It’s 9 on a Saturday morning. The sun is rising over H-E-B on Kingwood Drive, popcorn can be heard popping and the sweet smell spreads through the air. The source of this environment is coming from one place, the Outlaw Kettle Korn stand.

Known as the “Baddest in town,” Outlaw Kettle Korn is a local business created and run by the Garza family. Working at the stand are senior JC Garza and his father Jake Garza, who primarily cook the kettle corn. Sophomore Natalie Garza and her mother Reyna Garza manage the sales. The two siblings spend the majority of their weekends at the stand, working from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We work on the weekends because it’s more convenient because nobody’s doing anything on a Saturday or Sunday,” JC Garza said.

The history of Outlaw Kettle Korn began with Joe Garza, the father of Jake, who ran the popcorn business Ma & Pa Kettle Korn. Growing up, Jake would help out at the stand occasionally, learning more about the trade. Inspired, Jake decided to turn his father’s business into his own thing by creating Outlaw Kettle Korn in the early 2000s. Using a different version of his dad’s recipe, Jake began to sell kettle corn at local festivals and events. Outlaw Kettle Korn began gaining popularity with the community it served to which led to Jake taking his hobby more seriously.

When he wasn’t running the stand, Jake attended the Texas School of Business where he graduated as the valedictorian with a degree in medical assisting. Jake currently works as a medic in the ER at Memorial Hermann in The Woodlands.

Jake’s career in medicine and his kettle corn business have given him a passion for serving people.

“It’s a balance, on one side of it you see sick and injured people, and then the next you see these happy kids with their hands out eating popcorn,” Jake Garza said.

Jake Garza has been running Outlaw Kettle Korn for 19 years and has taught his kids about the business. JC Garza began to help around the stand when he was in second grade, doing small things like handing out samples before officially working at the stand when he was in middle school. When he gets older, JC plans on keeping kettle corn in his life and maintaining the family business.

“I’m learning how to do everything, like handle the cash and help the customers because eventually my dad’s not going to be able to do it anymore,” JC Garza said.

Natalie Garza’s experiences while working at Outlaw Kettle Korn has given her a passion for people. When running the front of the stand, Natalie’s interactions with customers have allowed her to develop strong social skills. At the stand, Natalie has met people like a sound tech for Metallica and Pantera, as well as some people who play for a small band. These interactions are what makes working at Outlaw Kettle Korn fun for Natalie.

“It creates a comfortable setting when we connect with people, it makes our day knowing who people are,” Natalie Garza said.

While starting out as a hobby, Outlaw Kettle Korn has become a strong source of connection for the Garzas that continues to bring them closer as a family.

“It’s a part of the family,” said Natalie Garza. “It’s going to be passed on to me and my brother, and we’re going to keep passing it down.”