Tuscaloosa’s Tropically Themed Daq Shack Now Open, Offering 14 Frozen Flavors

Tuscaloosa's downtown daiquiri destination is now open, where an entrepreneur has moved into the space next to his restaurant to offer the boozy beverage in 13 frozen flavors and one nonalcoholic option.

Pete Zimmer owns and operates Ajian, the build-your-own-roll sushi shop he opened with Alabama's two-time national championship-winning quarterback AJ McCarron in 2017.

As the Thread reported in May, Zimmer has spent the summer expanding into the space next door to create the Daq Shack, which is now officially open for business.

Zimmer has cut a doorway between the sushi restaurant and the downtown home of BobaMania, which he has transformed into New Orleans-style daiquiri shop with a beachy getaway vibe - more Tybee Island than traditionally Tuscaloosa.

Inside the Daq Shack, Zimmer has installed a wall of 14 ever-spinning frozen daiquiri machines featuring different flavors and alcohol content, including one virgin margarita option.

The rum-featuring flavors can also be mixed for a variety of specialty drinks, like the pictured Crimson & White, a strawberry and piña colada daiquiri with a kick like an elephant.

With Alabama hot enough to enjoy the frozen treats just about year-round, Zimmer said he thinks the concept will be a hit with students and residents alike, especially given that there's no place quite like it in the area.

Each machine is taken offline and sanitized at least once weekly in a rotation that allows the Daq Shack to be open every day from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. - hours likely to expand when the University of Alabama's roughly 40,000 students and its football season arrive imminently.

The Daq Shack is offering wall-to-wall daiquiris at 1914 University Boulevard next to Ajian Sushi. With the heat index over 100 degrees, it's a great time to go check out what Zimmer has done to the space and try one of the 14 flavors on offer there.

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