Photo courtesy of Lil’ Pop Shop.

After over three years of operation at 44th and Spruce and gaining popularity throughout the area, Lil’ Pop Shop is ready to expand.

The new location, at 4608 Woodland Ave., will serve as a main production hub for the business and will include more offerings. “We’re outgrowing the kitchen on 44th,” says owner Jeanne Chang. “We will have a lot more equipment [at the new location].”

The new space is equipped with an oven for baked goods, including cakes and pies, confections, marshmallows, and different types of cookies. “This will greatly impact the products we can make; it will better serve the neighborhood,” Chang said.

Lil’ Pop Shop II will emulate the same model as the first, as it will be mainly for takeout with limited seating.

Chang relocated to Philadelphia in 2012, after her husband began working at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a West Philadelphia nonprofit that researches smell and taste. She decided to open the business on 44th and Locust in May 2012 and has been serving up original popsicle recipes ever since. As a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she uses her culinary background to craft flavors such as Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Early Grey with Black Pepper and Green Tea with Mochi for her customers. 

Lil’ Pop Shop owner Jeanne Chang is ready to serve more artisan ice pops and baked goods in West Philly (Archived photo/ West Philly Local)

The business is bigger than it looks. Lil’ Pop Shop has also been offering catering services, such as cocktail popsicle spreads for parties and weddings with flavors such as Cranberry Champagne and a classic, speakeasy-inspired Pimm’s Cup popsicle.

Chang looks forward to being able to cater more with a bigger kitchen and she will also include birthday cake making services to the menu.

Chang says the expansion will not impact her commitment to local ingredients.

“At the bakery, we’ll still be committed to using local farms, cage-free local eggs… still high-quality ingredients. Anything that’s seasonal will be sourced locally,” she said.

The new location is set to open on 46th and Woodland this Saturday (Dec. 12) at 10 a.m. To celebrate the opening, Lil’ Pop Shop is giving away two months of free baked goods. Head to their website, lilpopshop.com, to learn how to enter.

– Rana Fayez