Dining

Dirty sodas heading to the suburbs as Swig is set to open 13 locations in the next year

Posted July 08, 2026 1:14 pm

Rick West

Dirty soda originator Swig will open locations in the suburbs beginning in August. Courtesy of Swig

The favorite drinks of your favorite Mormon wives are coming to the suburbs.

Swig, the originator of the dirty soda craze, has signed a 13-unit development deal with a local franchisee to open the drive-thru-centric soda shops in locations that will include Naperville, Crest Hill, Romeoville and Bolingbrook.

The Crest Hill location is scheduled to open in August with the others following next year.

Dirty sodas from Swig are so named because of the cloudy look they get after adding dairy. Courtesy of Swig

For the uninitiated, dirty sodas are customizable, nonalcoholic drinks made by mixing standard sodas such as Coke or Dr Pepper in regular or diet form with some combination of creamer, flavored syrups, fruit juice or puree. The dairy gives it the namesake cloudy or “dirty” look.

The trend originated in Utah and was popularized by the Mormon community, who traditionally avoid caffeinated coffee and tea. The drinks have been featured in TV shows such as “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and have gained visibility through viral social media posts by fans like Olivia Rodrigo.

In addition to dirty sodas, Swig also offers water-based drinks named Refreshers, customizable energy drinks called Revivers, and sweet and savory snack options, including its popular pink frosted sugar cookie.

Swig was founded in 2010 in St. George, Utah, and has grown from a single drive-thru concept to more than 150 locations across 16 states.

Swig, the originator of the dirty soda craze, will be opening the drive-thru-centric soda shops in Naperville, Crest Hill, Romeoville and Bolingbrook in the coming year. Courtesy of Swig

Husband-and-wife franchisees Derek and Michelle Hincks, owners of Sip City Social LLC, will operate the suburban locations.

“We've admired Swig for years, not only because it created the dirty soda category, but because of the way the brand brings people together and makes every visit a fun, memorable experience,” Derek Hincks said in a news release.

Other restaurant chains have taken notice of the popularity of Swig and the genre, with McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Sonic among those offering a version of the drink.

Swig has become a popular franchise with a drive-thru-centric model. Courtesy of Swig

Like coffee chain 7 Brew, Swig has become a popular franchise model with a drive-thru-centric footprint that can operate in as little as 800-850 square feet.