Pictured along with Leishya Rios Perez or “Chachy” and her family is Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, Nick Langworthy’s representative Christine Rinaldi, City Council Member Andrew Faulkner, Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund, County Executive PJ Wendel, City Council Member Bill Reynolds and Lakewood Mayor Randall Holcomb, during the ribbon cutting celebration for Chachy’s Lemonades held on Friday. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Just in front of Jackson-Taylor Park on Washington Street sits a new lemonade business for the city, Chachy’s Lemonades, owned and operated by 13-year-old Leishya Rios Perez, or “Chachy”.

Located at 1101 Washington St., Chachy’s Lemonades promises “the best lemonades in town.” The business held its grand opening with city and county officials on Friday, with the official grand opening of the business set for Saturday at 11 a.m.

Rios Perez first began selling with just a table and a tent back in 2017 and two flavors of lemonade.

“We now offer 18 flavors of lemonade, including some specialty drinks,” Rios Perez said. “We do private and local events. We are open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, here in front of Chadakoin Park.”

Chachy’s Lemonades will be open Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Lemonade flavors include strawberry, watermelon, blueberry, mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, passion fruit, tamarind, kiwi, orange, cucumber, cranberry, peach and coconut. The business will also offer special sweets and cakes, aguas frescas, and specialty drinks like a pina colada and Chachy’s Mock-tail. Chachy’s Lemonades can also be found on Facebook.

During the grand opening with the city, Chachy’s was given certificates and congratulations from Mayor Kim Ecklund, Council Member Bill Reynolds, County Executive PJ Wendel, Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, Lakewood Mayor Randall Holcomb who was representing State Senator George Borrello, and Christine Rindaldi, representing Nick Langworthy.

“When this story first came out it was shocking to me to learn that she’s only 13,” Ecklund said. “Entrepreneurship at 13 is amazing.”

Goodell praised the location and design of the trailer, and the fact that while the business is offering 18 different flavors, there is also the ability to mix and match flavors, saying that actually makes it about 153 flavors in all. When Goodell asked Rios Perez’s future plans she said franchising in the future is a possibility, with a definite plan to grow.

The trailer is a mobile trailer with electricity, and a design that Rios Perez said her father came up with.

Rinaldi said that Rios Perez has the “community rooting for and supporting her”, and Daniel Heitzenrater, President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, also praised Rios Perez and her work.

“It’s a perfect location, right here next to the park,” Heitzenrater said. “People can walk over and get something to drink after playing hard at the playground. Walking by the door you can see the crate of fresh fruit and know that it’s the real deal.”