Rhodes to Celebrate Ribbon Cutting at Refurbished World’s Largest Cup
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – AUGUST 7, 2025
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – Rhodes and the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, August 20, at 425 North Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau to commemorate the recent refurbishing of the World’s Largest Fountain Drink Cup and celebrate its eight-year anniversary.
The larger-than-life landmark, officially declared a Guinness World Record holder on August 20, 2017, continues to be a source of pride and nostalgia for both the local community and the thousands of travelers who visit each year. The record-breaking moment—marked with a party attended by more than 1,000 guests—coincided with National Lemonade Day and occurred just one day before the 2017 total solar eclipse captivated the region.
To achieve the title, the fountain drink cup was filled with 4,730.95 gallons of Minute Maid lemonade, a process that took three hours to complete. The lemonade was later donated to local charities, schools, and more—further reflecting Rhodes' commitment to community impact.
Since that day, the Cup has become a must see roadside attraction, featured on Tripadvisor, Guinness World Records, and various national travel sites. Travelers stop daily to snap photos and share in the novelty, often extending their visit to explore Cape Girardeau’s other businesses— making the Cup not just a fun photo op, but a consistent economic driver for the region.
The recent refurbishing project aimed to honor that impact and ensure the Cup remains a welcoming beacon along I55. The enhancements include updated paint, a new vinyl wrap, and signage featuring fun facts about the Cup to make the experience even more enjoyable for guests.
In fact, the Cup continues to serve as a unique venue for community events. Most recently, it hosted the Rhodes Sip & Side-by-Side Summer Finale Party on July 11, where more than 100 guests gathered to see who would take home the summer’s biggest prizes—including a $25,000 side-by-side vehicle, free fuel for a year, and more. Guests traveled from across the region—including Farmington, Poplar Bluff, and Paducah—to take part in the celebration. Susan Tatham of Ste. Genevieve was the lucky grand prize winner—and she celebrated the exciting moment surrounded by her grandchildren, who were in attendance and cheered as she accepted the keys.
“Our Cup has become more than a record—it’s a point of pride and a symbol of the fun, community-driven spirit of Rhodes,” said Brent Anderson, President of Rhodes. “We’re excited to invite everyone to join us on August 20 to celebrate not just a refurbished landmark, but eight years of memories, milestones, and the guests who made it all possible.”
Event Details:
425 North Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, MO
Tuesday, August 20
12:00 PM – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Guests, media, and community members are welcome to attend
For media inquiries or additional information, please contact:
Lindsey Wagoner, Director of Marketing
(573) 986-8308
LWagoner@Rhodes101.com
Rhodes Convenience Stores was established in 1956 and employs more than 600 individuals
throughout its 33 Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky locations. As the
area’s largest convenience store network, Rhodes provides a vast selection of quality products,
excellent customer service and convenient locations, many of which include drive-thru windows,
full-scale restaurant menus and 24-hour service. In 2022, Rhodes introduced its proprietary app
allowing guests to order ahead, save on fuel and three options to pick up their orders. The app’s
roll out further illustrates Rhodes’ continued commitment to delivering convenience to its guests.