Meet Ramya Krishnan | Food Lover, Fun & Creative!

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ramya Krishnan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ramya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have great passion for food, especially ones that are unique, yet with healthy options. I was born and raised in south India and popsicles were street foods then. I grew up having grape, orange and milk pops and I loved them. But my Dad being a doctor wouldn’t encourage me having those pops, since he was worried that they were not made with clean water or natural ingredient. So, it was always a dessert that I loved so much but couldn’t have often. So, when I found The Pop Parlour, where these ice pops can be made with all-natural ingredients with no artificial color and used nothing but real fruits, I immediately jumped on that opportunity. And the concept of having specialty Coffee tied into the business made it even better as we are covering both the hot and cold treats. So, the concept combined with my passion for food, inspired me to get in to this Ice pop/Coffee business. Also wanted to provide a fun space where people can walk-in and socialize, which is something that we are all drifting away from these days.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I have a College degree in Computer Science Engineering and have been working for Corporate America since 2000, but my heart was always in the food industry and on the creative side. So, I finally decided to quit my 15 year IT career and start this Ice pop and Coffee shop, The Pop Parlour in Frisco. The decision to quit a lucrative job and dive into the most challenging business especially during this pandemic wasn’t easy at all. But what kept me going was my passion for food, and not just any food, but an all-natural product that people can enjoy. I have 2 daughters and I wouldn’t want them to have anything with artificial color or ingredient, and that is exactly what I wanted to provide to everyone, but with great and unique flavor. I learned a lot through my years of experience in IT career and being in Management roles. Hard work, discipline, grit, passion and above all love for people, is the recipe to success. It is not easy to have them all, but if you have the drive, you will be able to work through any failures and challenges.

The Pop Parlour has gourmet ice pops and specialty Coffee and Tea. With 2 locations in Orlando, FL that are owned by 2 brothers, our Frisco location is the first franchise and very first in Texas! And it is women-owned!!!

All of the ice pops we have are all-natural. We do not add any artificial ingredients or color. Our gourmet pops are only sweetened with cane sugar and made from real fruits, right at our Frisco location. We have fruity, creamy, boozy(infused with alcohol) and filled pop categories with vegan, gluten-free and no sugar added options, so everyone can have their favorite treat here.

We cater to all kinds of events, from birthdays, weddings, neighborhood events, weddings to corporate events. Our vintage looking pop carts have been a big hit at parties of all sizes.

Our Coffee is single-origin and is sourced from Africa and Latin America. We take pride in making all of our syrups in house and from scratch, like the rose, lavender, etc. which we use in our Lattes. We offer Black, Herbal and Green tea options, including Matcha.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a nature lover and foodie, so I would definitely take them for hiking and biking on North Shore trail in The Colony, Cross Timbers at Juniper point, North Shore trail head by Grapevine lake, kayaking on Lake Texoma and camping for couple of days. And then to some local restaurants like Simply Thai, MoMo sushi, Pecan Lodge BBQ, Tupelo Honey and chains like The Brass tap – North Dallas, Happy Hour Bar & Grill, The Rustic and for Dessert Hi Sweetie and Botolino Gelato Artigianale and of course The Pop Parlour for ice pops and coffee! Would spend time at Strikz for Bowling and go shopping at Legacy West, North Park and The Stonebriar Mall.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I am thankful for my parents, for giving me a fun-filled childhood that motivated me to explore, be independent and grow up with confidence. My older brother, for always reminding me to be responsible for my actions and dreams. Super grateful to my Husband, for going above and beyond in helping me set up The Pop Parlour business in Frisco location, he has always stood by my side, in highs and lows and shared my love for food which motivates me to try out new recipes. And above all, my daughters for always being there for me, bringing love and joy into my world and making me realize how grateful I am to have such a beautiful family. Very appreciative to my in-laws for consistently encouraging me in this new venture. Thankful to my franchisors for trusting in me to start their first franchise.

Some of the books that have inspired me are “Girl, wash your face – Rachel Hollis”, “Elon Musk: Tesla, Space X and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance”, “My Life in Full – Work, Family and our Future by Indra Nooyi” and “Atomic Habits – By James Clear”

Website: www.thepopparlour.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popparlourfriscotx/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/popparlourfriscotx

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-pop-parlour-frisco

Image Credits
Stephen Joel Bowman from Aktiri Studio for my personal headshot