Centerville, UT – Even though it is not the 1950s, having people hang out in a soda shop before or after a football game is just what Lindsay Murdock envisioned when she opened a FiiZ specialty soda shop this summer in Centerville, Utah. “We love being a part of our community and being a place for people to go for a drink or a treat. We also love that we have created a safe place for school kids to come and hang out after school. Who doesn’t love drinks and snacks?” said Murdock, who co-owns two FiiZ locations with family members.
FiiZ is a specialty soda shop that offers unique refreshments that are customized to “Your FiiZ, Your Way.” Flavored syrups, fresh fruits, purees, and creams are added and mixed into your favorite soda to elevate your drink and your day. FiiZ also has a variety of salty snacks, sweet treats, flavored waters, energy drinks, and dozens of hot drink options.
Murdock had worked at the original FiiZ location, founded in 2014, in Bountiful for about a year and a half before she became the manager of that location. “I talked with some family members, and we decided we wanted to open our own FiiZ stores,” she said. “As a single mom, I can work a flexible schedule that also makes me available for my daughter.” She even recruited her daughter to dress up in an inflatable shark costume as the shop’s mascot during its grand opening celebration.
FiiZ is located in a former pizza place that had been in business for a long time. “We get people that stop by thinking it is still the pizza place, but they end up getting drinks and snacks from us!” she said.
“We love our location near schools and businesses at 104 S. Main Street in Centerville, Utah. We open early on weekdays at 7:30 a.m. so our customers can stop by on the way to work or when they drop off kids at school. The store hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“I have the best employees,” she said. “They are the best part of my job. They are great at interacting and serving our customers.” Many of her employees are students from the nearby high schools. The store offers ordering at a drive-thru and a walk-up counter. The lobby of the store has plenty of booths of seating.
“We have collaborated with Centerville city leaders and local schools to plan and host events here at our store and to support events going on in the city,” she said, and we will be planning more in the future. On Mondays, we have a community game night where people can hang out and play board games and cards in our lobby.”
The store has hosted face painting events and had the pirate “Captain Jack” show up at the grand opening because one of the most popular FiiZ drinks is named after him – the “Captain Jack Sparrow” (Coca-Cola, coconut, pineapple, raspberry, and cream).
The store already has regular customers who stop by most days. “We have the sweetest lady who comes in and often brings us gifts or homemade jam. You get to know your customers and their regular orders, and they appreciate that we know their order and almost have it ready before they order it,” she said.
“Now that Fall is here, we are gearing up and offering hot chocolate and seasonal specialty drinks,” she said. Want to try a Caramel Apple Frappe? Murdock and her team will whip one up for you.
“Stop by and check out all our drinks and treats. We might not be a soda shop from the 1950s, but we are the modern-day version of one,” she said. “We even have a FiiZ Friday Night Lights Specials after the football games.”
Follow the Centerville FiiZ store on Instagram @FiiZ_drinkscenterville to see specials and events.
Murdock is coming up on the first anniversary of opening the FiiZ location in North Salt Lake, Utah. That shop is located at 761 N. Redwood Road. Follow the North Salt Lake store on Instagram at FiiZ_drinksnorthsaltlake.
To learn more about franchising opportunities at FiiZ, visit FiiZdrinks.com.
