In a place where sweet tea reigns supreme and coffee shops come standard, one local entrepreneur is shaking things up with unique concoctions. Bottoms Up Beverage Boutique in Benton has stirred up a flavorful buzz in its first year, blending small-town charm with big-time creativity. 

What started as a mobile bartending side hustle quickly bubbled over into something more. Owner Olivia Loveridge, a Haughton native and mom to a Parkway High senior, was looking for a way to fill the slow season between events, and ended up launching a full-blown drink destination.

“I wanted to do something different,” she said. “The events market can be hit or miss, so I started experimenting.”

Her experiments paid off. Bottoms Up first debuted with dirty sodas and twisted water refreshers, then expanded to include creamy lemonades, coffee drinks, and loaded Alani energy blends.

“I saw dirty sodas on social media and fell down a rabbit hole of recipes,” Loveridge explained. “It starts with a soda base, then you add flavored syrups, cream, and top it with a cherry—it’s like a float with serious flavor.”

The community’s response? Overwhelming. In just a few months, the brick-and-mortar shop became the main focus. Loveridge says her passion is connecting with customers and crafting drinks that spark joy. That joy has fueled a “secret menu” of customer-created concoctions. 

“We’re not just coffee,” Loveridge said. “We offer something totally different—something you can’t get anywhere else. I want people to come in, explore, and find their new favorite.”

Her approach is as personal as it is inventive. She built Bottoms Up on hometown values and one-on-one relationships.

“I’m not working to build someone else’s dream,” she said. “This is mine. And when you walk in, I want to know your name, your story, and your usual order.”

That hometown vibe is why she chose Benton over busier hubs like Bossier City.

“I didn’t want to get lost in the sea of shops on Airline Drive,” she said. “Benton felt right off the beaten path but still with great foot traffic.”

Since opening, community support has been key. Loveridge sees small businesses as the heartbeat of local life.

“Your dollars stay here,” she said. “They go back into schools, nonprofits, and people who care about this place.”

Looking ahead, Loveridge plans to open more locations, hopefully starting in south Bossier, and eventually branch out into retail with curated gifts. This fall, she’ll also introduce locally baked treats for customers on the go.

“I want to stay ahead of the curve and keep reinventing myself to offer what no one else has,” she said.

For now, Bottoms Up is open Thursday through Saturday for the summer. This fall, hours will expand to Monday through Saturday, welcoming teachers for a morning pick-me-up and kids to celebrate the end of the school day.

To learn more or view the drink menu, visit the boutique’s website or follow them on Facebook.

Address: 6550 Hwy 3 Ste 100, Benton, Louisiana