The ugly side of selling lemonade
 

Permit me to sell without a permit for I am only six years old.

These "Authorities" need to have a good hard look at themselves.
Not to mention the F@#%ing neighbor.

LINK TO STORY

NAPLES, June 18, 2003 - A six-year-old girl was heartbroken when her small lemonade stand was put out of business because she didn’t have a temporary business permit. A neighbor called the police and her stand was shut down.


"Gotta get ready for the sale,” said Abagail.

Even though she’s only 6 years old, Abagail prepares for another day at work.

"We like making money at our lemonade stand. We want it to stay cold so they can have cold lemonade on hot days,” she said.

A young entrepreneur who does the cleaning even the advertising. And it is paying off.

"We are making lots of tips in our tip jar,” said Abagail.

But a few days ago, Abagail and her friends were put out of business by a neighbor.

"We didn't have a permit so she called the cops,” said Abagail.

The police arrived and shut her down.

"We had to take down our lemonade stand,” said Abagail.

Abagail did not have a temporary business permit, which is technically a city violation.

"So we had to do something else to play,” said Abagail.

"I was kind of shocked because I didn't know we needed a permit for 6 year old girls to sell lemonade,” said K.C. Shaw, Abagail’s mom.

According to the city, they have to act on a formal complaint.

"Normally we don't get involved in it but once we do get a formal request we must take action,” said Al Hogrefe of the city of Naples.

So Abagail’s mom went to the city code enforcement office with wallet in hand, prepared to buy a permit.

"$35 every single time for a single use,” said Shaw.

Not wanting to be sour, the city played Mr. Niceguy.

"No we did not charge her, no,” said Hogrefe.

They did finally get the permit.

"Basically a blank check to have as many lemonade stands as we can stand,” said Shaw.

So Abagail is back in business and learned laws can be tough, even for a six year old's lemonade stand.

Shaw said the police officers who shut down the stand felt terrible, but they had to do their job. One of the officers even bought a glass of lemonade from Abagail.

What kind of sour neighbor called the cops to shut down a 6 year old's lemonade stand? :confused:

Eh. Can't blame the cops for this one. They were just doing their job. And was mentioned several times in the article they were reluctant to shut it down. She WAS technically breaking the law.

Yes, she was breaking the law...but shes 6!!! she is just having a little fun, yet some sour neighbor had to ruin. That's so cold....

In my head I imagine it's a neighbor who got in a pissing fight with one of the kids - and was like "I'll show you..."

If not, that sourpuss needs a hug or two.

Guess the neighbour felt she would compete with their 'milk of human kindness' stand.

I wonder what you make when life gives you lemons as neighbors?

Put them in the Juicermatic 5000

That's a pretty good story actually, shame on the neighbours for calling the police, but good on the council for giving them the permit for free, now the neighbours can't bother them anymore.

wow... this is really no suprise... i've lived next to/around asshole neighbors on and off my whole life... any excuse to be a pain in the ass and they'll happily take it.

as for me, its probably the worst you'll ever have, but i make it a point to always stop at lemonade stands and give the kids a buck or two... it's just being a good person.

Thanks for those comments phredgreen as the most basic things in life we can do are the ones that actually make a difference.

You know, this is grotesque. Who on earth would call the police on a six year old girl for selling limonade?
I swear some people need to take a good look at themselves

I wish a pox on the neighbors.

Yeah, I do the same thing. These kids put in a lot of work on these things and it's such a small thing to do to make a kids day. And yeah...often the lemonade is just this side of battery acid.

As for the neighbor...sounds like a family feud kinda thing to me. Still no excuse for being this big of an asshole about it. Don't take it out on the kids.

Actually though, given as the cops were <b>forced</b> to take action on this...I don't think I'd want to be the one that made the complaint. Jaywalk...you're busted! Spit on the sidewalk...you're busted! You get the idea. Kinda makes me chuckle.

Even I"M not that cranky.

Another part of Americana shot to hell by assholes.

I had stand when I was a kid. I still remember once when a big black sedan stopped and a guy in a suit got out. He bought a cup, handed me a dollar bill and said, "Keep the change, kid."

I repeat that gesture all time. I love to make a little kid's face light up by handing him a buck or two for a 25 cent cup of lemonade and saying, "Keep the change."

I can certainly see why a permit would be required to operate a carnie-style food trailer or a hot dog stand.

I fail to see why the law would apply to Abagail. If ever a law needed to be amended, it should be here. If lawmakers were to just put a floor on the dollar amount, say five dollars a day, this would not be an issue.

They ought to take a look.... after I beat them with a stick, for fucking with 6 year olds! What the hell?

Personaly I never got a lemonafe stand, because I live in the middle of nowhere. But I did manage to make a few bucks helping the neighbors do stuff around the house, for which I am forever greatful. They probaly could have done it better and faster without me.

What kind of asshole calls the cops on a 6 year old with a over a lemonade stand? What a prick.

Like phred and others, I go out of my way to stop at kids' lemonade stands everytime I see one.

I don't actually drink it, you understand (you don't know where those kids' hands have been), but I do give them the money.

Actually, when I think about it, the kids with the lemonade stands end up getting the tips that I don't leave in the restaurant. How's that for a big fat juicy rationalization?

Some people are just assholes.

That girl must live next to Mr. Wilson... no reasonable person would waste their own time to shut down a lemonade stand. It did say she was making a lot of tips. The neighbor may have been jealous or something and just tried to make the little girl miserable. At least the story has a happy ending.

man laws are stupid, thats my offical prognosis

I wouldn't say it's the laws 'fault'. You need those types of laws to prevent vending going on anywhere and everywhere.

The issue here is obviously with the neighbor. Life's too short to be worried about 6 year olds selling lemonade.

On a brighter side of a lemonade stand:


http://tfproject.org/tfp/showthread....threadid=12460

Oh, I suspect that the police in that area will make sure the neighbor pays for this. After all, they know who called and what was said. AND they have the power.

Thats one of those neighbors you just wanna punch them in the nose............

Yeah, nobody can fault the cops on this one. Not much they can do if some pain in the ass neighbour makes a complaint about the local kids having some clean, safe and down right productive good fun! Some people have too much bloody time on their hands! Get a life!

I think its cool that they were given a permit for free though, that was a nice gesture by the city council. Makes for a happy ending, for a change! And the cop bought a glass of lemonade! :D

Stupid no good neighbours!

poor kid....Funny thing is her parents probably know which neighbor called....We always did when someone called the police on us when me and alpha phi first got our house. That guy was such a jerk...thank-god his landlord evicted him..

man, she gets shut down while the man show boy runs a beer stand.....just not right

geez, somebody splash the neighbor with some of that tasty lemonade and watch the bitch/asshole melt into the sidewalk. "I'm melting, I'm melting"...

The person was probably pissed that their Social Security check was late.....

That neighbor is a looser!"Let's take up city funds in having our government chase down a little girl selling lemonade." Get a freekin' life! I know where my used up lemons would go!

what a dick

I recall doing that. My friend and I were the premier entrapaneurs... we sold several cups of Kool-Aide lemoade, to people at a local park. All of the money earned was 100% profit, as the supllies were free. ::grin::