Grumpy neighbour tries to shut down boy’s lemonade stand, community fights back

Twelve-year-old T.J. Guerrero has been running his lemonade stand in Dunedin, Florida, since he was 10. It's his way of chipping in, he told reporters, often using the money he raises to help out his parents and grandparents.

"I really just want to help my family," T.J. told ABC Action News. "I think it shows other kids that you don't always have to take money from your parents. You can help them, too."

And while most of the neighbourhood is supportive of T.J. and his year-round lemonade stand, one grumpy neighbour wants it shut down.

The neighbour, identified as Doug Wilkey, has filed at least four complaints against the stand with City Hall in the last two years, claiming that the lemonade stand is a nuisance, illegal, and has reduced his property value — a claim other neighbours considered ridiculous.

"If this were a once a year event by a couple kids to earn a little money for a holiday or something, I would not have a problem with it," Wilkey wrote in an email, the Tampa Bay Times reported. "I am very worried about the value of my home, which is why I built in a residential area, not a business area."

"That is absolutely crazy. Someone drives by and sees a 12-year-old selling lemonade, that inflates property value!" said Todd Raymond, a resident for more than 15 years.

Wilkey also wrote that that the city could "face repercussion in the event someone became ill from spoiled/contaminated food or drink sales."

"We're not in the business of trying to regulate kids like that; nor do we want to do any code enforcement like that," Greg Rice, Dunedin’s planning and development director, told the Tampa Bay Times. "We are not out there trying to put lemonade stands out of business."

While Dunedin has no plans to shut down the boy's lemonade business, Wilkey's complaints got national attention.

T.J. refused to close up shop. And thanks to the surrounding community, his lemonade stand business is doing better than ever.

After a local radio station encouraged listeners to visit T.J.'s stand, a crowd lined up for $1 lemonade and 50-cent cookies. Even the mayor stopped by.

"I think it is a great show of entrepreneurship. This 12-year-old is setting a great example. I don't know what the other neighbour’s problem is, but I would like to talk to him to try to figure it out," Mayor Dave Eggers told ABC Action News.

T.J. made $600 in just two hours.

The young entrepreneur said the opposition to his stand only made him more driven to succeed.

"I know my one neighbour does not support this. But it makes me want to work even harder. I just can't believe all these people care. It makes me feel so wonderful," T.J. said.

Wilkey will have his wish for a lemonade-stand-free street granted — eventually. T.J. plans to apply for a bagger position at Publix when he turns 14.

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