When Amanda and Gale Reed bought “The Lot” in Rainelle in 2021, they had big plans. A food truck court. Putt-putt course. A coffee shop. A photo studio. But then life intervened, forcing the Reeds to pivot.
Gale became seriously ill and has spent much of the last few years between the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins. As a result, he was unable to continue with his 26-year career. Amanda was unable to continue her photography business either. They decided to sell the space because they were too busy to pursue their dreams.
But then some friends from the hospitality industry pitched them an idea. “They encouraged me to join the craft soda trend,” Amanda explains. “We’re typically seven years behind trends in West Virginia, and no one was doing it here yet. So we started DirtyPop.”
“It’s born from the idea of taking your favorite soda, and then customizing it,” describes Amanda. “Add elements like you would with coffee drinks-fruit purees, syrups, cold foams, and more.”
In 2024, the Reeds opened for business on Black Friday.
“Winter wasn’t the best time to start a business,” Amanda admits, “but it’s been extremely beneficial. “People adore it.”
DirtyPop currently has nearly 40 specialty drinks on its menu, each named after a local landmark or person.
Customers can order a specialty drink from the menu or create their own. To make your own, select a size, base soda, and flavor. Add-on flavors include marshmallow cream, cold foam, fresh fruit, pumpkin spice, and others.
Popular base sodas include Coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Zero products, and others. But this isn’t just soda. They also serve craft lemonades.Ice tea refreshers, frappuccinos, hot chocolate, iced hot chocolate, and teas.
And if that isn’t enough, they also serve food! Popcorn, soft pretzels, hot dogs, nachos, and loaded baked potatoes are among the regular menu items. On Fridays, they also serve homemade specials like barbecue and cheesesteaks.
“Everybody is thrilled to have a place they go grab a homemade hot dog with chili and slaw,” Amanda reports. “The drinks are extremely popular. They enjoy trying new things and appreciate the names. People love tagging us on social media.
Amanda believes that now that the Meadow River Trail is coming to town, tourists from all over the east coast will flock to the Rainelle area.
“The momentum is good,” she adds. “As more things start to open, we’ll be an encouragement to someone else to open their own business.”
“The Meadow River Trail will bring in a lot of tourism,” she’s sure. “My family and I spend a lot of time on the trails. People who are not in that world may not notice this. We know it will grow and be a catalyst. People need a place to get a snack afterward. It’s a cool and enjoyable place to hang out. “Very Instagrammable.”
Indeed, it is. It’s really cool and fun.
Plus, what you see is only the beginning. Amanda and Gayle continue to envision The Lot as a hub for additional businesses and outdoor recreation opportunities for both visitors and residents.
Gayle received clean lab results for the first time in years last week. DirtyPop employs a team of six employees, all of whom Amanda adores. And the future is bright.
“I am excited for where this community is going,” she tells me.
DirtyPop is located at 287 Riverside Drive, Rainelle, WV. They’re open seven days a week. Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. In the spring, they will extend their hours.
