LA GRANDE — The Soda Blitz, 1609 Adams Ave., will celebrate a ribbon-cutting grand reopening event under new co-owners Shaun and Kristine Halladay on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.

The Halladays purchased the business on Aug. 1 from Ashlynn Lillywhite, who started the business four years ago. Now, for the past month the Halladays have operated a soft opening.

“This is the first time for us as retail business owners in the dirty sodas market,” Shaun Halladay said. “We have kept the original employee staff, but we’ve also brought in a general manager.”

The dirty soda market originated in Utah and has grown into a national trend in many drive-through restaurants. The sodas include a combination of carbonated soda with flavored syrups and creamer.

“It’s more than soda with a flavoring,” he said. “It’s more advanced, like a cocktail of two different flavors, puree and cream. These sodas are more sophisticated.”

Soda Blitz offers over 60 flavors of syrups, and many purees and creams so the possible combinations are virtually endless.

“To make it easier, though, we have signature drinks that have already been tested and that people really like,” Halladay said.

Among those sodas is one called Royal Root Beer, which is root beer-based but also has cheesecake syrup, vanilla and cream, and then it’s topped with whipped cream.

“Those flavorings work well,” Halladay said.

“Soda Blitz is a store, but most people use the drive-through for service,” he said.

In addition to sodas, the Soda Blitz also offers a variety of treats like cookies. For this, the Halladays are purchasing a commercial oven to bake their own cookies soon. Until then they sell cookies from other sources.

“We also offer pretzels, popcorn, and other snackies,” he said. “We’re expanding our treats to include Rice Crispers like our marshmallow caramel crisper and chocolate peanut butter crisper.”

Customers may also order slow-cooked steel oatmeal, yogurt parfaits and freeze-dried candies.

“We like the sugary, munching kind of snacks, so if it fits in that category, we’re interested in selling it,” Halladay said.

The Soda Blitz is open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it may be reached by calling 541-605-0570.

“At the grand reopening event, we’re offering 16-ounce drinks for $1, including a flavoring of your choice, and we’re welcoming both new and familiar patrons to our new opening,” Halladay said. “We’re excited to meet the community.”