When Popbar boldly opened this past May in the Village within whiffing-distance of gelato darling Grom on Bleeker, sugarheads wondered whether it could survive. The concept was certainly provocative – gelato on a stick to be dunked into any combination of four sauces (chocolate three ways plus orange), followed by a studding of nuts or coconut.

         Though still too new for a verdict on longevity – it replaced the cruelly burned-out Beard Papa after all -- Popbar gets points for expanding the brand. Last month, founder and flavor-meister Daniel Yaghoubi unveiled a Belgium hot chocolate on a stick. And just this past Monday, he debuted his latest creation – the miniPop – packaged in bulk for parties, caterers and special events.

        A scaled down version of the original, miniPops come in several classic gelato and sorbet flavors and can be dipped and topped according to the customer’s whim. The coconut gelato pop drenched in dark chocolate and coated with shredded coconut gave me a delicious Mounds Bar shiver. Hazelnut gelato dipped in dark chocolate, splattered with white chocolate, and dredged in hazelnuts is decadence objectified, an explosion of textural contrast. Coffee gelato dipped in dark chocolate makes a mere café mocha seem pallid. Irresistibly banana-y pops just beg for a double coating of chocolate. The possibilities are endless though not all are equally sensuous. I find the orange-flavored syrup cloyingly sweet, but I bet “Dreamsicle” fans will adore it.

         These miniPops are meant for celebrations, weddings, birthdays, corporate events and will not be sold individually. The minimum order of twenty-five bars costs $60 but the company can produce orders in excess of 200 bars, which cost $100 per 50 pops. The deeply burgundy mixed berry pop cloaked in chocolate would look festive on any holiday dessert buffet. I envision spike-heeled beauties, blue-haired matrons and Brooks Brothers executives reverting to childhood gasps on first bite of the pistachio-nut crusted pistachio pop.

         I’m standing by to see what Yaghoubi will do with a stick next.

         5 Carmine Street between 6th Avenue and Bleecker St., 212 255 4874.