Sweet and salty treats come to historic office building – Times Record News

Judith McGinnis , Times Record News 4:24 p.m. CT April 21, 2017

Amanda Gonzales, right, picks up a bag of gourmet popcorn from A.L. Williams, owner of Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building at 813 8th Street.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)Buy Photo

The Oil and Gas Building lobby is ready to pop.

Aunt Margies Gourmet Popcorn, owned, operated and made by Anita Williams, has set up shop to the delight of companies that office there.

What began with a shared recipe has now become a unique enterprise. Williams has come home to Wichita Falls with a delicious start-up business.

I really did have an Aunt Margie, Williams saidwith a broad smile. I call her original recipe butter crunch.' Its sugar, butter and popcorn. I have to tell people all the time this is not caramel corn.

A graduate of Rider High School, Midwestern State University and Bethania Nursing School, she was 10 when her civil service-employed parents came to Wichita Falls. Marriage and children moved her to different states but she was ready to return.

A. L. Williams mixes up a batch of popcorn for her business, Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn, which she started recently. Williams has been making her aunt's recipe for several years and now offers several flavors and varieties.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

Anita had a booth at the Farmers Market for a while but this is over the top, Cynthia Laney, executive director of Downtown Wichita Falls Development said. Her office is across the hall from Aunt Margies Gourmet Popcorn. Popcorn is my favorite snack and I like to have coffee with a mix of the butter crunch and the sweet and spicy.

White Realty Management Vice President Mark Chase, who worked with Williams,is just as pleased.

Years ago this was a concession stand. Chewing gum and candy bars, Chase said. Were very excited to have Anita here. I understand soon we'll have homemade lemonade to go with the popcorn."

Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn is located in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building, seen in this old photograph as the shorter building, center right. Construction in the foreground is of the Hamilton Building. Additional floors were built onto the Oil and Gas Building later, making it roughly as tall as its next door neighbor, the City National Building.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

The Oil and Gas Building has been a key contributor to the growth of downtown Wichita Falls. Built in the early 1920s, its 12 stories were an oil boomheadquarters. Old photographs collected by White Reality President and CEO David White depict the building surrounded by new builds like City National Bank and vacant lots ready for construction.

White Realty also manages the Hamilton Building, Energy Center Building, Chelsea Plaza andCity National Building.

"Currently 25 companies have offices at the Oil and Gas Building," Chase said. "People have told us a number of times they want to lease space in one of these buildings because their grandfathers used to work there."

A.L. Williams stirs up ingredients for her gourmet popcorn she makes from a family recipe. Williams recently opened Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn and is located on 8th Street in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

With samples offered to visitors, office staffers and company execs, Williams continues to develop her brand. InitiallyAunt Margie's recipe was made as a gift for friends who asked for more and told others until it became a business.

"The sweet and hot version has cayenne pepper but I've also added milk and dark chocolate to the original recipe," Williams said, "By Thanksgiving I'll have cinnamon and pumpkin pie but Ireally want to do something with cheesecake."

A bag of Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn made by A.L. Williams. Williams opened her popcorn business in the lobby of the Oil and Gas Building on 8th Street.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)

Williams makes gift bags for all occasions. Aunt Margie's Gourmet Popcorn is open from 11 a.m ("to cover lunch time") to 3 p.m. ("afternoon snack time). She is flexibleto accommodate gift pickups and other needs. For more information or to place an order call(940) 263-9558 or go to https://www.facebook.com/auntmargiesgourmetpopcorn/.

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Sweet and salty treats come to historic office building - Times Record News