‘Dirty sodas’ go viral nationwide. Now, a new shop in Phenix City sells them
Ever wanted to try a “dirty soda?” A new, family-owned shop in Phenix City sells the popular drinks.
Chrissy Pillman and her daughter, Cidney Mitchell, partnered to open Sips & Smiles at 3738 Opelika Road.
Mitchell and Pillman spoke with the Ledger-Enquirer about their business.
The journey to opening Sips & Smiles
Bright pink is the first thing you notice at Sips & Smiles. But a few weeks ago, the building looked nothing like it.
The building most recently housed Nellie’s Southern Fried Pies, which moved to 3744-B Opelika Road. Repainting the shop was a challenge, the Sips & Smiles owners said.
“It was yellow walls, green walls, red walls, and blue walls. It did not match,” Mitchell said. “It was completely different in here. … We just wanted it pink and white and pretty and beautiful.”
The timeline was tight, with the owners opening within five weeks. They needed long days and nights to finish the project.
“This is our first time doing any type of restaurant, type, anything,” Pillman said. “So it was very challenging. It was a learning curve.”
Still, it came together.
“When you want something, you go after it, and you do it,” Pillman said. “And I’ve always tried to teach my kids that.”
What is a dirty soda?
Pillman explained what customers get in a dirty soda.
“You take your favorite soda flavor, and you dirty it up,” she said. “And that could be with fruit syrups, creams, boba-like popping pearls, and you just make it fun.”
Dirty soda originated in Utah around 2010, growing popular in Mormon communities, which abstain from alcohol and hot drinks such as tea or coffee. Dirty soda has now become popular across the United States.
Mitchell had watched dirty sodas grow viral online, and she kept thinking the same thing: Why not here?
“This is really popular up north,” she said. “And there’s nothing around here. There’s no actual brick or mortar building. We just wanted to make something, … and so far, people have been loving it.”
The partnership split naturally: Mitchell runs day-to-day operations and staff; Pillman handles the financial and regulatory back end.
The owners said they designed the space to feel like a bright spot in someone else’s routine. Pillman said Mitchell came up with the name because it matched their goal.
“We’ll serve up drinks and be smiling for people coming in the door to start their day off,” Pillman said.
At Sips & Smiles, customers start with a base, whether it is their favorite soda, energy drink or lemonade. Then they choose their add-ons.
“They’re all customizable,” she said. “So, even if you’re like, ‘Well, I don’t like this, but I want this,’ … you can make it however you want to.”
Pillman said first-time customers can start with recommended menu items, including a root beer-based drink called the Caramel Cowboy and a Sprite-based drink called the Pink Cloud. Then customers can adjust their drinks based on what they like.
The owners said they plan to add additional summer offerings, including ice cream as a potential add-in.
More about Sips & Smiles
Sips & Smiles is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Pickup and delivery orders can be placed by phone at 334-391-0876. Sips & Smiles offers free delivery for businesses and schools. Curbside service is also available, Pillman said.
More information about Sips & Smiles is on their social media pages on Facebook at Sips & Smiles, Instagram at sipsasmiles, and TikTok at sips.smiles.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM.