TikTok influencers made Swig’s “Dirty Sodas” nationally famous.
So when the Utah-based chain recently entered the Kansas City metro with two locations, the shops were instant hits.
Now more locations are coming with area franchisees planning as many as 25 for the region.
Coming soon:
- A Northland Swig (9705 N. Ash Ave., near Liberty) will have a soft opening Saturday, Feb. 8, with shorter hours (11 am to 7 pm) until the grand opening on March 4 to 6. That weekend it will pass out a free drink to everyone who stops by.
- Its first Kansas location (5959 Barkley St., Mission, KS) is scheduled to open March 21.
- Two Overland Park locations (Glenwood Commons, 6901 W. 91st St., and Quivira Crossing, 11860 W. 135th St.) are scheduled to open this summer.
Jeremy Assmus and his brother-in-law, Tre Mulliner, are the area franchisees.
Assmus was born in Missouri and came back to work here over the years. Mulliner relocated from Utah and moved to the Northland, near Gladstone, nearly a year ago.
“We have a lot of really fun relationships there,” said Assmus, who remains in Utah.
Swig was founded in 2010 and Assmus became a fan five years ago.
“At first it was like ‘I will go there once every couple of weeks when I need an extra treat,’ ” he said. “Then it was like anytime I’m going into the office. Then it became my go-to spot.
“I still pay at the corporate locations. It’s not just an investment for us. We are true fans of the product and the brand.”
When their Blue Springs location (448 N.E. Coronado Drive) opened in October, it broke the corporate record for the most cars on opening day, more than 1,300. (But a new Chattanooga, Tennessee, location has since broken that record with just a few more cars.)
A Lee’s Summit spot (400 N.W. Chipman Road) opened in early December.
Hours: 8 am to 9 pm Mondays through Thursdays; 8 am to 10 pm Fridays; 9 am to 10 pm Saturdays; and 11 am to 7 pm Sundays.
“The love that this market has shown us already has exceeded our expectations,” Assmus said.
The area franchisees now have 100 employees. Many are high school and college students, and Assmus said some have worked up to management positions as the brand expands.
It is known for its “Dirty Sodas” – a term it trademarked – soft drinks with flavored shots and cream such as its Raspberry Dream (Dr Pepper with raspberry puree and coconut cream), and the Texas Tab (Dr Pepper with a shot of vanilla and coconut cream). The Shark Attack has Sprite, lemonade and blue raspberry, topped with a Gummy shark.
Assmus describes Swig’s offerings as “a fun fresh take on your favorite drink.”
Both Dr Pepper and root beer Dirty Sodas have been the most popular choices in the Kansas City market so far.
Other menu items include frozen hot chocolate, Swig’s own energy drinks, a sugar cookie with pink frosting, mini chocolate chip cookies, and salted pretzel bites, as well as limited-time offers, mostly recently a lemon poppyseed cookie.
Swig received free national exposure after influencers featured it on TikTok and in the breakout hit “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” Assmus said the producers paid Swig to allow them to film in the Utah stores since the show had not yet premiered.
Read about Elixir, the soda fountain in the basement of The Museum Of Kansas City.
