Looking for a night out in the town but don’t know where to go? Rexburg’s new, and only, mocktail bar Fizz Rizz is becoming the new hotspot and has stirred up excitement in the students and residents of Rexburg. The new business opened its doors on July 4, and the business is already booming, the drinks are ready to serve.
The idea for a mocktail bar in Rexburg came from the dynamic duo, Joseph ‘Joe’ Aragon and Daniel Alworth. They met in their hometown in Colorado, and after a brief period of not seeing each other, conveniently re-met at the Broulim’s grocery store in Rexburg. After catching up, Alworth mentioned he was thinking about opening an arcade in town, and Aragon quickly mentioned he was looking to open a business as well. After some discussion, they partnered up and created the mocktail bar.
“We got absolutely flooded the first week. It was like a war zone,” Alworth said. “Sometimes the line was out the door, and after everybody left, the cleaning took almost an hour and a half.”
The menu is a concoction of some of the most popular bar drinks. From piña coladas, strawberry and mango daiquiris, margaritas, mojitos, Shirley temples to even the spicy bloody Mary- all without the alcoholic component. Aragon and Alworth both say they’ve known people who’ve struggled with alcohol in their lives, so they wanted to make a place where everything looks and feels the same but is safe from the dangers that can come along with it.
“Presentation is really key to an experience because it’s more than just drinking some tasty beverage. It’s about having an experience and doing something you haven’t done while feeling like you can be a part of a culture that we don’t partake in,” Alworth said. “We wanted to give students a safe, warm place where they can socialize and relax.”
Both Aragon and Alworth yearned for a good night life spot in Rexburg, so they decided that not only will the mocktail bar have great food and treats but various activities to choose from. Alworth, who originally wanted to open an arcade, added a room full of arcade games and classic bar activities such as billiards and darts. They will also have themed events coming up, such as the classic karaoke and trivia nights. Another exciting edition will be the live music speakeasy that is still under construction.
“I’ve built a lot of wonderful memories (at other Rexburg restaurants) and made some great friends, but it’s not the atmosphere that I wanted or dreamed about,” Aragon said. “We want (Fizz Rizz) to be the Rexburg nightlife spot, and we want it to be a safe place.”
Opening their business hasn’t come without its challenges. Both partners are new to the business owning scene, so it has come with a bit of a learning curve, according to Aragon. Learning how to properly run their finances, purchase their ingredients and other details has been tough but both Aragon and Alworth are thankful to have such a helpful and patient staff at their service.
“(Our staff are) so quick at learning, so patient and willing to adapt. We can’t do this without our staff and our community,” Aragon said. “Daniel and I were getting ready to finish up our time here in Rexburg, but we just couldn’t leave yet. There’s still more to do be done.”
Having been opened for a short amount of time, it seems Fizz Rizz has already fit in well into the Rexburg social scene. So, whether students are looking for a fun night out, a place to unwind and relax or are simply curious, Fizz Rizz is worth checking out. They are located at 32 College Avenue in Rexburg and open their doors at 5 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram @fizzrizzbar for updates on themed nights and happy hour discounts. Aragon and Alworth are eager to welcome new customers and make their mark in town.