While cheering on their sons at a World Series game in Orange Beach, Amber and Matt Nuccio sat beachside with friends Nicole and Nick Spangenburg. As Amber sipped a dirty soda, she joked, “I could do this better.”
Amber’s comment got Nick thinking. He said, “Let’s do it. I’ll go half with you. I know where our building is.”
And just like that, the idea for Sips was born.
Now, with co-owner Bailey Brady on board, the Nuccios, the Spangenburgs and Brady are gearing up to bring the dirty soda craze to the greater Memphis area.
“The possibilities are endless,” Amber said. “You can pick your base and you add your syrups that can be sugar or sugar free and add cream. You can do an energy drink, water, gatorade or lemonade.”
Some of the group’s favorite dirty soda combos they can’t wait to bring to Bartlett include a tropical mix of pineapple, Fanta, green apple, and caramel; a sweet twist on Sprite with cotton candy syrup; and an Alani energy drink topped with caramel syrup and cold foam.
“It will be a cool place for people to come hang out,” Nicole said. “We’re a small town, so I think it’s been exciting so far just to see the amount of excitement that everybody around us has for it.”
Inside the shop, guests will find a bar with classic soda fountain vibes, complete with barstools for a nostalgic touch. The owners are also planning a larger lounge area with chairs and couches, but the final layout will depend on how construction unfolds. Outdoor seating with benches is also in the works.
Sips doesn’t have an official opening date yet, but the owners are aiming for the end of August, pending final permitting inspections.
For updates, follow their progress on Facebook.
