The story of Charlie’s Lemonade
When Charlie Keller was four years old, he really wanted a bike. “My parents decided to teach me some values rather than just buying a bike for me,” he said. They helped set Charlie up a wooden lemonade stand built by their neighbor, Mike Packard. For his early lemonade sales, Charlie would put on a nice outfit and don a fedora, a look he admits most kids were not sporting at that age.
Charlie’s Lemonade has come a long way since those early days. The small wooden stand has been traded for a custom 10x15’ tent, along with a pneumatic press and lemon slicer, and a thriving team.
According to their website, “Today, Charlie’s Lemonade continues to grow, but our mission stays the same: serve high-quality drinks, treat every customer like family, and bring positive energy to every event we attend.”
At the heart of it all, 16-year-old Charlie is the head of the business. And family still plays a vital role:
“Family business operates differently than most other business models,” the young entrepreneur explains. “We can communicate well and make decisions efficiently. My mom has a degree in marketing and management, which is helpful—this business wouldn’t be anywhere without her. My dad has been a big supporter of mine. He believes in a hard work ethic and is our go-to guy when we need a last-minute supply run.”
Charlie says his method for making lemonade is simple. Lemons are purchased, pre-washed, and brought to each event. Then, as people place their orders, the fresh lemons are sliced and compressed in a 32 oz. deli cup. The team adds sugar and custom ingredients. The last step is a vigorous shake to blend it together.
The lemonade stand offers an impressive variety of drinks. Most recipes are hand-picked by the head of the business himself, his mom Jen, and the team. Looking for a recommendation? Charlie’s favorite is Strawberry-Basil Lemonade. He names Blue Raspberry Blast as the most popular choice, especially with kids. Charlie’s Pink Drink, Fresh Strawberry, and Classic Lemonade round out the top sellers. Charlie urges even those who have a favorite to explore the entire menu.
Inside scoop: if you want to try something truly unique, ask the team about their hidden menu! They’ve also recently added Dirty Sodas – soda with added dairy- or non-dairy creamer. Customers of Charlie’s Lemonade can choose from flavored syrups for a fun twist.
Speaking of the team, most are around Charlie’s age. They are trained in customer service, operations, and how to make the drinks. Charlie says they make it competitive and fun – like with quizzes on the drink abbreviations. The team meets up for bonfires in the fall and celebrates with an annual holiday party.
According to Charlie, “Everyone shares responsibility in varying tasks at the stand. We call ourselves the LemoNaders because we set up, prep, and muddle fresh lemonade.”
Charlie Keller is in the lemonade business for good. Each year, he donates a percentage of the business’s earnings to a worthy cause. Over the years, Charlie’s Lemonade has supported The Simon and Schuster Fund, The Paul Holland Music Scholarship Fund, University of Minnesota GI Cancer Research, The Peters Memorial Fund, and even personal medical bill relief for a friend.
“Where I donate is largely impacted by whatever speaks to my heart at the time,” says Charlie. This year, his goal is to create a scholarship for high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in business or becoming an entrepreneur.
With graduation still a few years off, the future is still taking shape for Charlie. His hope is that when the time comes, the stand stays open while he goes away for school. He envisions Charlie’s Lemonade “growing every year and teaching other youth the way it did for me and my friends.”
Charlie’s Lemonade can be booked for events at charlieslemonade.com.
You can also catch them at these upcoming events:
• Lake City Market by the Lake at Ohuta Park on Thursdays through Sept. 17
• Water Ski Days at Patton Park
• Lake City Fireman’s Dance on Friday, July 3
• Mazeppa Days in front of Turbo’s on Friday, July 10
To keep up with Charlie’s Lemonade, you can visit their website or follow them on Instagram @charlieslemonade, Facebook @charlieslemonade, and Tik Tok @charlies_lemonade.