Shop local this Small Business Saturday. Stop by Kernels Nashville Popcorn in Nashville or order online at kernelsnashville.com.

Running a small business is a labor of sisterly love for Amber Greer, Jennifer Knight, and Erica Greer, the owners of Kernels Nashville Popcorn in East Nashville. Since opening in 2008, the gourmet popcorn shop has become a local Music City favorite.

Kernels is the birthplace of Nashville Hot Popcorn and offers 14 flavors, from sweet to savory. This Small Business Saturday, they’re offering a free mini bag with any purchase to thank their loyal customers.

“It’s our way of saying thank you for supporting local,” Erica said. “The holidays are one of our favorite times of year! Our custom tins always sell quickly, so we encourage customers to order early, especially for gifts or large groups.”

Growing up, popcorn marked every celebration — a reward for good grades or a holiday treat. Those memories of visiting the old Harding Mall popcorn shop with their mother inspired the sisters to recreate the same feeling of joy for their hometown.

“Popcorn was something we loved, and we realized there weren’t many places offering gourmet popcorn with creative flavors the way we envisioned,” Amber said.

After 17 years in business, Kernels has become an important piece of East Nashville, providing the community with a space to make those same happy memories the sisters remember from when they were young.

“During tougher times, when people were only spending on necessities, we had to get creative — leaning into community support, building stronger relationships with customers, and diversifying our offerings to keep Kernels sustainable and growing,” Jennifer said.

Having a community-focused financial partner is also important to them. It’s the reason they chose Ascend for their small business banking.

“Kernels has been with Ascend since day one in 2008,” Erica said. “We wanted a financial partner that was local and personal, and Ascend has been just that. They’ve provided the support and resources we’ve needed to keep moving forward, and having that relationship has been an important part of our growth.”

The sisters are excited about what the future holds for Kernels. They hope to have Nashville Hot Popcorn and many of their other flavors on the shelves locally at major retailers soon. You can also pick up a bag at Vanderbilt football games or have Kernels cater your next get-together.

No matter where the future takes their popcorn, one thing is certain: the sisters will do it together.

“It’s not just a business partnership, it’s a family bond that keeps us grounded and inspired,” Amber said.

Stop by Kernels Nashville Popcorn at 2501B Gallatin Ave. in Nashville, or order online at kernelsnashville.com.

Ascend offers accounts and services for businesses of any size. Browse our business solutions at ascend.org/business, or contact an Ascend Business Specialist by calling 855-204-2085 or completing our online contact form.