Local soda shop closing after 6 years of operation
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IDAHO FALLS – For the last six years, JB’s Soda Barn in Idaho Falls has been a popular place for customers to drop by for a quick treat.
Despite its popularity, the 8-foot by 15-foot soda shop at 698 1st Street is closing its doors.
In an announcement on Facebook over the weekend, JB’s Soda Barn said its last day of business will be Dec. 8.
“This decision comes after much thought and consideration and our decision is not due to lack of success but other reasons,” the post says.
In a conversation with EastIdahoNews.com, Owner Jared Sloan provided an explanation.
He and his wife, Heidi, have been running it together and their schedules have made it increasingly more difficult to keep the business in operation. He recently started working for another company that requires him to travel a lot and she has a full-time job with Bonneville School District 93.
“I was usually always there (at the soda shop in the beginning),” Sloan says. “There’s a lot of soda shops (in town) and I thought, Now is as good a time as any to close it up and end on a positive note.”
The recent closure of Planet Doom, which helped drive a lot of traffic, also played a role.
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The decision to close the soda shop is not a decision Sloan takes lightly.
He speaks highly of the community and the many customers who have supported the business over the years. It’s the customers and his employees he’s going to miss most.
“It’s tough to say goodbye. We had so many people we knew that came through there and supported us. It was incredible,” says Sloan.
Some of the business’s biggest supporters were law enforcement officers, Sloan says.
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Many of their employees were high school students and he enjoyed working with them and providing an opportunity to earn money and improve their skills.
Although Sloan travels frequently, he still lives in eastern Idaho and says they’ll still be around. He and his wife are excited to focus more on their family as they continue to pursue full-time careers.
As he prepares to close the venture for good, Sloan says he just can’t say enough about his customers.
“The support over six years was just incredible,” he says. “We had amazing customers that helped make us everything we were. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
JB’s Soda Barn offers an assortment of treats, including flavored soda and lemonade. About 40 different flavors of syrups and purees are available, along with hot chocolate, cider, and other hot drinks. It also offers cookies, candy, and popcorn.
The shop will maintain normal business hours during its final week, which is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays with a 9 a.m. opening time on Saturday. It will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.