People love 'the lemonade guy,' from Taylor Swift to pretty much every sports fan in Phoenix
"Lemonade, lemonade like Grandma made!"
If you have a history of going to sporting events in Arizona, you've undoubtedly heard Derrick Moore's catchphrase or seen him dancing in the stands with ice-cold lemonades in hand.
He's sold lemonade at baseball, hockey, football and basketball games, plus a number of concerts and other events in Phoenix for over 30 years. In 2015, he was voted the MLB's Top Vendor by fans from all over the country. That same year, he met Taylor Swift after a video went viral of Moore selling candy at one of her Phoenix concerts.
"It meant a lot to be recognized by a big pop star like that. It was a complete surprise," Moore said.
He landed a permanent gig inside Chase Field at the start of the 2023 season, selling lemonade and snacks to fans on the 300 level.
“Derrick Moore’s infectious personality has resonated with sports fans for many years. His passion and energy are second to none," said Derrick Hall, President, CEO and general partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks in an emailed statement. "We are excited Derrick and his family were able to bring Grandma’s Made Concessions to Chase Field to continue the great story of his legacy."
For Moore, the best part about landing a permanent vending home is that now his kids can work alongside him at Grandma's Made Concessions stand.
"It's been my dream to do this. My son, he's seen me over the years looking and trying to get this business started. We finally got it, and I'm so thankful to the Diamondbacks, since they gave me a shot," Moore said.
Pizza, pretzels, burritos and brisket: 26 new restaurants are now open in metro Phoenix
'The lemonade guy' is an icon of Phoenix sporting events
Before becoming known as "the lemonade guy," Moore sold everything from candy to soda at sporting events in Phoenix when he was a teenager. A few years later, when he was old enough, he started selling beer as well.
In December 2002, Moore decided to stop selling beer and stick strictly to lemonade. His now-beloved catchphrase was born of a desire to share joy with the fans at games, as well as a way to share the love and respect that he had for his grandma growing up.
"She did (make lemonade), but it's more so the admiration I have for my grandma," he said. "She had her own business doing childcare and she was a very religious person. She taught me a lot and she gave me my roots."
'Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives': Follow Guy Fieri's lead to these 37 Arizona restaurants
When 'the lemonade guy' needed help, the fans came to his aid
With more than 30 years of experience under his belt, Moore has trained a number of other MLB vendors and encouraged his family and friends to get into the business when they needed extra money, including his godson Tyrone Preyer Jr.
In 2021, Moore underwent some serious health issues and had to be hospitalized. As it was during the height of the pandemic, he hadn't been able to vend any games for a while and was uninsured at the time. But thanks to community support, he was able to cover all of his medical expenses with over $130,000 raised via a GoFundMe started by Preyer Jr.
"Always waited for him to come around to get a lemonade, even our daughter knows his voice in the stands and I’ve known his chant since I was a kid myself. God bless him and his family sending our prayers," wrote one donor on the GoFundMe page.
Another wrote, "Derrick is as much a part of Scottsdale Stadium as the Giants. His interaction with the kids is immeasurable. My grandson enjoyed him so much he had Derrick sign a foul ball. Best wishes for a speedy recovery."
Moore has since made a full recovery and is back to selling lemonade full-time at baseball games and elsewhere. He said he could not have done it without the support and encouragement of his community.
"This business is a way of giving back to all the fans who given to me," he said. "And I hope they enjoy me being here."
Lemonade has become a family business
In addition to selling lemonade, Moore was working at a charter school in the early 2000s. That's where he met his wife, Renita. When the couple got married, he also became a father to her four children.
Moore's children Owen and Jaylah began selling lemonade alongside him as teenagers. The family would compete to see who could sell the most during a game. Now, they work together at the Grandma's Made Concessions stand at Chase Field.
"Sometimes people, when they go to work, they're kind of dreading it. But I've always seen him when he's ready to go to work with a smile," said Moore's son Owen Higgins. "So seeing him up here now, after everything he went through 2021, it's amazing. It's always been his dream. Knowing that, I guess I just wanted to help and be a part of it."
Despite Grandma's Made Concessions now having a permanent home inside Chase Field, Moore still spends his time walking up and down in the stands selling lemonade directly to fans during game time, because there is nothing more precious to him than these face-to-face interactions.
"I learned a long time ago that you can't just stand back," Moore said.
How to visit Grandma's Made Concessions
You can purchase traditional, strawberry, or blue raspberry lemonade at Grandma's Made Concessions, located in section 308 at Chase Field. Or listen for Moore's signature slogan in the stands: "Lemonade, lemonade, like Grandma made!"
Details: Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. mlb.com/dbacks/ballpark/dining-concessions.
Harkins' 1st dine-in theater now open: And it's even better than I thought it would be
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Even Taylor Swift loves 'the lemonade guy' of Chase Field in Phoenix
