by LISA REISMAN The new haven independent
With a single sip of lemonade, history was made on the lower level of Yale’s Schwarzman Center.
That sip took place at 11:24 a.m. on the last Monday of February on the lower level of Yale’s new 168 Grove St. student and arts hub.
It was Yale senior Erin Bailey who sampled Gorilla Lemonade in its blueberry form, officially marking the business as the first Black-owned beverage supplier at Yale in the university’s 321 years of existence. The sip — and supplier hire — took place to coincide with Black History Month.
The occasion was a taste testing to introduce the lemonade in all its flavors — in addition to blueberry, pineapple, strawberry and, of course, lemon — to the Yale community.
“Very refreshing,” Bailey said. “I second that,” her friend, Chloe Shames, agreed.
Next came Stephanie Prete, a services hospitality assistant at the Schwarzman Center, wheeling a trolley of cleaning implements. She could barely contain her excitement.
“Look at this,” she said, pointing at a flyer on the table showing Gorilla Lemonade in 50 locations around the state, and another, telling the story of the product, from its inception in February 2022 to its promotion by such figures as U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, food critic and television personality Daym Drops, and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.
“Oh my god, I am so happy for Brian,” Prete said, referring to Brian Burkett-Thompson who, along with his role as co-creator of Gorilla Lemonade with Kristen Threatt, is a Cook’s Helper at Yale Commons. “This is so exciting. This is all because of his hard work.”
Burkett-Thompson, standing nearby with Threatt, beamed.
“You like it?” Sean Artis, member of the Gorilla Lemonade team, was asking first-year Melangelo Pride. Artis was manning the table with Tamar Cummings.
“I really do,” she said. “It’s really smooth, light, refreshing. If I see it here, I’ll probably buy some.”
Artis said he and Cummings recently started working with Threatt and Burkett-Thompson. “They gave us this business opportunity to help them promote the Gorilla drinks. We’re aspiring entrepreneurs and we’re just trying to make the most of it.”