Soda Tsunami reopening in Idaho Falls under new ownership

IDAHO FALLS – A popular soda and cookie business is returning to Idaho Falls under new ownership.

Phoenix, Arizona resident Jason, who requested we not reveal his last name, purchased Soda Tsunami from the previous owners about two weeks ago.

He tells EastIdahoNews.com they’re planning to open a small shack in front of Best Buy near some other food trucks later this month.

“The shack is built, but the supplies and everything we need on the inside is all on standby right now,” Jason says. “We’re tentatively hoping Nov. 28 will be our grand opening and first day of business. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Soda Tsunami was known for its cookies, specialty sodas and drinks, smoothies, coffee, hot chocolate, steamers and other treats. It also had “spirit drinks” for each high school in Idaho Falls.

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Jason says he’s planning to keep the name, logo and business model the previous owners, Jonathan and Amanda Rosenberg, already established, along with a few twists of his own.

“We got a lot of high schoolers in the area that will be working there and I’m doing incentives for good grades,” says Jason. “We’re doing quarterly bonuses. I’m doing competitions between the community and the employees, making up drinks, having monthly drink specials and new drinks coming in all the time, keeping it fresh.”

He’s planning to add a delivery service for customers as well.

On the business operations side, he will also retain former employees. The Rosenberg’s son, Kolbe, will now be the general manager. Amanda and Jonathan will continue to be involved to cater for special events like birthdays and weddings.

“She (Amanda) created a good niche there,” Jason says. “She’ll come and set up and be there for whatever the customer would like. We bought a concessions trailer, so we’ll be out and about in various locations throughout the spring, summer and fall … to sell our products.”

Jason grew up in eastern Idaho and is originally from Blackfoot. He moved to Arizona about three years ago, but he’s always been a fan of soda and fell in love with Soda Tsunami the first time he visited.

“I absolutely love pop and have since high school. Mountain Dew is my favorite. (Amanda and Jon) are very friendly people,” he says.

Jason says he sat in the drive-thru talking to the Rosenbergs for more than 30 minutes during his first visit to the restaurant.

“We started discussing doing a franchise and moving the business to Arizona. Three years later, we ended up buying the business,” he says.

Jason is planning to open a storefront in the near future and would like to expand the business to Pocatello, Burley and Arizona where he lives.

He’s looking forward to reopening the business and serving customers.

“Our new slogan is ‘A little taste of paradise,'” Jason says. “We feel it will be a place where people can come for a quick getaway from everyday stresses and a place to be happy, even if its just a quick break. Come enjoy a little taste of paradise.”

The hours of operation have not been finalized, but the shack will be open seven days a week. Visit the website or Facebook page for more information.