Lemonade Stand

[THL]

Lemonade Stand 'Corporate Merger' in Mass.

Thursday, August 04, 2005



SALEM, Mass. — A dispute between two boys hawking lemonade and a rival vendor who forced police to shut down their unlicensed stand was resolved Wednesday after the mayor orchestrated what he called "a corporate merger."

Mayor Stanley Usovicz said sausage stand owner Kevin Kefalas agreed to allow Dominic Serino, 9, and Ryan Decker, 11, to operate as subcontractors under his vending license following an impromptu outdoor meeting initiated by Usovicz.

The agreement expires when school starts.

Kefalas' employee, Jarrod Crowley, reported the boys to police Saturday, saying their stand was affecting his business, which also sells lemonade. He said he didn't want the stand closed, just moved farther away.

But without a $2,200 vendor's license, the police were forced to shut it down.

Crowley said he's endured his share of icy stares since the incident.

Ryan Decker's mother, Angela, said the boys started selling their powder-based brew last summer and made a "killing" — $130.

© Associated Press. All rights reserved.

C.Mon people! Are there no witch hunts in Salem this summer that the police can oversee - they really are getting called out to shut down some little kids lemonade stand?

There is a parade in my hometown and for a few years in a row, these kids would walk up and down the street with a big cooler on a wagon and sell bottled water and cans of pop. Then, about 3 years ago, some one opened a little carry out hot dog place about 2 blocks from where these kids used to walk and did the same thing...filed a complaint that the kids were operating without a vendors license and they were told they could no longer sell pop and water.

I have to wonder how much of a cut the sausage stand owner is going to take from these kids and if he making them pay for part of the fee for his vendor license?

[hello]

I don't see why police would shut down a little kid's lemonade stand cause they didn't have a license. I don't think a 9year-old kid would know what a vending license is.

[THL]

Originally Posted by hello

I don't see why police would shut down a little kid's lemonade stand cause they didn't have a license. I don't think a 9year-old kid would know what a vending license is.

I am assuming that since we have become a crazed lawsuit happy society, they are concerned about someone who is allergic to lemons, buying and drinking the lemonade, having a reaction and then suing the little boys for leaving lemonade lying around.

[bigross86]

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

I am assuming that since we have become a crazed lawsuit happy society, they are concerned about someone who is allergic to lemons, buying and drinking the lemonade, having a reaction and then suing the little boys for leaving lemonade lying around.

And this from a liberal, to boot!

[Leader]

This state is like the ****ing USSR.

[Asim Aquil]

Alright, what if all the kids of Salem, Massachusets opened up stalls and started selling their near zero-cost lemonade, and while the vendor has to factor in $2,200 into his lemonades as well?

Also he will pay taxes.

There's nothing wrong with kids making money, but perhaps it should be limited to working? Otherwise the same rules apply since they're minors the responsibility automatically falls upon the parents. There's a process for everything and its for a reason.

Perhaps a $130 isn't a big thing, but if 20 such other lemonade stands sprouted up and made a total of lets see $2000 then thats something. It's weird, but totally fair.

[THL]

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

Alright, what if all the kids of Salem, Massachusets opened up stalls and started selling their near zero-cost lemonade, and while the vendor has to factor in $2,200 into his lemonades as well?

Also he will pay taxes.

There's nothing wrong with kids making money, but perhaps it should be limited to working? Otherwise the same rules apply since they're minors the responsibility automatically falls upon the parents. There's a process for everything and its for a reason.

Perhaps a $130 isn't a big thing, but if 20 such other lemonade stands sprouted up and made a total of lets see $2000 then thats something. It's weird, but totally fair.

These kids are only selling lemonade. This vendor has got hot dogs, sausage, etc etc. His business is not relying on wether he sells $40 in lemonade each month. Plus, I doubt these kids are open from 9am until 10pm.

To look at things this way would mean that the local neighborhood boy that mows lawns all summer, should also have to have a license because he is taking potential business away from landscaping companies? What about kids that walk their neighbors dogs or babysit? They are going to start getting harrassed by dog walking businesses and nannies. Kids that get paid to do "chores"? They are going to have maid services knocking at their doors. This list can go on and on and it will if we keep letting people call the police, file police reports and go to court over ridiculous & frivolous claims.

[sparten]

I must agree with Asim here.

The law is the law. While THL's view that the boys are just simply selling lemonade and should be allowed to has the virtue of 'common sence' about it, it does not deviate form the inescapable conclusion that they are as much bound by law as anyone else.

Having said that I find it really strange that two boys need a licence to operate a lemonade stand. Is it really a 'business'?

[THL]

Originally Posted by sparten

I must agree with Asim here.

The law is the law. While THL's view that the boys are just simply selling lemonade and should be allowed to has the virtue of 'common sence' about it, it does not deviate form the inescapable conclusion that they are as much bound by law as anyone else.

Having said that I find it really strange that two boys need a licence to operate a lemonade stand. Is it really a 'business'?

I did a google search for local MA articles on this story. I also searched for who would need a vendor's license and apparently anyone "peddling" or selling anything needs one. There is also an entertainment license - I don't know how many are in Salem, but here in Chicago there are an awful lot of homeless street performers (mimes & musicians) that would need an entertainment license under these laws.

[hello]

This would mean anyone having a garage sale would need a license too. That's ridiculous.

[Asim Aquil]

in Dubai I've set up many such stands and sold stuff, including lemonade. Of course those were like 1day affairs, like at some festival or carnivals. Why do you think people rush to get a place at these small stands? For example, at the school carnival, I bought a 100 bucks (30$) and then made this Indian dish called Haleem, for another something like 50 bucks (15$) and sold it all off in one day and I made 1900 Dh. Now thats a killer profit. Now just beside us, we had Baskin Robbins and KFC and though they made quite a bit of sale they weren't happy like us.

They made like 3000 bucks each. but had to pay like 2500 bucks for their stalls since they're a business. Big companies can let that go since thats like a one day thing. But imagine it happening everyday? Why should they run a business? Why don't they skip the process and do the same thing?

There are several benefits you get from purchasing that licence and barring little kids is one of them.

Lawn mowing and dog walking, is a service industry, and though the same logic can be applied to it, the law would find it hard to prevent it. Kids are paid in cash, not cheques, so there's no governmental control on it. Lemonade stands occupy space... That space would require a licence.

Now if they were selling it on the internet, they won't need it. lol. Since the internet is no government's property.

[Leader]

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

Alright, what if all the kids of Salem, Massachusets opened up stalls and started selling their near zero-cost lemonade, and while the vendor has to factor in $2,200 into his lemonades as well?

And what if God came down and said, "Asim that's never going to happen."

There's nothing wrong with kids making money, but perhaps it should be limited to working? Otherwise the same rules apply since they're minors the responsibility automatically falls upon the parents. There's a process for everything and its for a reason.

Perhaps a $130 isn't a big thing, but if 20 such other lemonade stands sprouted up and made a total of lets see $2000 then thats something. It's weird, but totally fair.

It's a lemonade stand! Kids set them up on their front lawns. It's for fun! It not like this is a permanent thing. Most of them are made out of a cardboard box or some such and are up for a day. This isn't some grand conspiracy.

[Leader]

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

I did a google search for local MA articles on this story. I also searched for who would need a vendor's license and apparently anyone "peddling" or selling anything needs one. There is also an entertainment license - I don't know how many are in Salem, but here in Chicago there are an awful lot of homeless street performers (mimes & musicians) that would need an entertainment license under these laws.

The bluest state in the union. I'm so proud.

[porsteamboy]

Originally Posted by TopHatsLiberal

C.Mon people! Are there no witch hunts in Salem this summer that the police can oversee - they really are getting called out to shut down some little kids lemonade stand?

There is a parade in my hometown and for a few years in a row, these kids would walk up and down the street with a big cooler on a wagon and sell bottled water and cans of pop. Then, about 3 years ago, some one opened a little carry out hot dog place about 2 blocks from where these kids used to walk and did the same thing...filed a complaint that the kids were operating without a vendors license and they were told they could no longer sell pop and water.

I have to wonder how much of a cut the sausage stand owner is going to take from these kids and if he making them pay for part of the fee for his vendor license?

Now, they have learned how the real world works, everyone gets a cut. I hope the vendor took out, state, federal and social security taxes, that would really teach em!

[Confed999]

Originally Posted by bigross86

And this from a liberal, to boot!

I don't think she's really a liberal, I think she's just messing with Hat.