Swig ‘dirty soda” shop coming to Clinton in ex-Petro’s location
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Austin Jones of Real-Time Construction, left, works on the interior build-out of the new Swig dirty soda shop in Clinton on Monday morning, as two plumbing subcontractors set up a sink. - G. Chambers Williams III
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The new Swig “dirty soda” store will open in January in the former location of Petro’s Chili and Chips at 2217 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd. in Clinton. Anderson County’s first Swig opened in Oak Ridge in June. - G. Chambers Williams III
The Swig “dirty soda” drink chain plans to open a location in Clinton in January, in the former location of Petro’s Chili & Chips at 2217 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd., the company’s district manager, John Dougherty, said Monday.
It will be the second Swig location in Anderson County, following the opening of the Oak Ridge store at 848 Main St. W. in July, Dougherty said.
“Dirty soda” refers to carbonated soft drinks that have been mixed with flavored syrups, along with ingredients such as cream or half and half, and fruit purees.
Clinton’s store will be the company’s sixth in the East Tennessee area.
In June 2024, Swig opened its first location in Alcoa. Since then, other Swig shops have opened in West Hills off Kingston Pike in Knoxville, Hixson (Chattanooga) and Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, (also the Chattanooga area).
The city of Clinton issued a building permit on Dec. 3 to Swig’s franchise owner, Taylor Hayden, for the interior remodeling work, which is being done by Real-Time Construction, LLC, of Powell.
Austin Jones of Real-Time Construction was on hand at the store Monday overseeing the work, which he said would involve “renovations, including moving some walls.” A team of plumbers was also on hand.
Jones said his team also built the Swig location in Oak Ridge.
Dougherty said a seventh area Swig location is under construction in Johnson City, which should open around the same time as the Clinton store. The local franchisee, based in Knoxville, has the rights to 25 locations, most of them in East Tennessee, he added.
“We’re excited to be coming to Clinton,” said Dougherty, a graduate of Anderson County High School. He said he has been with the company since last year.
Swig, founded in St. George, Utah, in 2010, has recently been expanding beyond Utah, with the East Tennessee franchisee among the newest stores.
Along with its menu of specialty sodas, Swig sells fresh-baked cookies and pretzel bites, and hot chocolate.
Dougherty said the Clinton location should open by mid- to late January. It will have inside service and seating, along with the same drive-through that Petro’s had behind the store. It’s next door to Megan Nails and two doors down from Firehouse Subs, both in the same building.
Hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. The store will be closed on major holidays.
Swig was founded in Utah, mainly to offer an alternative to Starbucks as a non-alcoholic, coffee-free treat for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), who generally abstain from drinking coffee, tea and alcohol.
While Swig isn’t a “Mormon company,” it became a popular business in a region with a large LDS population.
In 2023, Swig signed franchise agreements across seven states: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Idaho to begin its expansion beyond Utah.