A young entrepreneur has set up a concession stand at the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury’s Outdoor Movie Nights and Music in the Park events.
And we mean “young.”
Emily Dahlgren, owner of Baseball Games Concession Stand, is 13 years old.
“I’m too young to really get a job,” Emily said, which is why she started her own business instead, with help and support from her parents, local suppliers, and “Miss Bonnie” Aguiar of Sweet B’s.
Her booth at the town events has the blessing of the town, plus a temporary food premises licence from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
Her business sells munchies that include beverages, chips, popcorn, and cookies from Sweet B’s Confectionery at the kid-friendly price of $1 each.
“I love it,” Emily said.
Initially, she faced a few challenges, including being told by the town that she could not set up on municipal property.
Instead, she started selling her snacks at sporting events at Fred C. Cook Public School, with the full support of Principal Madeleine Temmer, before connecting with the town’s leisure services and earning an invitation to set up at the Thursday night outdoor activities at the library.
She credited “Miss Bonnie” and Sweet B’s for a lot of her success.
“Miss Bonnie is the one who really introduced me. She’s really helped me a lot,” Emily said, but there are many others in the community who encouraged her efforts.
“I’ve been really, really fortunate,” she said. “It was nice community support — connections and community. I’m really happy.”
And busy. She was doing a brisk business in munchies at the recent screening of Disney’s Lady and the Tramp.
Look for the Baseball Games Concession Stand at the town’s Outdoor Movies, Music in the Park — and at Carrot Fest later this year.
