A Broomfield Boy, 9, Runs A Chain Of Lemonade Stands

Listen Now
Photo: Lemonade baron bonneau
Jack Bonneau is an emerging lemonade king.

This story first aired on 8/18/2015.

Nine-year-old Jack Bonneau wanted a $400 Star Wars Deathstar toy.

"It's a huge Lego that has 4,000 pieces and it's big, round and evil," Bonneau said.

When Bonneau went to his father to buy him the toy, his father told him he'd have to earn the money himself. His dad said, "Why don't you start a lemonade stand?" So Bonneau did. But not on his quiet street in Broomfield. Instead, with seed money from his dad, he opened a stand at The Orchards Farmers Market in Westminster. That was in 2014. Since then, Bonneau has opened three more stands at farmers markets -- in Erie, Louisville and Lafayette. They're also staffed by kids, some older than Bonneau, who sees that all the permits, lemonade and ice are in ready, in exchange for a split of the profits.

Bonneau handed business cards to Colorado Matters staffers before he and his father, Steve, joined host Nathan Heffel for an interview. And Bonneau has received kudos from some big names, like U.S. Reps. Jared Polis and Mike Coffman.

As for that Deathstar, Bonneau bought it with his own money long ago and had fun building it with his friends.

More: Jack's Lemonade Stands