TOOELE, Utah — A few boys in Tooele opened their lemonade stand on Monday. But after someone questioned if they were allowed to do this or not, the boys went to get some answers.
Zander, Kyson and Gideon wanted to open a lemonade stand for the summer.
“We just wanted to make money, to be honest, because, well, it's kind of hard to make money,” said Zander.
They sell lemonade, Kool-Aid, snacks, treats and popsicles. But they faced an interesting challenge.
“An elderly lady just came up and said she hopes it goes good because out on her corner, some kids got shut down,” explained Tanisha Robinson, the mom of one of the boys. “I don’t know what the situation with that was, but I don’t think she was trying to be a Karen or be rude or anything.”
The boys went to the Tooele City Police Department to ask some questions and see if they did need a license.
“Very nervous, that’s how I was,” recalled Zander. “We were just wondering if we needed a business license for a lemonade stand.”
The boys were told they did not need a license, and what they were doing was allowed.
“It was fun,” said Lt. Jeremy Hansen with the Tooele City Police Department. “They had a little bit of concerns when they were at the police department that maybe they were doing something wrong. So we took that as an opportunity to let our public know they don’t need a business license for lemonade stands.”
According to the Tooele City ordinance, occasional businesses or if ones that are run by people under 18 years old don’t need a license. Officers answered the boys’ questions and visited their stand to support them as well.
“Probably one of the better experiences of their childhood that I hope they will be able to remember for the rest of their lives,” said Robinson.
And the community is standing by these boys. Renee and David Miller heard about the incident. They live nearby and came out to support boys and everything they are doing.
The boys will continue to serve lemonade and smiles to anyone who needs them.
“I think it’s very nice that people actually care in this world,” said Zander.
The boys have made more than $250 (and counting) in less than two days, and they hope to continue every day of the summer.
