A new soda and sub shop has opened in downtown Crystal Lake, complete with a theme that transports customers back to the 1990s, with an emphasis on grunge, rock and rap music that defined the era.

Distorted Soda & Sandwiches, at 135 N. Main St., features an array of trending non-alcoholic “dirty soda” drinks named after quintessential ’90s bands like the Pixies, No Doubt and Oasis.

Growing in popularity on social media, dirty sodas shake up popular soft drinks by adding customizable flavored syrups and creams, like coconut, lime and vanilla.

Owner Matthew Harrison started seeing the trend and was inspired to make his own. He played around with different recipes and developed his own specialty house cream.

“I don’t like the name ‘dirty,’” Harrison said. “So, we’re going with ‘distorted,’ instead.”

The shop also has handcrafted cold and hot sandwiches, like the Chopped Italian and Chicago-style corned beef with giardiniera and house-blend seasoning. Some of the sandwiches are inspired by Harrison’s mother’s cooking.

Distorted Sodas & Sandwiches is located north of the downtown Crystal Lake Metra station near Crystal Lake Brewing and Forge Fitness, where the La Michoacana ice cream shop was previously.

The shop has recently held a successful soft opening, according to its Facebook page. Distorted Sodas & Sandwiches’ permanent hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

Harrison, a Crystal Lake resident, created his new business after being in the bar and restaurant industry for about 15 years. He was ready to step away from the liquor scene that entailed long nights and instead create a kid-friendly space.

As a father of two children, he noticed there aren’t many places for teenagers to gather and simply be kids. The shop has a loose resemblance to Harrison’s teenage bedroom, with dozens of posters featuring iconic bands and movies from the decade covering the walls, along with painted skateboards. Ceiling lights of blue and green transform the space, complete with a cozy corner with a couch and a lava lamp. A conscious choice was to have zero TVs and screens.

“Maybe we can get the kids to unplug for a bit,” he said.

The piqued interest from Generation Z has brought a resurgence in ’90s culture, bringing Harrison and his kids closer as he’s able to share a bit of his childhood with them.

“I’m actually cool right now,” he said. “My kids are stealing my shirts and posters.”

To complete the ambiance, Harrison and his staff all made their own playlists of their favorite ’90s music, ranging from crowd-pleasing hits to deep tracks. Some of Harrison’s favorite bands are Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age and Toadies.

Harrison said he hopes parents at the shop rediscover some songs they haven’t heard in years.

The shop also sells records and CDs built from a collection found at local thrift and antique shops.

To help transform the space and get all the necessary equipment, Harrison received a $10,000 new retailer investment grant from the city. The City Council unanimously approved the grant in December.

“Our vision is to give the community a new place to come and enjoy good food, good music and good people,” Harrison said in a letter to the city.

In the future, Harrison said he hopes to expand the menu as business gets going and he sees what sticks with customers. One goal is to bring in a Kool-Aid “distorted” drink option.

A dream of Harrison’s is to open more locations. He said he’s already starting to envision having an “adult version” of the shop, and hosting events and concerts.