Get your sweet tooth ready! There’s a new candy and soda shop in town. Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop, a national chain based out of California, recently opened in downtown Ann Arbor. Franchise owners Tom and Heather Holmer opened their third location on August 7 in what was formerly a gallery on S. Main Street.
Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop
“We were welcomed on our first day!” said Tom Holmer. “It seems that many in the neighborhood were anticipating our opening. Since opening day, more and more folks have found us and come in to exclaim ‘Pickle soda?!’”
The store features unique candy confections from around the world, along with craft sodas and hard-to-find pops.
“In a checkbox, we are a candy store. But in reality, we are so much more,” Holmer said. “We have candy for sure — retro varieties, international treats (mostly Europe, Canada, Japan, and Mexico), new silliness, kid-centric sweets, sometimes TikTok trends (slime lickers, slaps, Ju-C Jellies, and Planet Gummies) and the regular candy that everyone carries because you gotta carry Snickers!”
“We also have 500+ varieties of glass bottled soda,” Holmer added. “Our sodas range from the crazy (mustard, ranch dressing, Martian poop, birthday cake, barf) to throwback varieties (Nehi, O-So, Nugrape, Vernors, and Bubble Up) and many craft sodas from across the country. Much like craft beer, there are craft soda bottlers who make and bottle fantastic flavors. Many are straightforward like orange and grape, but a few are very unique like prickly pear, elderberry, and maple root beer.”
More than Just Soda and Candy
In addition to the candy and soda offerings, the shop also sells an eclectic assortment of gifts and toys.
“We mix in a whole lot of fun in the form of toys, gag gifts (yup, that includes whoopie cushions), tin signs and lunchboxes, puzzles, stuffed animals, and more. The goal is to have so much variety that our store is never the exact same place twice.”
Visitors to the store will be greeted by the playful and energetic atmosphere as soon as they walk through the doors.
“Rocket Fizz stores need foot traffic. We catch folks with rubber chickens, fart bombs, unicorns and silliness as they walk in front of our windows,” Holmer said.
Ann Arbor’s active downtown atmosphere was the perfect fit for the couple’s latest franchise.
“We looked for a location with vibrancy and bustle. Ann Arbor is buzzing all the time. For us, Ann Arbor was clearly a fantastic place for our newest location. We talk about spreading joy and having fun and we’re confident that Ann Arbor will be a great fit for our silly store,” Holmer said.
306 S. Main St. Suite 1A, Ann Arbor. 734-929-5484. rocketfizz.com.
