It’s not your standard big gulp that you can get from 7-Eleven,” says co-owner Ben Cichelli of the tricked-out drinks at Coco’s Sodas + Sweets in downtown Vienna. The shop caters to “soda purists,” as Ben might say—those who know the fizz difference between a fountain-pour drink and a bottled 2-liter, and who might be clued into the “dirty soda” craze sweeping social media.
“Dirty sodas”—highly customized elevations to your standard soda drinks, with added mix-ins like syrups, creamers, purées, and juices—are Coco’s specialty. Ben and his wife, Heather, the other co-owner, discovered the trend during family visits to Salt Lake City, Utah, where soda is the drink of choice due to the high population of Latter-day Saints, who abstain from alcohol and coffee. “It’s pretty much ground zero for these types of soda shops,” Ben says.
The sugary concoctions left an impression. “ If you are a soda drinker, when you try the drinks, you are just hooked,” Heather says.
Inspired by Utah’s soda scene and their own taste tests, the Cichellis built a dirty soda menu fit for Virginia. Coco’s opened on Maple Avenue, Vienna’s main shopping street, in 2022 and quickly earned devoted regulars and curious newcomers, especially after the popular Hulu show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives shined a spotlight on the trending drink in fall 2024.
With its lineup of dolled-up sodas, a winter hot cocoa menu, cookies, savory pretzel bites, beachy interior, and shaved ice in the summers, Coco’s is now a regular hangout spot for local young people and a must-visit destination for a die-hard soda lover’s fix. CocosSodasAndSweets.com
Get your dirty soda fix with Coco’s funky menu options:
Chickens
Sprite, strawberry syrup, whipped cream,
topped with a marshmallow Peep
The Coco
Diet Coke, coconut syrup, fresh lime
Mavericks
Mountain Dew, strawberry syrup,
pineapple syrup, coconut cream
Rincon
Dr. Pepper, peach syrup, coconut syrup, half and half
Featured illustration by Victoria Borges/This article originally appeared in the April 2025 issue.
