The Prospector Theater is turning up the sparkle and getting ready for a major popportunity! Today, Thursday, May 8, kernals flew and shovels hit the ground at 137 Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield, behind Nod Hill Brewery, as the beloved nonprofit broke ground on a brand-new 5,000-square-foot popcorn production facility. That’s right—Prospector Popcorn is getting a glow-up! From a cramped 300-square-foot kitchen tucked above the theater to a sprawling space where kernels can rise, burst, and shine—this expansion marks a delicious leap forward in their mission to create meaningful employment for people with disabilities. The future is buttery-bright.
“We have been popping popcorn for the past 10 years in a 300 sq ft kitchen upstairs in the theater that was never designed to do that,” said Ryan Wenke, Chief Executive Officer of the Prospector Theater. “This is quite an upgrade for us—5,000 square feet in this beautiful building, joined by our sponsors at Nod Hill and our friends at Doyle Coffin Architecture. We couldn’t be happier to expand our mission and to create more jobs in Ridgefield and beyond.”
Prospector Popcorn, which began as a creative solution during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep employees—known as "Prospects"—engaged and employed, has grown significantly. The gourmet popcorn is now sold in 350 hotels across 34 states and is available locally in grocery stores such as Caraluzzi’s Markets, Village Market, LaBonne’s Markets, Palmer’s Market, Walter Stewart’s Market, and Highland Park Market.
With each pop, a purpose. The new facility will allow Prospector Popcorn to meet rising demand and keep those kernels flying off the shelves. It's more than an expansion—it’s a celebration of inclusion, innovation, and irresistible snacks. Dozens of new jobs will be created, continuing the organization’s mission to improve quality of life for people with disabilities through meaningful employment.
The Prospector Theater continues to seek support for its capital campaign to fund the new facility. Want to help turn up the heat? Visit prospectorpopcorn.org to learn more and join the mission—because the best stories are the ones that pop.