Walking down the soda aisle these days feels like stepping into a time machine. While shelves burst with endless energy drinks and wellness-focused sparkling waters, something special is happening in the shadows. Classic sodas that once ruled the cafeteria vending machines are quietly staging comebacks, much to the surprise of nostalgic fans who thought their favorite fizzy drinks were lost forever.
The soda industry has become surprisingly responsive to consumer demand in recent years. Social media campaigns, dedicated fan sites, and vocal online communities have proven they can resurrect beloved brands from beverage graveyards. These aren’t just limited-time nostalgia grabs either. Some of these comebacks represent genuine second chances for sodas that were simply ahead of their time or victims of unfortunate circumstances.
SURGE – The Citrus Powerhouse That Refused to Stay Down
SURGE was originally launched in early 1997 by Coca-Cola, heavily marketed as a bold alternative to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew. The bright green soda was described as a “Fully Loaded Citrus Soda with Carbos,” featuring a blend of bold citrus flavors and maltodextrin with low carbonation for a smooth taste. The drink was discontinued in 2003 due to declining sales and corporate strategy changes. However, three dedicated fans – Evan Carr, Sean Sheridan, and Matt Winans – launched a viral social media campaign called the Surge Movement. Their most famous stunt involved crowdfunding a billboard near Coca-Cola’s Atlanta headquarters that read “Dear Coke, we couldn’t buy Surge so we bought this billboard instead.” This grassroots effort paid off when Coca-Cola began selling limited supplies on Amazon in 2014.
Crystal Pepsi – Clear Cola’s Transparent Return
Crystal Pepsi was test-marketed in late 1992 and launched nationwide in early 1993 and was discontinued by late 1993, with final batches delivered in early 1994. In its first year, it captured one full percentage point of U.S. soft drink sales, worth approximately 470 million dollars. Despite its short shelf-life, the clear cola maintained a loyal following, with fans campaigning for years to bring it back, leading to a limited revival in 2016. Most recently, Pepsi brought back Crystal Pepsi in 2022 for its 30th anniversary, though not through regular retail sales but as contest prizes distributed via social media campaigns.
Slice – The Lemon-Lime Alternative Getting a Health Makeover
Slice, which originally debuted in 1984 as PepsiCo’s early attempt in the lemon-lime market and later expanded to flavors like Orange, Apple, Cherry Cola, Strawberry, and Grape, has been reintroduced in 2025 under new ownership by Suja Life. The refreshed brand features a new look and a revamped formula with clean ingredients and health benefits, keeping the nostalgic flavors while promoting gut health through improved nutrition and function.
Tab – The Diet Soda Pioneer That May Rise Again
Tab was Coca-Cola’s original diet cola soft drink, sweetened with saccharin rather than sugar, paving the way for Diet Coke. The soda acquired a huge fan base in the 1970s and 1980s and maintained a small but devoted following until Coca-Cola recently discontinued it. In January 2024, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey addressed Tab fans directly during the company’s earnings call, stating “I still get a lot of lobbying on TaB…so for all the TaB lovers out there, there could be a moment with a special run.” This represents a significant shift from previous company positions, moving from no possibility of comeback to acknowledging it as a possibility.