Crystal Falls home becomes seasonal walk-up eatery Fizzy’s

A once-ordinary house on Crystal Avenue now serves as one of Crystal Falls’ most distinctive summer dining spots, a place built less like a chain and more like a neighborhood gathering point. Fizzy’s Walk-Up Eatery & Catering opened in 2023 after Niki and Leon Schiavo bought the property the year before and spent nearly 10 months turning the home into a seasonal walk-up business with outdoor seating for up to 40 people. The setup fits the scale and rhythm of Crystal Falls, where a small operation can become part of the town’s daily routine almost as quickly as a storefront can.

The menu leans hard into homemade cooking, with about 80% made from scratch using family recipes and original ideas from the Schiavos. Homemade Italian sausage, fresh focaccia and flatbread creations anchor a lineup that also includes sundae treats and specialty drinks, while dairy-free and gluten-free options broaden the customer base. Niki and Leon have also brought in influences from travels to several countries, giving the menu a wider range of flavors without losing the comfort-food feel that works in Iron County.

Niki Schiavo’s path into the business started early. She got her first restaurant job at 13 as a dishwasher and has spent the past 13 years working across the food industry, experience that now shows up in the way Fizzy’s runs and in the confidence behind the menu. Even the name reflects the business’s personality: “Fizzy’s” was chosen because it felt catchy, fun and memorable, the kind of name that matches a place designed to be easygoing and personal rather than polished and corporate.

Since opening, Fizzy’s has been embraced by Crystal Falls customers and visitors alike, and the Schiavos say they have felt welcomed and supported by the community. The business is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. between April 1 and Sept. 30 at 816 Crystal Avenue, with the couple planning to keep expanding the menu with more original recipes and creative takes on familiar foods. In a town where local businesses often matter as social spaces as much as commercial ones, Fizzy’s has quickly become part of the summer landscape.