the owner of GoodyPop. What started as a small downtown shop has become a destination for popcorn lovers, offering more than 200 unique flavors — from sweet classics to bold combinations you wouldn’t expect. In this episode of Building Nebraska, Emory shares what it’s like to buy a business at 18 years old, the lessons she learned working there as a student, and how she’s putting her own stamp on the shop while honoring its history. She also talks about the risks, the creativity behind developing new flavors, and why small businesses play such an important role in rural communities. Discover how one young Nebraskan turned opportunity into ownership — and how a popcorn shop is becoming a symbol of the state’s entrepreneurial spirit. Building Nebraska is powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.