After moving from Texas, Amy and Jeremy Cribbs noticed something missing from the Kitsap County community; a fun, social shop centered around dirty soda drinks and community relationships. That observation turned into Suburban Sip, a locally owned dirty soda shop focused on customization, comfort, and connection.
Dirty Sodas are especially popular in Utah, where the Cribbs family spent time traveling. That exposure planted the seed for what would become Suburban Sip.
“The concept is an idea from Utah, from popular establishments like Swig or Fizz,” owner Jeremy Cribbs said. “So we decided to make our own, and we started looking for the perfect building.”
Rather than opening a franchise, the family chose to build their own brand. This division influenced the menu, atmosphere, and overall vision of the shop. The shop’s name came from a family brainstorming session, the Cribbs family wanted something memorable and fitting.
“Then jokingly, Oliver [the oldest Cribbs son] said it would have to be suburban,” owner Amy Cribbs said. “And then we laughed because we thought it was the silliest name, but it was perfect.”
The shop opened as Suburban Sip. Finding a location was one of the more important and difficult steps. The family wanted to stay local and hoped for a drive-through, they ultimately chose a space that almost met all their needs.
“We started looking for the perfect building,” Jeremy Cribbs said. “That was tough, just trying to make a decision of which building we wanted”.
Opening the shop involved navigating permits and inspections of the processes required for organization and patience. After receiving the approval, the family completed many renovations themselves. The hands-on work helped prepare the space for opening.
“We did all the work ourselves. So we put in new floors, and Amy and Oliver built a whole new counter that is now our drink counter,” Jeremy Cribbs said.
Customization plays a major role in Suburban Sip’s menu. Customers are able to choose their soda base, flavor, combinations, and add-ins. This approach allows each drink to be tailored to individual preferences.
“What makes our drinks stand out is that we can customize every one of them, and if we don’t have it in there, we will make it anyway,” Amy Cribbs said. “We will make what you want when you want.”
The interior of the shop was designed to encourage customers to stay and spend time inside. Seating and games are available throughout the space. The owners wanted the environment to feel similar to a coffee shop.
“I just hope people will feel comfortable,” Jeremy Cribbs said “I hope people want to come hang out just like I want them to use it like a coffee shop. I just want people to be comfortable, hang out, maybe do your homework here, and relax. I want everyone to feel relaxed when they come here.”
Customers often visit the shop multiple times each week. Many appreciate the welcoming environment and social atmosphere. The space is frequently used as a place to relax and spend time with friends.
“My first impression of the shop was that it was really cute and that the people who own it are super nice,” student Madeline Simpson said.
Certain drinks have become especially popular among customers. Dr. Pepper based drinks are ordered most frequently. These drinks make up a large portion of weekly sales.
“The most popular drinks are any Dr. Pepper drinks we offer, we go through almost 20oz of Dr. Pepper a week,” Amy Cribbs said.
Regular visitors often develop favorite orders over time. The menu allows customers to experiment with different flavors and combinations. New options are added periodically.
“We plan to do some karaoke nights and stuff for schools, it’s all about making fun nights to get people down here,” Jeremy Cribbs said.
Looking ahead, the Cribbs family is focused on gradual and sustainable growth. They aim to expand while maintaining their current structure and operations. Long term plans are still being considered.
“I’m hoping we can stay open in the next few years,” Jeremy Cribbs said. “If we can get past the next few years, I’ll probably start looking at opening another business in town that can go along with this.”
