Dirty Dough & Soda Shack: A Delicious Duo

Patrons spilled out of the doorway and onto the sidewalks this past Friday and Saturday, trying to get a taste of Williston's newest businesses.

Dirty Dough and the second location of Soda Shack are under one roof and had a successful Grand Opening weekend.

Photo Credit: Soda Shack Facebook Page
Photo Credit: Soda Shack Facebook Page

"We are so grateful for how Williston showed up and supported our small business," Dirty Dough owner Summer Wilda said. "Our hearts are full." The specialty stuffed cookie store sold over 6,000 cookies in its first two days open.

James and Summer Wilda moved here three years ago from Montana. Previously living in Utah, the Wildas connected with the Dirty Dough franchise founders.

"We now call (Williston) home," Summer said. "Anything we can do to help it feel like home to others helps us accomplish our mission of building a family oriented community."

A conversation with friends sparked the idea of collaborating with the Soda Shack. This drive-through beverage business opened in April 2021 in the Ace Hardware parking lot.

"We decided we didn't really want to do it without them," Summer explained. The Wildas and Soda Shack's owner Abby Barker are friends both personally and on the business level. Their mutual connections and interests in expanding business opportunities led to working together to open Dirty Dough and Soda Shack's second location under the same roof.

"(The Wilda's) had to approve it with their corporate and they had to fight for it," Barker said. "Once corporate said yes, it just happened."

The Soda Shack is a family-run business. Barker and her three daughters and husband came up with the drink combinations and their unique names.

"Everything has a meaning to North Dakota or our personal lives," Barker explained. On the menu are drinks named "Coyote Pride," "Little Muddy," "Blacktail," and "Frackin' Awesome," to name a few. Barker recommends the "Great Plains," a mix of Pib, peach, mango, and coconut cream, as her favorite.

"The pebble ice is my favorite," Barker said. "When we got to North Dakota, it was really hard to find." Soda shops are popular in Utah, where the Barkers are originally from. "My family just decided that this is what we needed to do, what we needed to bring to Williston."

The two businesses look like they were meant to go hand-in-hand, with similar colors and logos. The best cookies need a nice cold drink to wash them down. Dirty Dough and the Soda Shack are located at 1135 2nd Avenue West behind the Sherwin- Williams Paint store. They are open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. Soda Shack's Ace Hardware location is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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