Just in time for the oncoming warmth of spring and summer, Paducah’s newest establishment offers the community a wide array of beverages to quench even the strongest of thirsts.
River City Refreshments specializes in providing beverages such as milkshakes, bubble teas, lemonades, and hot chocolate to the Western Kentucky area. Owner and operator Trisha Stevens opened the establishment’s doors in November and works to expand her menu with new drink flavors each week.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to open my own business,” Stevens said. “Someone I knew while growing up was selling their business, so I took a leap of faith and that’s how I started.”
The local hotspot for beverages sits beside Books-A-Million and PetSmart in a storefront off James Sanders Boulevard near the mall. With a menu that includes 24 flavors of bubble tea, 16 types of popping boba, and 17 milkshake flavors, River City Refreshments can cater to any customer’s needs.
“I wanted to get creative and make specialty milkshakes different from what you may see at a place like Dairy Queen,” Stevens said.
While Stevens purchases her boba from various companies, the milkshakes are entirely homemade and of her own design. She adds new milkshakes to the menu weekly and enjoys experimenting with different flavors. In anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day, Stevens created a green, peppermint flavored milkshake. Other concoctions of blended ice cream have included a peanut butter and jelly milkshake and a Fruity Pebbles milkshake.
Through Facebook, River City Refreshments aims to engage with customers and generate excitement about the new milkshake flavors that debut each week. Stevens will even ask customers to guess the newest flavors based on a posted photo of the drink before it’s sold in store. When someone guesses incorrectly, she sees the guess as an entirely new idea she can use later on.
River City Refreshments’ expansive menu of bubble teas to choose from adds a new element of variety for tea drinkers throughout the community.
“Whenever it came to bubble tea, I saw limited options and really wanted to expand on that to see how many flavors I could come up with,” Stevens said.
The bubble tea menu features beloved flavors like strawberry and mango, while also featuring more elaborate flavors like tiramisu and avocado.
The beverage shop also serves a variety of sandwiches at lunchtime. Customers at River City Refreshments can choose from a variety of breads, meats, and cheeses to build their own sandwiches that come with lettuce and tomato. In the future, Stevens hopes to expand this menu.
“I plan on adding more food like salads and quick, cheap items,” Stevens said. “Everything on my menu is lower than my competitors and I really value that affordability.”
In making River City Refreshments more affordable, the business also prides itself on its family-oriented environment.
“I love owning a more family-oriented business since I have two kids of my own,” Stevens said. “My kids and my cousin will come to help me around the shop. To have them be here with me is just amazing.”
For all your beverage needs, follow River City Refreshments on Facebook or contact the store at (270) 557-7728.
