Behind the Food Truck: Cuties Lemonade in Arizona

Food truck owner and military man Quincy Milam opened a gourmet lemonade truck in the summer of 2017. Quincy is a 20-year Army vet with a go-get‘-em attitude. Cuties Lemonade expanded rapidly and grew in popularity in the Phoenix Valley area.

Cuties has great branding, cute social media, lively colorful pictures, sweet videos. This is not a side hustle for Quincy, but the real deal.

“We’ve grown from small food trailer to building an empire with two food trucks, a warehouse and three tent trucks. We also started selling lemonade kegs and have our own tap at local bars.”

PLANS HAD TO CHANGE

My personal plan was to finally be able to retire from the Army in June after 20 long years. Life couldn’t be better! We have 5-star reviews, our customers were happy, our employees were paid, and we were growing more and more every day.”

“We were just about to announce opening an actual brick & mortar shop with our friends and partners Churro Gonuts. And we were also opening our second location inside of the Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa,” says Quincy in our Facebook chat.

“Then, out of nowhere COVID-19 happened,” says Quincy. “Plans had to change quickly.”


CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES FOR FOOD TRUCKS

MAKING LEMONADE IN 2020

“All our hard work, plans, blood sweat, and tears are paying off. We are still focused on opening our store. The plan is to open mid-summer and are at a little bit of a stand still right now."

"So, we are just focused on the build out and making sure once things do shift and open up again, Cuties Lemonade offers the most memorable and refreshing experience, in store or at the food truck,” says a hopeful Quincy.

Not all of Quincy's tips fit in the infographic, so here is a more generous description of how Cuties Lemonade has been weathering the coronvavirus to stay in business.

RESTAURANTS WITH TAKEOUT

• Cuties shifted to more wholesale opportunities with local restaurants and breweries who do takeout.
• Cuties has lemonade kegs and partnered with quite a few local restaurants who are open and offering takeout.

MARKETS

• Cuties has a booth at Peoria Farmers Market every Saturday. Customers can order the originals lemonade made on the spot while they pick up essentials. Take home a half or full gallon lemonade in their favorite flavor.
• Cuties partners with other local markets and areparticipating in their creative ideas like an online marketplace with other local vendors.

DELIVERY

• Cuties is promoting our business by driving the Cutie’s car all over the Phoenix Valley, personally delivering half and full gallons to our customers.
• Cuties offers bulk order pickup and delivery service for half or full gallons.
• Cuties customers can also pick up or get deliveries from Peoria Farmers Market.

PROTECTIVE MEASURES & PAYMENTS

• Cuties accepts payments from Venmo and PayPal to keep our customers safe.
• Cuties staff wear the necessary PPE and asks customers to abide by the 6ft distancing recommendation while in line.
• Cuties schedules a drop off time, leaves our lemonade at their doorstep, rings the doorbell and heads out to the next order.