CARBONDALE - Natalie Hill has come full circle. She spent the first 14 years of her life in Colp and attended Herrin schools before moving to Chicago in 1972 with her family her freshman year.

Now 36 years later, Hill has moved back to Colp. And she didn't waste much time in pursuing a business venture.

The mother of two grown sons and grandmother of four, Hill, a retired sergeant with the Cook County Sheriff's Department, has opened a gourmet popcorn shop at 821 S. Illinois Ave. in Carbondale known as Jazzypops.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity," Hill said. "I think my store is going to be a wonderful fit here."

Hill said SIUC students who are from the Chicago area should be familiar with gourmet popcorn moreso than native Southern Illinoisans.

"What we're talking about is popcorn with candy coating," she said. "I hope to someday soon have up to 30 different flavors, but for now, I have strawberry, grape and green apple. Or if you don't like the sweet taste so much, I also offer barbecue, sour cream and chives and ranch dressing."

Prices are based on the ounces of popcorn sold.

Besides the gourmet popcorn, Hill sells hard candy, which used to be referred to as "penny candy," Hawaiian ice snow cones and all-natural fruit smoothies made with white or red tea and no preservatives.

"You'll never even taste the tea in them," she said. "And they're full of antioxidants for those people who are health-conscious."

Hill gets ample help at the store. Her younger son, Clenton, works part-time when not taking classes at SIUC. Her older son, Elston, is a marketing specialist in Chicago with Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance.

Hill's cousin, Vanessa Sherrill, her husband, Mike, and son, Kent, also lend a helping hand when they can.

"I just thought Carbondale would be a good place to set up shop," Hill said. "There's more population here with the students in session and more diversity."

Hill said gift baskets and tins can be arranged to fit corporations' or individual customers' needs at Jazzypops.

Hill is also a member of both the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce and Carbondale Main Street.

"Jazzypops has some unique offerings that I think will attract a niche market," said Meredith Rhoads, executive director for the Chamber. "I think the gift baskets will go over well. Her store is another option outside the ordinary for Carbondale shoppers."

Rhoads said it's great to see someone like Hill take a business concept and develop that concept into reality.

"I think the students will definitely be able to identify with her product and the community will like having something new to choose from."

john.homan@thesouthern.com / 351-5805

Details

Jazzypops is a gourmet popcorn shop in Carbondale named after one of the owner's granddaughters, Jazmine.

The owner, Natalie Hill, is a native of Colp who moved back to the community in January after a 36-year stay in Chicago.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.