Fizz Rizz, the local mocktail bar in Rexburg, is shaking things up this fall.
The local hangout spot for BYU-Idaho students is looking for ways to enhance its environment.
Owners Joe Aragon and Daniel Alworth started the company in July 2024. It’s since grown to provide food and drinks to the community and offer daily and weekly events.
In recent months, the mocktail bar took to social media, highlighting business struggles amid low attendance rates.
Rob Ziegler and Logan Hensley are stepping in as new general managers to oversee many changes to the space.
Ziegler and Hensley worked with Aragon previously on other projects and the two look to answer the problems with the company.
“How do we solve a problem that exists in Rexburg third spaces where people feel there’s a social barrier or a money barrier with any space?” Ziegler said.
To help with the problem, the new attractions include racing simulators.
There are multiple stations with screens, bucket seats, steering wheels, pedals and, of course, computers. Behind the area is an array of seating for waiting participants and others to watch the action.
Most racing simulators have drivers paying for each race. Fizz Rizz is doing things differently.
“You pay for the night, and you take turns,” Ziegler said.
There’s a waiting system with names that cycle, allowing as many races for as many drivers throughout the night, at one upfront cost.
The idea is for visitors to want to come regardless of having a group or being alone.
Additional changes are aesthetic choices to the drinks. Hensley oversees the kitchen and says he wants to improve the bar experience.
“We’re planning on adding clear ice, so if you’ve ever been to a bar and seen those ice balls or those cubic rectangles of ice, we’re going to try that,” Hensley said.
This will eliminate straws from a few drinks on the menu.
Hensley reassures customers that with the changes, there should be no misconceptions.
“We’re trying to be a mocktail bar – nonalcoholic drinks, so we’re trying not to look too much like a bar so that parents can still come, it is an arcade after all, we want kids to come as well,” Hensley said.
Normal bars feature an ordering area with stools where visitors can watch the bartender make the drinks.
They plan to provide this by adding a bar along the kitchen in the game room.
Visitors can get drinks at the bar, watch races or participate in them.
“It’s more of an experience that you’re buying than just a drink,” Ziegler said.
With the new changes hitting the mocktail bar, they are looking at rebranding.
Ziegler wants the name to reflect the services they provide.
The new name is Rims.
“The idea is it’s cocktail rims like cocktail glasses and car rims because the car rims,” Ziegler said.
Additionally, the new management is looking at hiring an events manager to run events.
Their most popular events such as karaoke, bar trivia, Latin dancing and open mic nights are sticking around.
With the new management, the mocktail bar hopes it can satisfy the needs of the college students in Rexburg.
“It’s a place where people can go – one singular person – can go in and find friends and make connections; and a group can go in and have a good time – an experience that’s open to everyone,” Ziegler said.
Fizz Rizz is open now, Monday through Friday after 6 p.m. and Saturdays at noon, offering their newest racing simulators. For more information, go to @fizzrizzbar on Instagram or fizzrizz.com.