Phoenix, Arizona -- A small business which will expand to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in the spring has been named Business of the Year by the Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce. Pass the Popcorn, owned by Christopher and Nina Payne, will open two new stores in Terminal 4 as part of the redevelopment of Sky Harbor’s busiest terminal. The Payne’s founded their Chicago-style gourmet popcorn business in a small shopping center in northeast Phoenix. Now, their product will be sampled by millions of airport visitors every year.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is in the midst of a major remodeling of Terminal 4, which handles about 75 percent of the airport’s passenger traffic. When the redevelopment is complete in 2007, Terminal 4 will offer more than 40 new shops. The renovation is being completed in phases to minimize the impact on travelers. In phase one of the redevelopment, which opens this spring, 63 percent of the contracts went to women, minority-owned, or disadvantaged businesses.

Pass the Popcorn received the Business of the Year award at the Greater Phoenix Black Chamber of Commerce’s sixth-annual banquet. The event was held last night at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix.