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  "path": "/small-business/2026/06/01/dirty-soda-viral-mormon-trend-lake-view-johnnys-shop",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-01T10:30:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>Syed Ahmed's longtime sweet tooth led him to open Chicago's first dirty soda shop, Johnny's Dirty Soda and Snacks.</p><p>Dirty soda — a customized iced drink mixing soda, flavored creams, syrups or fruit — has grown in popularity thanks to the Hulu reality TV show \"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,\" which follows a group of Mormon mom influencers. The show had fans eagerly scoping out what dirty soda combinations the stars were ordering.</p><p>“My younger self would’ve loved this,” said Ahmed, a Chicago native. “I’ve had like five or six root canals from eating sugar.”</p><p>Dirty sodas are a well-known aspect of Mormon, and Utah, culture. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prohibits members from drinking alcohol or coffee, making dirty soda an acceptable alternative for members.</p><p>U.S. alcohol consumption hit its <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/food-drink/2025/12/03/chicago-is-a-drinkers-paradise-even-for-the-sober-and-the-sober-curious-among-us\" target=\"_blank\" >lowest point in 90 years</a>, a 2024 Gallup survey found. And Gen Z and millennials are spending less on alcohol because of changing tastes — not because of higher liquor prices, according to a February report from Bank of America Institute.</p><p>Chains like Utah-based Swig have been serving dirty sodas for decades, mostly out West. Now, fast-food businesses are getting into the dirty soda trend, too. </p><p>McDonald's rolled out a new line of refreshers and craft sodas in May. The six specialty drinks include Dirty Dr. Pepper, with vanilla and cold foam, and Orange Dream, pairing Hi-C Orange Lavaburst with vanilla and cold foam.</p><p>Dunkin' has come out with Dunkin' Dirty Soda, which combines coffee milk with Pepsi and sweet cold foam.</p><p>And Taco Bell made its Dirty Sips — including Mountain Dew Baja Blast dirty soda — part of its permanent menu. </p><p>Ahmed discovered dirty soda shops on a trip to Arizona in 2024 — the year “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premiered. </p><p>“I went to one of these soda shops, and I'm, like, ‘Dude, this is amazing. ... I wish they had something like this in the Midwest,’ ” he said.</p><p>Back home in Chicago, he encouraged his family to get in on the business and opened Johnny's with his sister Sheena Ahmed, brother-in-law Saleh \"Johnny\" Ewaida and Saleh's brother Omar Ewaida.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-4a0000\" name=\"image-4a0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/22865fb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4299x2413+0+279/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F28%2F8848a3a74d739446caeb55b0b6f3%2Fdirtysoda-260513-6.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eae990f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4299x2413+0+279/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F28%2F8848a3a74d739446caeb55b0b6f3%2Fdirtysoda-260513-6.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b2af70/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4299x2413+0+279/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F28%2F8848a3a74d739446caeb55b0b6f3%2Fdirtysoda-260513-6.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Omar Ewaida, co-owner of Johnny’s Dirty Soda, processes a customer’s payment.\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b2af70/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4299x2413+0+279/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F28%2F8848a3a74d739446caeb55b0b6f3%2Fdirtysoda-260513-6.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/119a030/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4299x2413+0+279/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F28%2F8848a3a74d739446caeb55b0b6f3%2Fdirtysoda-260513-6.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b2af70/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4299x2413+0+279/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F28%2F8848a3a74d739446caeb55b0b6f3%2Fdirtysoda-260513-6.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Omar Ewaida, co-owner of Johnny’s Dirty Soda, processes a customer’s payment.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The partners opened their Lake View shop in December at 1722 W. Belmont Ave. </p><p>Omar Ewaida said other businesses serve sodas, with some offering dirty soda options, but it's not their only product. Ahmed said that's a draw.</p><p>\"Chicago has everything,\" he said. \"But we didn’t have a dedicated [soda] shop, and I think that [it's] so super-cool for people that don't drink coffee or don't drink alcohol but still want something to drink and something fun.\".</p><p>Johnny's has 18 customizable drinks, some coming in bright colors. The blue-colored Electric Slide is a mix of Sprite, blue raspberry and lime flavors with cold foam. My Leige mixes Dr. Pepper, cherry and vanilla syrup with a spritz of cold foam. </p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-f40000\" name=\"image-f40000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e9403e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6218x3490+0+264/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F55%2F75%2Fd91bcb704b8f8ab054070526c170%2Fdirtysoda-260513-10.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec48d08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6218x3490+0+264/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F55%2F75%2Fd91bcb704b8f8ab054070526c170%2Fdirtysoda-260513-10.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/832be9d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6218x3490+0+264/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F55%2F75%2Fd91bcb704b8f8ab054070526c170%2Fdirtysoda-260513-10.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"A bright blue drink made of Sprite, blue raspberry and lime flavors with a splash of cold foam on top.\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/832be9d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6218x3490+0+264/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F55%2F75%2Fd91bcb704b8f8ab054070526c170%2Fdirtysoda-260513-10.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4c791dd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6218x3490+0+264/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F55%2F75%2Fd91bcb704b8f8ab054070526c170%2Fdirtysoda-260513-10.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/832be9d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6218x3490+0+264/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F55%2F75%2Fd91bcb704b8f8ab054070526c170%2Fdirtysoda-260513-10.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>The Electric Slide soda has Sprite, blue raspberry and lime flavors with a splash of cold foam on top.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>A 20-ounce soda is $4.99, and a 24-ounce drink is $5.99. Customers can add flavors, sugar-free syrups, creamers or edible glitter for 50 cents each.</p><p>A 12-year-old boy named Dominick, who declined to give his last name, stopped by Johnny’s with friends on his way home from school. </p><p>“I come here probably four times a week,” he said, and often goes for the Electric Slide or any Mountain Dew drink.</p><p>As the weather has gotten warmer, business has been picking up, according to Omar Ewaida, who said they've seen about a 50% increase in business recently. But he said people still lined up for the trendy drinks in the winter, which surprised him.</p><p>The shop also offers snacks from Japan, Korea and India.</p><p>The family plans to offer dirty soda catering for corporate gatherings and is looking into opening a second location by 2027.</p><p>\"We feel like the summer's gonna be insane,\" Ahmed said. \"We're making a second whole working station because we know it's gonna be busier.\"</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-9d0000\" name=\"image-9d0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a97f75/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+417/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb3%2Fde%2F6a6dd36143e086aba10bdbd7dd3d%2Fdirtysoda-260513.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8858a35/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+417/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb3%2Fde%2F6a6dd36143e086aba10bdbd7dd3d%2Fdirtysoda-260513.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01ad1b9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+417/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb3%2Fde%2F6a6dd36143e086aba10bdbd7dd3d%2Fdirtysoda-260513.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"A customer shops for snacks at Johnny’s Dirty Soda and Snacks in Lake View.\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01ad1b9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+417/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb3%2Fde%2F6a6dd36143e086aba10bdbd7dd3d%2Fdirtysoda-260513.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d41be62/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+417/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb3%2Fde%2F6a6dd36143e086aba10bdbd7dd3d%2Fdirtysoda-260513.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01ad1b9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+417/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb3%2Fde%2F6a6dd36143e086aba10bdbd7dd3d%2Fdirtysoda-260513.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>A customer shops for snacks at Johnny’s Dirty Soda and Snacks in Lake View.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p>",
  "title": "Dirty soda trend finds a home at Lake View shop",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-01T10:30:09.448Z"
}