Wilder Thirst to Open Cedar Rapids Location
The beverage brand plans a second brick-and-mortar store at Kirkwood Landing, with a target opening of January 1, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Wilder Thirst, formerly known as Fizz Wagon Dreamsoda, announced on October 23 that it will open a second brick-and-mortar location in Cedar Rapids. The Kirkwood Landing site on Kirkwood Blvd SW near Pancheros is targeted to open January 1, 2027.
Why it matters
The expansion moves the brand from its mobile trailer origins toward a permanent storefront in Cedar Rapids. It gives local residents a new option for dirty sodas, energy infusions, lattes, and coffee drinks.
Wilder Thirst began in 2023 as a mobile beverage trailer and opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Palo at 606 1st St. The Cedar Rapids location is targeted for January 1, 2027, and the company has not provided further operational figures.
The players
Wilder Thirst
A beverage brand originally known as Fizz Wagon Dreamsoda that started as a mobile trailer in 2023 and now operates a permanent location in Palo.
Kirkwood Community College
A public community college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, located near the site of the new Wilder Thirst store.
The details
Wilder Thirst specializes in dirty sodas, energy infusions, lattes, and coffee drinks. The brand continues to operate its beverage trailers seasonally alongside its permanent locations. The Cedar Rapids store will sit at Kirkwood Landing near Kirkwood Community College.
Timeline
2023: Wilder Thirst begins operating as a mobile beverage trailer.
October 23: Wilder Thirst announces the Cedar Rapids location on social media.
January 1, 2027: Target opening date for the Cedar Rapids location.
Openings & Closings Pattern
Wilder Thirst's Cedar Rapids plan follows the same path it took in Palo, where a seasonal trailer business added a permanent storefront with a drive-thru. The company's continued use of its trailers alongside fixed locations shows a hybrid model rather than a full replacement of its mobile operations.
Cedar Rapids residents will gain a permanent Wilder Thirst location offering dirty sodas, energy infusions, lattes, and coffee drinks. Customers who previously had to find the trailer at events or in Palo will have a fixed place to order near Kirkwood Community College.
The takeaway
The Cedar Rapids store gives Wilder Thirst a fixed base in a larger market and shows how a mobile beverage concept can grow into permanent retail. Customers who want to try the drinks can watch for the January 1, 2027 opening date.
What happens next
The Cedar Rapids location is scheduled to open January 1, 2027, the date the company has targeted.
Further reading
Explore more openings and closings of businesses across the Cedar Rapids area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 104.5 KDAT.
