Soda shops have been booming across Utah for the past several years, and about a year ago they made their way to the Las Vegas valley.
Most shops follow a similar formula: you start out with a familiar soda like Coke or Pepsi, then add flavor shots to customize the taste.
So if you're looking for a unique drink to beat the heat this summer, here are a couple places to check out:
Brandon and Riley have been friends since high school, and both quit their accounting jobs in Las Vegas to open up Pop Drinks together.
The shop named many of its drinks after Las Vegas icons. The "Red Rock" is made with Pepsi, along with flavor shots of cherry and vanilla. And "The Rebel" is made with a Monster energy drink, watermelon, and coconut cream.
They also have a secret menu with over 60 different combinations. A personal favorite of our digital producer was the "Golden Knight," which is Mountain Dew, blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla cream.
If you're not in the mood for soda, Pop Drinks also serves up their popular teas, coffee, and hot chocolate. You can also get movie theater-style popcorn and cookies.
The owners of FiiZ first opened up shop in Bountiful, Utah, and have since opened up a few dozen locations around the Western United States. One of the owners, Jodi Leishman, imagined that the space could be used as a place for families to play games, or for teens to hang out after school.
The kids' drinks at FiiZ add a bit more flair, such as the "Sharks in the Water," which is made with Sprite, blue raspberry, and gummy sharks. There's also the "Wriggly Worm," which is made with root beer, cherry, whipped cream, and gummy worms.
Even without the flair, the flavors and FiiZ can get pretty experimental. We never tried it ourselves, but their "Cocomo" is made with Coke (or Pepsi), coconut and chocolate if you're in the mood for a dessert soda.
They also have Italian sodas and frozen hot chocolates, along with chips and homemade salsa, macarons, cupcakes, and popcorn.
