A new drink destination has arrived at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg. Sip, a family-owned dirty soda and mocktail stand, recently opened next to Bear’s Shaved Ice near the carousel and playground, offering a menu of customizable dirty sodas, mocktails, energy drink mixes, sparkling water refreshers, and specialty beverages (preview video available below).
Owned and operated by Mindy Merrill, Sip is the result of what she describes as a true family effort. Her husband, Tyler Merrill, helps with the business, while their teenage children, Cameron and Jane, assist with management and social media. Even their two younger children have played a role through extensive taste-testing duties.
The family moved to Montgomery County in 2013 after spending time in Oregon, Utah, Alabama, Texas, and California. Mindy noted that their oldest child, who started kindergarten in Montgomery County, recently graduated from Quince Orchard High School.
Mindy said the idea for Sip came after years of working from home in tax and financial services while raising four children. Once her youngest started kindergarten, she decided it was time to pursue something more ambitious.
“We started Sip to give our family the entrepreneurial experience, to teach them the hustle and initiative it takes to start and run a business,” Merrill said. “It has been a huge learning curve and adventure for us all.”
The business also provides summer employment opportunities for their children and several local teens. According to Merrill, Sip currently employs seven friends of her children in addition to providing management experience for Cameron.
The concept is inspired by the growing dirty soda trend that originated in Utah. Dirty sodas typically combine soft drinks with flavored syrups, fruit flavors, creams, juices, and other mix-ins to create unique custom beverages.
The menu includes dirty sodas such as the Ocean City, Key West, Siesta Key, Malibu, Venice Beach, Laguna, and Outer Banks. Specialty mocktails include the Waikiki, Coney Island, and Cocoa Beach. Customers can also choose from energy drink-based creations and sparkling water refreshers.
Mindy said the family intentionally created many of the recipes specifically for Montgomery County. “While we’ve taken some cues from the Utah dirty soda titans, most of Sip are our original ideas tailored specifically for MoCo,” she said.
When it came time to choose a location, Merrill said Rio was the clear choice. “Why wouldn’t we choose Rio?” she said. “When people come to Rio, they come to have an experience. Sip isn’t just drinks, it’s an experience.”
Sip is currently open Monday through Saturday, generally from 10am or 11am until approximately 9pm or sunset, depending on conditions. Merrill also hopes the business serves as an example of local entrepreneurship and encourages continued support for small business owners throughout Montgomery County.
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