Meet Francisco Sanchez | Owner and Creator

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

Hi Francisco, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
At a very young age, I started working at an ice cream shop owned by my aunt. I saw how happy she was to pick ingredients at the market to make her recipes for various popsicles and ice cream. I helped cut fruit and ensure quality was always a focus. Later I started to serve customers. It was nice to interact with different people and discover their favorite flavors. I quickly became interested in opening my own ice cream and popsicle store.

Many years passed and I eventually opened my store in Porter, Texas. Francisco’s are commonly called Paco, so I named the store Paco Pops – short for Francisco’s Popsicles.

I had the experience and passion but not the knowledge of how a business operated. I had to do a lot of research; it was not easy. Luckily my spouse with a background in business was a tremendous help in making my dream come true. We both had many discussions, visited our local permitting office, and surveyed our area for an available space to open the store.

The thought process in starting my own business was to offer unique flavors, quality, freshness, all handmade, hand packed, and excellent service to our customers. This continues to be the focus at Paco Pops’, and I am proud to have celebrated five years in business as of April 2024.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Crafting unique popsicle and ice cream flavors is an art. At a young age, I started observing how the product was made and developed my ideas and recipes. I enjoy mixing and creating flavors that my customers will enjoy. At Paco Pops each popsicle and ice cream batch is handmade using fresh handpicked and hand cut fruit. Paco Pops offers many options that welcome customers with various dietary needs by offering vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free options. We are set apart each year because, unlike franchised stores that have to stick to a strict menu offering, I can continually create new flavors and offer seasonal ones during fall and winter.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would like for them to experience the museum, zoo, and beach. These are some of the top places I believe they would enjoy. These are locations that you are not able to do in one day so it’s perfect for someone visiting on a week-long trip. Then to top it off I would treat them to Paco Pops for a delicious dessert.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely! First, my spouse. From the beginning, my spouse has been my number one supporter. There were many roadblocks that I was able to overcome thanks to my spouse. The mentorship, support, love, and encouragement I receive from my spouse help me to continue.

I also want to thank my outstanding staff at Paco Pops. I spend a lot of time creating many flavors of ice cream and popsicles which keeps me very busy in the kitchen. I rely on my staff to operate the front of the store. My staff understands my vision of providing an excellent experience and service at the store. They are often commended for their service, and it makes me very happy to know our customers appreciate them as much as I do. To Yomara and Marvin and our seasonal hires – THANK YOU!

Our local organization, East Montgomery County Improvement District for promoting businesses and creating many events that help local small businesses reach more customers in the area.

Lastly, to Paco Pops’ loyal customers. Over the years our store has seen many customers who have been very loyal to Paco Pops, and I am immensely grateful. Without their patronage, we would not be successful. Our customers are very special to me and have grown to be like family. It’s amazing to interact with my customers, to learn about them, to see how their children grow up, and to be part of their family bonding time at Paco Pops.

Website: https://www.pacopops.com

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

Twitter: https://x.com/PACOPOPS1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacopops01

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/paco-pops-porter