Lacey’s Lemonade keeps Sherwood cool

SHERWOOD, Ore. — There’s a new place in Sherwood to cool off with a fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Lacey’s Lemonade opened May 24 at 15994 S.W. Tualatin-Sherwood Rd., taking over the former Baskin-Robbins location and bringing a locally owned option for summer drinks to town. It celebrated a grand opening on June 20.

While the storefront is new, owner Lori Mortier is already a familiar face to many Sherwood residents. For the past three years, she has served lemonade at Saturday markets, school carnivals, football games, wrestling tournaments and other community events.

The business began as a way to help pay for her children's school activities. Her daughter Lacey, the business’s namesake, participates in marching band and competitive snowboarding, and the costs of equipment, travel and fees quickly add up.

"I started three years ago to help pay for fees," Mortier said. "With the economy the way it's been, we decided that we needed to earn some extra money."

Opening a permanent location had been on Mortier's mind for about a year. After losing her job in December and experiencing several unsuccessful job interviews, she decided it was time to take the leap.

"I just decided to open up rather than try to chase after a job I would hate," Mortier said. "I just want to bring happiness and joy and delicious lemonades to people."

Sherwood residents responded enthusiastically when the doors opened.

"It was a soft launch, but so many people showed up," Mortier said. "They're excited to have a non-franchise business come in and open up."

Many customers already knew the business from community events and had been asking whether a brick-and-mortar location was in the works.

"Everybody kept asking me, 'Do you have a storefront?'" Mortier said. "And now I do."

The menu currently focuses on lemonade and limeade with about a dozen flavor options. Popular choices include strawberry lemonade, blue raspberry lemonade, and Arnold Palmers.

Mortier's personal favorite is peach lemonade, although she's also partial to a classic Arnold Palmer. New frozen lemonades are also arriving just in time for summer.

Beyond drinks, Mortier hopes to make the shop a gathering place for the community. Plans include special events, Disney pin-trading meetups, balloon-animal demonstrations and partnerships with other local entrepreneurs.

She is also exploring partnerships with local makers to offer macarons, charcuterie trays and other snacks. Popcorn and pretzels are expected to be added soon as well.

"I think it's important because there's not really a lot of availability for especially the kids in our community to come in and get a bag of popcorn or something that isn't $10 all the time," Mortier said.

As summer approaches, she expects business to pick up significantly once school is out, with hopes of serving hundreds of drinks on busy days.

"For me, success would just be staying open," she said. "But also being available for the community and staying true to that community focus."

Ultimately, she hopes customers associate the business with something simple.

"Joy and happiness, that’s all," Mortier said. "It makes me happy, and it makes them happy. I'm just trying to have a good, positive environment for Sherwood."

Lacey’s Lemonade

Where: 15994 S.W. Tualatin-Sherwood Rd.

When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.