By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
PIMA — Commuters driving through Pima along Highway 70 got a sudden view of a new culinary footprint taking shape overnight at the corner of Highway 70 and 100 East.
Owner-operators Tim and Molly DeCrow, along with business partner Tad McRay of Diversified Earthworks LLC, brought three modified shipping containers onto the lot to build the framework for “Fizz and Franks”—a new fast-casual venue serving specialty sodas, daily baked goods, and gourmet hot dogs.
The innovative build features a 40-foot high-cube container positioned in the rear, flanked by two 20-foot regular-height containers. Once fully framed and insulated on the interior, the layout yields a fully equipped commercial kitchen.
Inside, the setup includes commercial refrigeration, a commercial freezer, a refrigerated prep station, and standard health-code-compliant triple sinks, handwashing stations, and food prep sinks. An Isomatic flake ice maker will anchor ice production, serving soft, chewable “nugget-style” flake ice designed for drink enthusiasts who like to chew their ice.
The beverage counter will feature a dedicated fountain wall stocking both Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. Beyond standard fountain drinks, Fizz and Franks will offer specialty “dirty sodas” enhanced with syrups and topped with an optional proprietary “cloud cap” protein foam. The drink lineup also includes coffee, iced coffee beverages, and cold-brew-style non-coffee alternatives.
Alongside drinks, the internal bakery will produce fresh-baked cookies, cinnamon rolls, and orange rolls daily. The hot dogs will be served on custom top-split and side-split buns sourced directly from a commercial bakery in the Phoenix area.
Designed with walk-up and drive-through windows, the entire menu will be accessible from any window. Leveraging a background in lean manufacturing principles, Tim DeCrow designed the site layout to queue multiple vehicles while applying assembly-line workflows to ensure rapid service.
Fizz and Franks is targeted to open in Fall 2026. Complete menu listings, progress updates, and opening announcements are available on Facebook, Instagram, and fizznfranks.com.
