Swig, a soda shop chain known as the originator of “dirty soda,” is offering free drinks Saturday and Sunday at its new location in Hixson.
The drive-through-only Hixson store is Swig’s 100th grand opening, and the chain is celebrating the milestone by selling 24 ounce drinks for $1 Saturday at all its other locations nationwide.
“I’m excited to celebrate Swig’s 100th store and the journey that brought us here,” Nicole Tanner, who founded Swig in 2010 in St. George, Utah, said in a news release. “From our humble beginnings to now having 100 locations in 14 states, I’m amazed at everything our team has accomplished. Swig represents happiness in a cup, and our customers mean the world to us!”
Swig’s signature dirty sodas are customizable drinks that combine soda with fruit purees, creams and other flavorings, said Jenny Teemsma, communications director of the Larry H. Miller Company, which owns a majority stake of Swig.
Customers can create their own drinks or switch up the ingredients to any of the signature beverages on the menu, Teemsma said by phone.
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Among the menu options is The Founder, Tanner’s creation featuring a mix of Diet Coke, lime and sugar-free coconut. The menu also includes Refreshers, which are water-based drinks made with fresh fruits, and customizable energy drinks known as Revivers.
The soda shop’s food offerings include warm pretzel bites and chilled sugar cookies served with pink icing, she said.
Utah-based franchisee Taylor Hayden said in a phone interview he and local partners John Dougherty and Jessica Webb plan to open 20 stores in Tennessee over the next three years.
“I’ve always seen the love and passion for the soda shops out here, specifically Swig, and I’ve always been interested in getting into Swig as a franchise operator and owner,” said Hayden, who previously opened stores in Alcoa, Tennessee, and Fort Oglethorpe. “When they started allowing franchises about a year ago, we jumped on that opportunity.”
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While Hayden and his local partners have yet to confirm other locations in Chattanooga, Hayden said they’ve been looking in the East Brainerd area, Hayden said.
“I love seeing repeat customers and how much our customers love and enjoy the brand and the product,” he said. “It brings a lot of joy to see how well it’s been received in the Tennessee market.”
Swig is at 5114 Highway 153 in Hixson and 729 Battlefield Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe.
Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.