“I wanted to provide a place that was fun that would make you feel like you’re in a different world and make you happy. Providing a really great experience is important to me,” Fizz & Co. owner LeAnn Crisotomo says about her newly opened soda shop.
Fizz & Co. Soda Fountain, Guam’s newest and perhaps happiest diner, is located next to Pojo’s and across from Bank of Guam in Hagatña. Opened in January 2014, the mom ‘n pop shop already has a loyal patronage composed of residents, teens, and kids who can’t get enough of the fresh and inventive handmade sodas, desserts, sandwiches, and hot dogs. The colorful café is reminiscent of the “Happy Days” diner, from the memorabilia on the walls to the rockabilly classics playing in the background. It’s a great place to bring friends, hang out after school, and even connect to the free WIFI.
All the sodas are customized by staff “soda jerks,” such as Tay’s Specialty (strawberry coconut) and Aaron’s Chaud Fizz (cherry, lime, watermelon, and coconut). “It’s not Chaud if it’s not cherry,” jokes Crisostomo’s daughter who also works in the diner.
For the uninitiated, “soda jerk” originally referred to the soda fountain operator in a drugstore. The soda jerk, often a young person, was responsible for making ice cream sodas — flavored syrup added to carbonated water and ice cream — which required jerking the soda fountain handle back and forth while adding the soda water.
Fizz & Co.’s “dawgs” are Nathan’s 100% beef and are made from scratch, starting with a sizzling grill and oven toasted bun. The hot dogs are topped with unique ingredients like chili, pico de gallo, and cheese, as in the case of the Pico de Gallo dog. The Chicago Dog is loaded with tomatoes, sweet relish, wax peppers and a sprinkle of celery salt.
Fizz & Co. specializes in shakes, sundaes, and sweet treats as well. You can’t go wrong sharing the homemade Belgium waffle sundae piled sky high with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, whip cream, almonds, and a cherry on top. Freeze Blast, a local favorite that sold out instantly after being posted on Instagram, is a refreshing orange sherbet shake with milk and 7UP plus whip cream. If you’re looking for something hot and cold, definitely try the cast iron skillet cookie sundae, which is freshly baked with your choice of toppings. Fizz & Co. will soon offer sour sap and strawberry Mungi Popsicles, which are made on Guam.
“Leave all your cares behind to be transported to a happy place in time. If I can do that, I’ve accomplished my goal,” says Crisostomo of her family-run diner.
