Mobile Dirty Soda Trailer Rolls Into Somerset County

GREEN BROOK, NJ — A Somerset County entrepreneur is taking the dirty soda trend on the road in New Jersey.

Owner Mike Pacheco of Green Brook launched Ridin’ Dirty, a mobile beverage business in April. He has since appeared at school events, community gatherings and private parties.

Pacheco told Patch he started the business after seeing interest grow around dirty soda following Hulu's Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

The show features the drink made by mixing soda with flavored syrups and cream.

"I thought bringing it on wheels would be a lot cooler for people, so it could go to events, it could go to festivals, it could go to community gatherings, weddings, sometimes birthday parties, and universities," Pacheco told Patch. "I wanted the experience to come to you."

Pacheco described dirty soda as "basically a soda base of your choice, whether it's Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Coke, Diet Coke, and then you just add different syrups to it."

He said the menu also includes oat milk and sugar-free options.

One of the most popular drinks, he said, is the Strawberry Blast, made with Dr Pepper, strawberry syrup, vanilla syrup and cream.

The business started with Somerset County events, including stops in Bound Brook, Green Brook, Hillsborough and North Plainfield, according to Pacheco.

He said Ridin' Dirty's first event followed the April launch and was with the Bound Brook PTO at the high school.

Since then, he said, the trailer has also traveled to places including Point Pleasant, Irvington, Bayonne, Princeton University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Saint Elizabeth.

Pacheco said fundraising has become a key part of the business model.

He said he has worked with groups including Green Brook Baseball, Hillsborough organizations and the Bound Brook PTA on profit-sharing events.

For example, Pacheco said he works with Greenbrook Baseball to donate a portion back to the organization for every drink sold.

Ridin' Dirty can also be booked for birthdays, anniversaries, backyard events and weddings, with either the trailer or a smaller mobile setup.

"I would say it's very rewarding in a sense," he told Patch. "Just the surrounding support I have is really important to me."

For more information on Ridin' Dirty or to book, visit ridindirtytrailer.com or follow instagram.com/ridin.dirty.trailer or facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577447074774.

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