Dirty soda loyalists in El Paso County are about to get a new drive-thru fix. Swig, the Utah-born chain known for customizable “dirty sodas,” is rolling into the Colorado Springs area under a new 10-unit franchise deal. The father-and-son franchise team behind the expansion says the first shop should open by the end of 2026, with nine more locations to follow around the county, bringing syrup-and-cream fountain drinks and snack items to a market where drive-thru beverage concepts are already on the rise.
Deal details and opening timeline
In a press release via PR Newswire, Swig said it signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with Alex and Alan Knox to bring 10 stores to Colorado Springs and the rest of El Paso County. The first location is slated to open by the end of 2026. The company highlighted its compact, drive-thru-centric model, saying most sites can operate in roughly 800–850 square feet, and pointed to lower build-out and labor costs as key selling points. Company materials described the Knoxes as experienced operators who will oversee local site selection and development.
Where the 'dirty soda' craze came from
Swig traces its roots to a 2010 drive-thru in St. George, Utah, and the brand has long claimed to have originated the “dirty soda” format, which layers fountain drinks with creams, flavored syrups, and fruit purees. As reported by Axios, the trend first spread in many Latter-day Saints communities where coffee and alcohol are typically avoided, then jumped to social media and reality TV, turning into a nationally recognized beverage category. The format’s minimal kitchen needs and heavy social buzz have made it a tempting playground for multi-unit franchise growth.
Local impact to watch for
On paper, a new drink stop sounds harmless enough. In practice, Swig openings in other cities have brought traffic and parking headaches that local neighbors know all too well. One dirty soda frenzy in Austin drew car lines so long they sometimes blocked access to nearby stores, as per Hoodline, raising the kind of circulation and safety questions that tend to follow drive-thru-heavy concepts. With 10 locations planned, Colorado Springs planners and property owners will likely keep a close eye on queueing, ingress, and egress once specific permits and leases start to surface.
Why franchisees are betting on Swig
Swig has been on an aggressive franchising push, signing multi-unit deals and building out leadership to turn those commitments into actual openings. Industry coverage, including QSR Magazine, notes that the brand now operates more than 150 locations across 16 states and leans hard on a small, efficient footprint that is built for rapid scaling. That mix of streamlined operations and strong social-media buzz is what the Knoxes are betting on as they dig into market research and site selection in El Paso County.
Residents eager for specifics on where Swig will land or when hiring will start should keep an eye on local permit records and Swig’s store pages later this year. Swig and the Knoxes have not released any addresses yet, saying they will announce locations as leases are finalized and permits are approved.
