Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn in Seven Corners prepares staff for opening day

As Robin Rinearson, the owner of Jake’s Ice Cream prepares to open Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn, one of her key tasks is training the employees, most of whom have cognitive, physical, or other disabilities.

The popcorn shop could have a soft opening in the Seven Corners Shopping Center as early as the middle of next week – assuming the occupancy permit is approved in time.

Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn will offer a limited number of popcorn flavors for the soft opening, but will eventually have about 30 varieties, including caramel corn, kettle corn, spicy jalapeno and cheddar, white cheddar, lemon cake, maple bourbon, green apple, strawberry shortcake, and Oreo.

Paul Badey, the manager of both the ice cream and popcorn stores, says the choices are unlimited, as customers can combine flavors and add almonds, pecans, and pistachios. The popcorn comes in two shapes – “butterfly” and “mushroom.” The shop will be open noon-8 p.m. seven days a week.

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At a training session for staff – many of them accompanied by their parents – Rinearson gave detailed instructions on how to operate the popcorn machines and all the other aspects of working in a store.

When they arrive for their shift, Rinearson told them, the first things they need to do are pick up their nametag, put on an apron, wash their hands, and clock in with their four-digit number.

Everyone will need to learn all the tasks – making popcorn in a 10-gallon machine, adding extra ingredients, putting popcorn in bags, keeping logs on refrigerator temperature and bathroom cleanup, washing dishes, and doing laundry. The store has a washer and dryer in a back room.

All food must be six inches from the floor, even if it’s in boxes, Rinearson told the staff. Another critical issue is making sure nuts and other allergens don’t come into contact with the popcorn until it’s put into bags.

Rinearson reminded employees to be polite to customers, greeting them with, “Welcome to Jake’s. How can I help you?”

Wages start at $12 an hour, and the employees need to make sure they don’t work too many shifts, because if they earn too much money, they could lose their Supplemental Security Income benefits.

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Rinearson is a retired optometrist who treated many patients with disabilities. One of her goals when she opened Jake’s Ice Cream in Barcroft Plaza was to provide job opportunities to them.

Employees at both stores have a range of conditions, such as autism, seizure disorders, attention deficit disorder, and speech and language issues.

Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn will also host interns from the Arlington Program for Employment Preparedness and Fairfax County’s Pulley Career Center. Both programs provide workforce and life skills training for students transitioning out of special education.

Jake’s Ice Cream will celebrate its second anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 6, with face painting, balloon animals, and beach balls, starting at 12 p.m.