Have you ever seen anyone enter or leave from the popcorn shop on Fifth Avenue? Have you ever even noticed anyone working behind the counter, or witnessed a stranger walking along, eating their popcorn on the street? With its ever-stagnant storefront, Pitt students have been growing increasingly suspicious of the true nature of Pittsburgh Popcorn Company’s home base in Oakland. While some believe that the quiet store is simply a victim of COVID-era supply chain issues, or perhaps has some persistent problems with staffing, rumors are growing that this innocent-looking store is actually a front for the Steel City Mafia, a fierce and feared mob that controls much of the city.
Eager to pull back the mystery surrounding Pittsburgh Popcorn Company, two of The Pitiful News’ top journalists toured the facility and interviewed staff to see if there was a kernel of truth to their story. Ross Jorkes, reported what he saw on the scene:
"Me and the other journalist, Don Berkmeyer, arrived in front of the store at around 4 am, which we thought was a weird time for a tour and interview, but the owner was very adamant that this was the only time he was available. It was so cold out, I was freezing! We were waiting outside for a while, until a very tall man opened the door. I think he was wearing some kind of overcoat, and he was smoking a cigarette. I never really saw his face. Before I could get his name, he asked us if anyone had followed us to the store. Don said no, and before I knew it, the tall man yanked both of us by our shirts and pulled us inside the shop.
I had expected the interview to take place by the front counter where they keep the popcorn, but the man took us through the store to outside this weird little back room. Now I had seen the floor plans of the building in advance, you know, so I would be prepared to ask about the cost of rent and stuff, but this room was nowhere on those blueprints. The tall man pushed Don into the room and closed the door. Suddenly I heard cracking and popping sounds, like bones crunching. Followed by screams! I was so scared I couldn't move.
Don came out of the room a few minutes later, looking white as a piece of popcorn. He had this weird smile on him, big and bright like I've never seen wear before. I asked him about the cracking sounds. He insisted it was just a popcorn maker. The screams? Just some ooh-s and ahh-s at all the different flavors they had prepared for him. We both left pretty quickly after that. Don's a pretty good guy, so if he says the place seemed legit, I'm sure it…"
From this point in our conversation with Jorkes, he stopped making eye contact with the rest of The Pitiful News staff and would only mutter “wonderful family-owned business” under his breath.