LOCAL NEWS

‘Ice Cold Beer’ Sign Goes Viral, Draws Business For Kid’s Root Beer Stand

Jul 18, 2019, 7:38 PM | Updated: Oct 10, 2022, 11:20 am

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah – It was supposed to be a simple joke. 11 year-old Seth Parker thought advertising “ICE COLD BEER,” might be a fun way to sell root beer, on the corner of 200 east and 500 south. He came up with the idea while his family was out, stocking up on the beverage.

“We were in the beer section, and then I thought of the joke,” Seth said.

His mom, Alexis Parker says it was meant to be a way to help him keep busy, and hopefully meet new friends.

 

“We moved here from Georgia a little over a year ago, and it’s been hard to meet new people,” Alexis said. “We’re always trying to instill just daily life activities, life-lessons, and to encourage him to do things.”

At first, Seth’s root beer stand was running rather slow. Something changed however, after a number of passers-by called police, concerned about his sign. Police officers were busy with calls at the time, so Animal Control Officer, Levi Tarver responded.

“I decided to take a suspicious call of a kid selling ice cold beer,” Tarver said. “When I arrived, I found a kid, who had a cooler in his hand, and I asked him if he was selling ice cold beer.”

“What the heck,” Seth said, recalling his reaction at the time. “Why are they here?”

Tarver offered a suggestion.

“I said, ‘well, you might wanna change your sign to say maybe ‘root beer’ on there, so we stop getting so many phone calls on this,'” Tarver said.

Seth did just that, writing in the word ‘root,’ in tiny green letters. Learning of what had happened, a staff member at the Brigham City Police Department went to Parker’s corner and took a picture. They thought it was funny. Thousands of other people did too. A Facebook post on the department’s page has since gone viral, even garnering the attention of NBC’s Today Show.

“We did not expect anything to get this much attention, really, we did not,” Alexis Parker said.

Seth plans to keep selling his IBC root beer on that same corner, every Wednesday through Saturday, from noon until 4pm, until the summer ends. Nowadays, he tends to sell out well before closing time. Several people came to see him, and take pictures of him with his sign, as well as buy some cold root beer Thursday.

“I just said, ‘look, we have to go up here and buy a root beer, because somebody in Brigham City is finally famous,'” Claudia Bigler said, laughing. She later Seth’s hand. “I just want you to know, I’ve been laughing about this for two days. I think you’re amazing. Good job, buddy,” she told him.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

9 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

9 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

11 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

12 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

13 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

13 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

‘Ice Cold Beer’ Sign Goes Viral, Draws Business For Kid’s Root Beer Stand