Police shut down 8-year-old Ohio girl's lemonade stand

ALLIANCE, Ohio (WSYX) — When 8-year-old Asa Baker set up her lemonade business near a food festival earlier this month, she never expected police to show up and shut her down.

"I was just selling lemonade at my dad‘s work," she said. "I was having a really fun time and lots of people stopped. He (the police officer) walked out of the car and said I’m sorry, but I got a complaint call, and they have to shut me down. And he shut me down. I didn’t really say too much, but I was really sad and angry that we had to shut down."

The budding entrepreneur had set up along a street close to the Alliance Rib and Food Festival.

Police told her and her mother, Katrina Moore, that the stand had to close because some of the festival vendors had complained.

They want everyone to know they’re not just going around shutting down people‘s lemonade stands," said Katrina Moore, Asa's mother. "She was apparently too close to the festival that was going on."

The officer also explained the lemonade stand needed a food permit.

It's not unusual for cities to require businesses to get permits before selling things to the public — lemonade stands included.

Baker's mother said the food vendor's license costs $40 and lasts for five days.

The news spread fast.

The family says one local business owner offered to help the girl get the necessary permit and allowed her to set up in front of his store.

Another lady donated a new lemonade stand and a shirt.

On the back, it says I run a lemonade stand like a boss," said Asa.

The police officer who had to shut her down even kicked in $20.

Asa was soon back in business and said it's true what they say about lemons.

"I have this little mitten that says 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade," she said.

She said she hopes to run more lemonade stands in the future.