Brewers Make Change Out Of Lemons

Brian Burkett-Thompson and Kristen Threatt watched customers snap up bottles of their new lemonade brand — and waited for a fire victim to show up so they could disperse the profits.

That was the scene Friday night at Andalouse Freshop on 96 Howe St. in New Haven, one of the locations where you can find Gorilla Lemonade, the new lemon, pineapple, strawberry, and blueberry-flavored bottled beverages the pair has launched as a charitable enterprise.

The pair was waiting to hand their first $300 in profits to a woman who lost her home in the Feb. 14 blaze that devastated the Mandy-management-owned apartment complex on 42 Warner St.

There was, it seemed, a glitch in the plan. The recipient, who asked not to be identified for the story, had agreed to be at the shop at 7 p.m. She was 20 minutes late. 

“She’s not picking up,” Burkett-Thompson said, clicking off his phone. ​“I’m not sure she’s gonna come.” 

Threatt wasn’t entirely surprised. ​“We’ve been talking with [Hamden] Councilwoman Paula Irvin, and she said a lot of people affected by the fire are really down,” he said. ​“They’ve lived their lives supporting themselves, and they’re not used to accepting help.”

Threatt and Burkett-Thompson released the Gorilla Lemonade beverage line last month through their nonprofit Eat Up Foundation, designed to combine Threatt’s business smarts and Burkett-Thompson’s cooking chops to change communities for the better.

The gorilla, Threatt said, ​“is a symbol of strength, intelligence, and gentleness, a special combination that is all too rare in the world. We are strong Black African American men, but also gentle to the needs of our people.” 

The two discussed alternative plans Friday as they waited for the Hamden woman to show.

“If she contacts us, we’ll still give it to her,” Threatt said

If she didn’t, they agreed to donate the proceeds to the M.L. Keefe Community Center in Hamden, which has been offering support to the 60 residents displaced by the fire.

Burkett-Thompson checked the time. He had to go shopping and prepare food for 50 on Fitch’s ​“Soul Sunday,” where Eat Up sells dinners on Saturdays and Sundays.

As he turned to leave, his phone rang.

“She’s coming,” he said excitedly. ​“She’s working in New Britain, and she just got off work, and that’s at least a half hour away, so we can either wait or just do it another day.”

Threatt said he would wait. 

“That’s fine,” said Andalouse co-owner Ammar Chekhess from the front counter. ​“Wait as long as you want.” 

Over the next 45 minutes, conversation ensued about Chekhess’ business, which he and partner Moe Alshalpi opened in February 2021. ​“I like to support good people like Kris and Brian,” Chekhess said, of his decision to give Eat Up all the proceeds from lemonade sales. 

The bell sounded. Zach Wilson came in. He asked Chekhess if he had change for a twenty-dollar bill.

“You need change, my man, I got change,” Threatt said, as a siren sounded. ​“I’m going to give you change, and I’m going to tell you about this lemonade. It’s my business.”

“I know the lemonade,” Wilson said. ​“My girlfriend loves those. She came in the other day when you were stocking them and we tried them last night, real good. I’m not usually a lemonade guy, but this was 10 out of 10.” 

Threatt discussed the plans for Gorilla Lemonade. ​“We’re going to stick with bodegas for right now because that’s where our community is at, and that’s what we’re all about,” he said. ​“We’re manufacturing it at our home, but eventually, we’re going to have a factory and start creating jobs for our people.”

By then, it was 8 p.m. The wait had been 35 minutes.

“She’ll be here,” Threatt said. ​“I know her personally, she’s a hard-working person, and her personality is through the roof, but I think with this situation, it’s brought her down.” 

Ten minutes later, she arrived. She had been working a 12-hour shift at a hospital in New Britain. 

“I was actually at work when the fire happened,” she said. She called her neighbor. ​“Just from the sound of her voice, I knew it was bad.” 

When she got home that day, ​“it was all blocked off, so I had to park on an opposite street,” she recalled. ​“And then I just ran to my house and just seeing all your stuff burning, it’s the worst thing ever because when you’re driving, you’re thinking, no way my house is on fire …” Her voice trailed off.

She said she has been staying at Hamden’s Clarion Inn, where residents displaced by the fire are provided rooms. ​“It’s a really nice hotel, the staff is amazing, and they, the Red Cross, are helping us as much as they can. But it’s not home,” she said. 

Now she’s looking for an apartment. ​“This will help me rebuild,” she said, of Eat Up’s donation. ​“I’ve been on my own since my early twenties, and I worked for everything I have, and now I have to start all over again.”

She paused, then brushed away a tear. ​“I didn’t ask anyone for anything,” she said. ​“No one had to help me. And they did. Just the thought of people thinking about me is really beautiful. That means more than anything.”

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