The History of the Lemonade Stand

It seems as though there’s one summer tradition that spans from generation to generation. Maybe your grandparents were making 5 cents a pop, while you’re kids are making $1.50, but regardless of the price, lemonade stands are one thing that seem to go hand-in-hand with childhood and summertime.

According to an article on ehow.com, “lemonade stands were first referenced in news media by the New York Times in 1879. A shopkeeper in New York City erected a stand outside his store and sold lemonade to passersby. The stand was so popular that a little crowd gathered there each day and blocked the sidewalk, leading authorities to intervene. In 1880, a New York Times article mentioned ‘scores’ of lemonade stands popping up all over the city during the hot summers where patrons could buy a glass of freshly-made lemonade for 5 cents, as opposed to the 15 cents charged in a bar.”

Nowadays, lemonade stands are commonly owned and operated by children. We bet you didn’t know that lemonade stands are usually in technical violation of several laws, including operation without a business license, lack of adherence to health codes, and sometimes even child labor laws. Of course, prosecutions of lemonade stand operations are extremely rare.

At SRE Group, we love a good lemonade stand and we’d love to hear your story about the first one you ever ran. Share your story on our Facebook page.

To learn more about the Schottenstein Real Estate Group’s rental communities (where lemonade stands are always welcome!) visit our website at www.sregroup.com.