# Do you still have an old fashioned Drugstore with Lunch Counter in your Town? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479 "2010-12-09T00:01:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/1 "2010-12-09T00:01:27Z")
I sure miss the old drugstores with lunch counter. You could always get a great BLT or ham sandwich. My grandma bought me my first banana split at a Rexall lunch counter. They also made great shakes and sundaes. I’d love to find a list of old time Drug Stores still open. It would be a fun outing to drive somewhere and have a great sandwich & a sundae at the lunch counter. I might even spin around on the bar stool a few times for old times sake. We still had one in my city until about 1992. Do you still have an old fashioned Drugstore with Lunch Counter in your Town? Bonus points if you can find a list by state of old drugstore lunch counters still open. Any memories of these places you want to share? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/2 "2010-12-09T00:10:38Z")
Haven’t seen one like that for decades. Back in the 60s, my father bought the drug store next door to his (the store had been out of business of years) and they still had their lunch counter and equipment. He had it for several years until it was remodeled. But that was the most recent one I can remember. A Woolworth’s near where I live had a lunch counter until it was closed about 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/3 "2010-12-09T00:22:31Z")
For the kids who never saw one… The guys operating those grills worked magic. Best grilled sandwiches I ever ate. Lunch Counters [http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~whitetwp/lunch\_counters.htm](http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~whitetwp/lunch_counters.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/4 "2010-12-09T00:45:11Z")
[Watson’s Drug Store](http://www.jeffreysward.com/tributes/watsons.htm) in Old Town Orange, CA is still in operation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/5 "2010-12-09T00:57:38Z")
> **[Timberlakes Drug Store and Soda Fountain](https://www.facebook.com/timberlakesdrugstore?v=wall&viewas=0)** > > Timberlakes Drug Store and Soda Fountain, Charlottesville, Virginia. 1,399 likes · 2 talking about this · 669 were here. Step back in time at Timberlakes Drug Store. Prescription services, over the... Yes, the old-timey drug store has its own (a) soda fountain, and (b) Facebook page. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/6 "2010-12-09T01:53:16Z")
I found this article for Arkansas. Towards the bottom are a few working Soda Fountains. At least three of these are in “tourist” towns and probably exist for them. Purple Cow is a modern restaurant that recreates the soda fountain experience. I may check out the others during some road trips. [http://www.arkansas.com/dining/culinary-quest/side-dish.aspx](http://www.arkansas.com/dining/culinary-quest/side-dish.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/7 "2010-12-09T02:04:57Z")
[There’s one in Cary](http://www.ashworthdrugs.com/misc/soda_fountain.php). I’ve never eaten there, but they make a mean lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/8 "2010-12-09T02:17:37Z")
Well, we have The Bharmacy- the old town Pharmacy that has been ahemm… “repurposed” into a bar, they have some great draft and midwestern style delicious pizza, they never had a lunchcounter as a pharmacy. But there is the place that will always be Felbinger’s Diner in my mind (the place was built as a restaurant really old architeture style that is unique to the midwest and maybe Rome, IT… It stayed true in the 80’s and 90’s as a fresh beef (probably procured from the IGA or maybe Tank’s.), greasy flattop burger, and shake joint as Koral Hamburger, then it sat for a while, then was a Christian Coffeeeshop, and finally is in its current incarnation as a cafe’ diner… two days after I ate their all you can eat Friday Fish Dinner I caught my first case of the gout. I don’t think the Felbinger’s that I remember is there. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/9 "2010-12-09T02:30:19Z")
I believe that the last time I saw such a thing was in the 70s. I’m pretty sure that this was the last time I saw a diner/restaurant in a department store, too. All the stores were closing the standalone stores and huddling together in malls, for protection. A Subway or McDonald’s franchise inside a Target or WalMart isn’t the same thing. It’s a similar concept, the store is doing it partly to make sure customers can eat inside the store (or feed their spawn) and then shop some more. But the diner isn’t really part of the store, it’s just located inside the store. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/10 "2010-12-09T02:46:00Z")
There’s a drugstore with a soda fountain but no lunch. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/11 "2010-12-09T02:54:11Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I believe that the last time I saw such a thing was in the 70s. I’m pretty sure that this was the last time I saw a diner/restaurant in a department store, too. All the stores were closing the standalone stores and huddling together in malls, for protection. > > A Subway or McDonald’s franchise inside a Target or WalMart isn’t the same thing. It’s a similar concept, the store is doing it partly to make sure customers can eat inside the store (or feed their spawn) and then shop some more. But the diner isn’t really part of the store, it’s just located inside the store. Oh Yea, the Woolworth Counter and Restaurant… I think late in the eighties as they dissolved that tried and true traditional diner to The Fresh Harvest Restaurant, an eye towards savings, and efficiency, and well, survival/greed we lost something that made us great and special as a nation. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/12 "2010-12-09T03:09:14Z")
I think that it’s interesting how corner stores have self-serve soda fountains, which enable the customer to mix drinks on his/her own, and of course there are the “gourmet” sandwiches available. I might use one of them for rat bait, but I’d never dream of feeding one to a human. One gas/cstore that I know of even has mini booths so you can sit down and eat your Subway Sub, similar to the old lunch counters at the corner drugstore. And you can get a variety of patent medicines at the cstore, too, like energy drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/13 "2010-12-09T03:20:37Z")
There’s one in Memphis. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/14 "2010-12-09T03:21:34Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I believe that the last time I saw such a thing was in the 70s. I’m pretty sure that this was the last time I saw a diner/restaurant in a department store, too. Nordstrom has [restaurants](http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-restaurants#restaurants). ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/15 "2010-12-09T03:26:57Z")
Do any of these old-timey places, esp the ones in the South show any vestiges of Jim Crow, including where certain changes were later made? Like unexplained double sets of doors e.g.? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/16 "2010-12-09T03:34:14Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Koral Hamburger, then it sat for a while, then was a Christian Coffeeeshop, Crystal Bowersox played there. That could be a claim to fame. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/17 "2010-12-09T04:18:40Z")
Baby- sox ( as opposed to “Mama-sox”, anybody remember Baby-Hayes?) played Felbinger’s. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/18 "2010-12-09T07:58:02Z")
Oh shit, I think it was also the Comet Cafe, at one time. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/19 "2010-12-09T10:45:18Z")
Last time I was in Hill Valley I saw a little nostalgia place. Cafe 80’s I think it was called. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479/20 "2010-12-09T10:50:20Z")
Sure… One of the pharmacies about 5-10 minutes walking distance from my house has a lunch counter. I don’t eat there. I know it exists because the nearest post office is in the back corner of that pharmacy, too. The other pharmacy is a real “all we have is medical or hygiene-related” pharmacy. And it has an ice cream counter. This is in Athens, GA. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-an-old-fashioned-drugstore-with-lunch-counter-in-your-town/563479.md?page=2)