Unreasonably Happy
We bring the energy. We choose happiness and create it for the people around us.
Our story · Est. September 2016
Provide happiness, one experience at a time.
From day one, we wanted Thirst to be about more than great drinks and treats. The goal was simple: make someone's day a little happier every time they visit.
2016
Downtown Salt Lake City
Thirst history
Built one happy customer at a time.
Thirst first opened its doors in September 2016 in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. It was founded by local Utah entrepreneurs Ethan Cisneros and Sierra McCleve, who had previously owned a shaved ice shack together that Ethan ran while still in high school.
That's where “Have a Happy Day” with every order and free popcorn came from — small ways to go above and beyond. After a more than slow start, the Thirsty Nation was built one customer and one happy experience at a time.
Company motto
Positivity is infectious.
- A smile is infectious.
- Enthusiasm is infectious.
- A positive attitude is infectious.
- Hustle and hard work are infectious.
We all hold the power to be infectious!
The Thirst Experience
“Drinks and treats are our commodity, but what we are really selling is the customer experience.”
It's walking into Thirst and leaving happier than when you came in. What you see, hear, smell, taste — and most importantly, how you feel.
Bright, welcoming storesHappy musicThe smell of fresh baked pretzelsFast serviceFree popcornA genuine “Welcome to Thirst!”
Every order ends with “Have a happy day!”
Thirst Bakery
Quality always wins.
Our doughs are made from scratch with real, high quality ingredients, produced just for Thirst. In store, our team raises, rolls, bakes, fries, and finishes everything fresh. There are easier ways — we do it the right way.
Core values
How we do things, the Thirst way.
Relentlessly Consistent
Every drink, every pretzel, every experience, done the Thirst way. Consistency builds trust, and trust builds fans.
Positivity Over Perfection
Things won't always go perfectly, but we can always choose how we respond.
Community First
We want the communities we serve to be better because Thirst is there.
Hustle & Growth Mindset
We work hard, stay hungry, and never stop improving.
Quality Always Wins
We never settle for average. Doing things the right way always wins in the long run.
Learn by Doing
We take action, try things, learn quickly, adjust, and get better as we go.
Lead with Accountability
We own what we touch — our words, our performance, and our results.
Straightforward but Sweet
Honest and straight to the point, while always kind, respectful, and thoughtful.
Still in the stores
Bigger dreams, same purpose.
Today Thirst keeps growing across Utah. You'll still find Ethan at grand openings, in the stores, and at catering events. No matter how many stores we open, everything comes back to the purpose that started it all.
