Check out this retro soda shop that is all fizz and no flat in Peddler's Village

When Liz Hawkins noticed her coffee customers were more drawn to the unique sodas she offered at her Mama Hawk's Kitchen and Coffee, an idea bubbled up.

Could her fun and innovative "Mama Sodas" launch a brand and shop of their own? Two years in, and Fizzy Mama in Peddler's Village in Lahaska turns out to be more than a fizzy fad. It's found success as "a new twist on an old-fashioned soda shop."

Hawkins, a seasoned entrepreneur in the food industry, opened the shop with husband, Doug, bringing the "soda bar" concept to Bucks County while still operating their "retro modern" coffee shop and eatery, also in the village.

"When we did our research, we saw it's very popular on the West Coast. You see it in a lot of states," Hawkins said. "Our biggest problem has been getting the word out there. But slowly but surely, I hope we grow into a franchise."

Fizzy Mama is a vibrant drinks spot offering custom soda mixes, milkshakes, treats, simple sodas, mocktails, and more. It feels like sunshine in a bottle when you walk in with the base of the place a vibrant orange, with a wall of orange and white big squares, giving it a retro diner feel. Liz's daughter, a graphic designer, played a significant role in the creation of Fizzy Mama. She decorated the shop and designed the Instagram logo, a huge neon sign that you can see as soon as you walk in, with an orange background and white letters that read, "Life's hard drink soft".

It's all part of the charm as the business is a true family affair with lots of personal touches.The "Mama" in all her businesses comes from Hawkins' preference for her kids' friends to call her Mama Hawks instead of Mrs. Hawkins. She used the nickname on stickers for her kids' fundraiser bake sales, "which is how it all started."

Fizzy soda shop an alternative to bar scene

Hawkin shared that Fizzy Mama attracts many sober customers seeking a social setting outside traditional bars and restaurants. The couple, not being big drinkers themselves but loving social interactions, wanted to create a space for like-minded individuals.

"There must be other people like us. Just like we saw people going to Mama Hawk's Kitchen for our 'Mama Sodas,' this must be a thing," she said. "And now we are making it a 'thing.'"Fizzy Mama offers a variety of sodas, including Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, and root beer, even Red Bull. They also provide a wide range of syrup flavors like strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, and more, as well as cream flavors to make root beer floats and cream sodas. Some of their most popular drinks are the Mai Mai mocktail, which has orange soda, grenadine, almond, pineapple puree, and fresh lime, and their Philadelphia Eagles drink, made with Mountain Dew, cherry, blue raspberry, and vanilla cream.

The shop is famous for their mocktails like the classic mojitos, Aperol spritz, and pina colada. The "Fizzy Delphia Freedom" is also very popular around the summer holidays; it is a Sprite-based drink flavored with strawberry puree, blue cotton candy, and vanilla cream.

The shop also serves gelato in flavors such as cookies and cream, raspberry, piña colada, mango, coconut, and vanilla. There are also treats, like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. One of Fizzy Mama's highlights is its new cup design. It resembles a soda can but is transparent, with a custom lid featuring the Fizzy Mama logo. "It's a great gift and has been a big hit," Hawkins said. "People love the variety, not only in flavor and combinations but also in sizes. Usually, you only get a standard-sized can, but here, you can choose from five different sizes."