Dirty Soda might not sound very appetizing but it’s now a nationwide trend that’s making its way into northeastern Wisconsin. Although the first drinks were crafted in Utah in mid-2010, the concept didn’t take off nationally until 2022 when it went viral on TikTok.
A dirty soda concoction can vary greatly, but the main components include fountain sodas with added cream, flavored syrups, and an array of other ingredients. As the trend spreads throughout the Midwest, there are specialty chains and independent owners opening shops. The trend has gotten so big that even Coffee Mate has joined in with the introduction of Dirty Soda Creamer, a creamer that can be poured directly into soda.
But if you ask new business owners Stefanie Danklefsen and Nichola Roberts, they’ll tell you there’s nothing quite like the concoctions that are served at their two shops in Appleton — at 134 E. Northland Ave. and 734 N. Casaloma Drive. The sisters recently purchased Soda Bar, businesses started by Brittney Anderson and a group of partners last year. The timing of the sale was perfect.