Topsy's Popcorn

General information

Originally opened as Patsy's on the Country Club Plaza, we are the oldest merchant on the Country Club Plaza. Patsy's was purchased in 1948 by Mr. Jerry Berger. Mr. Berger changed the name to Topsy's and registered Topsy's as a trademark July 1, 1950.

Topsy's opened an additional four shops in the Kansas City area in 1967. Topsy's became a public-held corporation in 1968 and, using monies from the initial stock offering, expanded into operating snack bars in discount stores, mainly on the east and west coasts. By the late 1970's, the company had approximately 500 units in the United States and Canada. By the early 1980's, the company lost approximately half of its units due to the demise of the discount department stores.

In 1985, Mr. Berger sold his interest to a group of investors that primarily liquidated the assets, closed a number of stores, took the proceeds and formed a new company called TFC International which engaged in high-risk speculative mortgages. That company, TFC International, filed for bankruptcy in July 1987.

Today Topsy's International Inc. is comprised of 12 franchised popcorn and ice cream shops in the Kansas City and outlying areas. The owner of the company is Bob Ramm, who has been a franchisee of Topsy's in excess of 25 years. The Topsy's Shoppes in the Kansas City area achieve approximately two to three times the sales that a typical popcorn shop attains and Topsy's ranks as one of the top two U.S. retailers in Christmas gift tin sales.