There is something unique that sets Jen and Grant Sanregret’s business apart from the others in Los Olivos.
It’s not just their physical location—a giant, bright yellow lemon parked neatly in a small space at the end of Grand Avenue, surrounded by a welcoming array of wooden lawn chairs. It’s not even their unique product, the flavored and freshly made lemonade that has garnered them a loyal fan base on Instagram and Facebook. It takes a closer look at their social media page to spot the difference between the entrepreneurial couple and other food businesses.
The Sanregrets are parents to a young son named Vance who has cystic fibrosis. Interspersed between sunny posts inviting patrons to pay a visit to “The Lemon Dude” (Grant’s nickname), are videos and photos of the everyday challenges the family faces to care for their son. From a collection of pills the young boy must take daily to photos of Vance in protective face masks, the couple shared the real dangers he faces just trying to live the normal life of a child.
The Sanregrets’ story begins much like many other small business owners. The couple, who hail from Texas, toyed with the idea of going into business for themselves and were looking for something that would play to their strengths.
“My wife was a wedding planner in Austin,” Grant said. “I was seeing the way the food truck scene had taken off in Austin. I was doing broadcasting and bartending on the side. … I started getting hired to do special events such as weddings. I would look at these vendors and think, ‘I bet I could do that.'”
Austin has a thriving food truck community, filled with a lot of specialty niche products. From tacos to cupcakes to barbecue to vegan food and more, it’s a competitive market. So Grant knew the couple had to do something to set them apart.
“I wanted to put together a food truck that was strictly non-alcoholic beverages, catering to everybody,” he said. “I also wanted to be something catchy and fun, and lemonade fit that role.”
The couple commissioned an Austin fabricator to build the custom fiberglass lemon cart and from there, they became “the lemon family” in town, he said. While business went well in the beginning, he said things changed for them once their son was born.
“Vance was born with cystic fibrosis,” he said. “It tipped our world upside down. We received a ton of love from our friends and family. It was a tough spot for us for a little while, to absorb and learn how to navigate having a child with a genetic disease.”
Cystic fibrosis causes lung infections and produces extremely thick mucus, leading to serious lung infections that make it difficult to breath. Care requires nonstop daily treatments and medication.
The couple eventually moved to California after discovering Vance had an easier time breathing during a vacation to Solvang to visit family. Even as his dad detailed the arduous duties and perils associated with caring for a child with cystic fibrosis, he remained upbeat and positive, focused on encouraging outreach and education for the public at large.
During May, Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, the couple posted daily informational videos and photographs explaining what it takes to maintain care for a child with the hereditary disorder.
Grant said that after his son’s diagnosis, the couple’s values shifted, and while running a business was still important, they wanted to focus on bringing happiness to their community with their product. Touches of humor permeate the business; a line item on the menu lists “Selfies with the Lemon Dude” as free, for example.
But it’s the product that really shines. The Sanregrets’ lemonade is a perfect concoction, a drink that pays homage to the lemon (sourced locally), but also doesn’t shy away from being a bit quirky. The lemonade manages to hit all the right notes of sweetness and tartness, a balance Grant said was tweaked when the family moved out West.
“The funny thing is, customers in Texas preferred it much more on the sweeter side,” he said. “Out here, we quickly found people didn’t want something that sweet. So we adjusted a bit for our clients.”
The jalapeño and lavender versions are refreshing and surprising treats for the palate; the lavender isn’t too floral or heavy, and the jalapeño offers a bold kick that doesn’t overpower the mouth with heat.
The Sanregrets are quite literally the family who took lemons and made them into lemonade. And they sell it out of a bright, giant lemon on the side of a quiet patch of road, where selfies with The Lemon Dude are always free
Arts and Lifestyle Writer Rebecca Rose is very tart. Contact her at rrose@santamariasun.com.
• My hip and youthful coworker recently introduced me to her version of avocado toast, the avocado rice cake. Meet Cado Crisps (pictured), the rice cake topped with fresh avocado, thyme, and hot sauce, seasoned with a bit of lemon and pepper. It’s perfect for everyone sick of paying $15 for avocado toast who still want a healthy snack on the go. Check your local farmers’ market for avocados and try your own version of a Cado Crisp.
• Blast 825 Brewery (which used to be Rooney’s) presents karaoke hosted by DJ Sam every Thursday starting at 9:30 p.m. The venue is located at 241 S. Broadway, Orcutt.
• Solvang Brewing Company is gearing up to like, totally have a tubular time! The brewery in Solvang is hosting an 80s night on June 30. Come dressed in your best 80s attire for discounts on drinks and more and join them for games and prizes. Like, totally gag me with a spoon at 1547 Mission Drive, Solvang.
• If you’re like me and are too busy during the workweek to visit any of North County’s awesome farmers’ markets, the Vandenberg Village Farmers’ Market happens on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 120 Burton Mesa Blvd., Lompoc. It’s a great place to score some locally grown produce and other tasty products made on the Central Coast.
• If you want to take your dad out for a brew on Father’s Day weekend, don’t neglect the Pismo Beach Beer Fest on June 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. You can sip some suds with the pops at the Pismo Beach Vets’ Hall, 80 Main St., Pismo Beach. More info: (805) 481-4898.
• I am absolutely devastated at the passing of Anthony Bourdain. There are a handful of people who have had a strong influence on me as a food writer, and he was one of the most prominent. This week, I recommend you take a moment to revisit some of his excellent writing on food and the restaurant business with Kitchen Confidential, the book that made him a household name. RIP, Tony.
This article appears in Jun 14-21, 2018.