By Sarah Blizzard Robinson  

Do you need elevated, one-of-a-kind decorations for an event, a private party, a wedding, a birthday, a bridal, or a baby shower? Do you hope to find special gifts? Maybe you’re searching for unique table decor, eye-catching balloons, delightful party favors, all the accessories… Pop & Pour Party Company is your one-stop shop for an all-things party supplies extravaganza.  

Located at 1809 Main Street in historic, downtown Daphne, the store has large windows in front and alongside the very attractive building offering customers lots of opportunities to window shop, but it’s much more fun going inside.  

The brand-new business looks like it’s been there for years, though it just held its Grand Opening in September. The inventory is blowing up too now that the holiday season is here. If you ask the owners, business partners Lesley Hendon and Jena Yaeger, both young moms with three children each, why they are smiling, it’s because new clients keep pouring in, and yes, (I couldn’t resist the play on words) sales are popping.

Last month, my daughter called me long distance from Frisco, Texas to go over details for a party we would be hosting in Fairhope. “Are you planning a balloon arch?” she asked. I admit that I knew nothing about the balloon craze and didn't know where to begin. But I soon found out, thanks to word-of-mouth, especially among the friendly vendors in downtown Fairhope.  

Stopping inside a downtown florist, I asked if they created such things as balloon arches. The proprietor was eager to help, and she recommended I contact Fair Poppers. The idea of a mass of festive balloons was somewhat outside of my comfort zone but I wanted to be current and please my daughter who has everything at her fingertips in North Dallas. Once her directive was given, I planned to deliver. 

“We have the only balloon bar,” said Yaeger, walking me over to the space in front of a bright pink “Balloon Bar '' neon sign. Not your ordinary bar serving wine or other spirits, Pop & Pour’s family-friendly balloon bar displays clear plastic jars set up stylishly on open shelves, holding a rainbow of colorful uninflated balloons at eye level, where customers can begin to envision their customized balloon display.

When Jena suggested I bring in a copy of my party invitation, she went from there, incorporating the soft blues and greens with champagne-colored balloons. I watched her effortlessly design and develop a plan for the arch, right before my eyes, based on my color scheme. I wanted to tell her, “Frisco, Texas has nothing on Daphne, Alabama!” 

The enthusiastic party planners and salespeople have a background in rentals and party supply merchandise. Lesley, with Tap and Pour Mobile Bar, and Jena, with Fair Poppers, have combined forces in the welcoming, eclectic retail space. Turns out, both businesswomen were separately searching for a retail space at the same time. When a mutual friend of theirs suggested they collaborate and join forces for the quintessential party/rental store in the heart of downtown Daphne, Pop & Pour was born. The young moms call the new store “Their baby.”                                                                              

The storefront and interior are a designer’s dream; take an old house with high ceilings and good bones, and transform it into an eclectic retail space with eye-catching décor, including a wall-to-wall backdrop mural by their artist friend, Allie Ward of Enchanted Bird Creative, who also painted what serves as a kind of centerpiece in the spacious display area; a piano and bench painted in whimsical pastel shades.  

The artistic touches blend well with the colorful merchandise along the walls in a well-coordinated, dazzling display: hot pinks and oranges blend with the bright yellows, blue, and green paper goods in a hombre-satisfying display of coordinated patterns and colors. Halloween merchandise has been replaced with tons of Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings, including a large set of adorable snowmen water bottles with built-in straws. 

The business partners had planned on using the back of the store, several hundred square feet, as an event space. When they realized how well their retail sales were going, they reconsidered. Instead, they’ve expanded their merchandise into the space. Pop & Pour is set for success with the holidays in full swing. 

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