Soda shoppes in Iowa

[lucas80]

Nice hour long discussion on the few remaining soda shoppes in Iowa on Iowa Public Radio today. I'm linking to a site that lists shoppes nationwide. Today's show featured ones from Allerton and Shenandoah. I'm not sure I'd drive all the way to Allerton for a Limeade, but, I'm tempted to go to Wilton for a little nostalgia. The one in Allerton is run as a non-profit tourist attraction.
Any of you old timers have fond memories of saving up a nickel and going to town for a soda?
http://www.prairiemoon.biz/Soda-Fountains-Near-You_c_381.html

 

[linkshero]

I think the audience for this thread is in bed for the night..

 

[HallofFame]

Nope I'm still awake. Thanks for the share.

 

[h-hawk]

Pearson Drug was still open in Iowa City back in the 70s when I was a student. Also a good place to check out magazines.

 

[INXS83]

Nice hour long discussion on the few remaining soda shoppes in Iowa on Iowa Public Radio today. I'm linking to a site that lists shoppes nationwide. Today's show featured ones from Allerton and Shenandoah. I'm not sure I'd drive all the way to Allerton for a Limeade, but, I'm tempted to go to Wilton for a little nostalgia. The one in Allerton is run as a non-profit tourist attraction.
Any of you old timers have fond memories of saving up a nickel and going to town for a soda?
http://www.prairiemoon.biz/Soda-Fountains-Near-You_c_381.html

Didn't there used to be a nice one in Tiffin?

I remember the "Nook" in Anamosa 45 years ago.

 

[TJ8869]

I keep meaning to try Lagomarcino's when I'm in the QC but haven't gotten around to doing it yet. Anyone here tried it?

 

[hexumhawk]

Jay Drug in Shenandoah is still the bees knees

 

[moxyfruvous]

Nice hour long discussion on the few remaining soda shoppes in Iowa on Iowa Public Radio today. I'm linking to a site that lists shoppes nationwide. Today's show featured ones from Allerton and Shenandoah. I'm not sure I'd drive all the way to Allerton for a Limeade, but, I'm tempted to go to Wilton for a little nostalgia. The one in Allerton is run as a non-profit tourist attraction.
Any of you old timers have fond memories of saving up a nickel and going to town for a soda?
http://www.prairiemoon.biz/Soda-Fountains-Near-You_c_381.html

In the late 50's the soda fountain at Kessler's Drug Store in my hometown of Belmond was where I usually spent part of my weekly allowance (earned only if you did all your assigned farm chores for the week). A Saturday night treat after spit shining the shoes for Sunday school and church the next morning. My uncle Bert was always there enjoying a chocolate soda and I would join him.

 

[WORTHYWISH]

 

[torbee]

Pearson Drug was still open in Iowa City back in the 70s when I was a student. Also a good place to check out magazines.

When Bladel and I lived on LInn Street in the early 90s, one of the girls who worked at the Pearson's counter was in Playboy's Girls of the Big 10 edition. We used to check out her spread in the magazine then go down and order chocolate malts from her, sittting there thinking "I just saw your boobies".

We were real mature.

She was an absolute knockout, though.

 

[torbee]

I keep meaning to try Lagomarcino's when I'm in the QC but haven't gotten around to doing it yet. Anyone here tried it?

Lago's is an absolute icon. I'd encourage you to go to the one in Moline, even though it's smaller. But it is the original and has a super old-school feel. The one in the Village of East Davenport is nice, but it's kind of like a Disney World version - not 100 percent authentic.

MOLINE:

DAVENPORT

 

[DrVenkman]

Bauder's in Des Moines has been around forever and was an old school fountain and lunch counter. My siblings and I lived there growing up. I saw, a few weeks ago, that Bauder's was still open. No idea if they still have the fountain, but I saw that the current owner Graziano got 2 yrs in jail for drug trafficking.

 

[TJ8869]

Lago's is an absolute icon. I'd encourage you to go to the one in Moline, even though it's smaller. But it is the original and has a super old-school feel.

Thanks, Torbee. That's definitely on my "to do" list for this summer.

 

[lucas80]

Pearson Drug was still open in Iowa City back in the 70s when I was a student. Also a good place to check out magazines.

Pearson's was a great place to sit at the counter and order up an egg salad sandwich and a malt.

 

[torbee]

Thanks, Torbee. That's definitely on my "to do" list for this summer.

Shoot me an IM on here when you're in town if you want. I'm a pretty good tour guide.

 

[TJ8869]

Shoot me an IM on here when you're in town if you want. I'm a pretty good tour guide.

Will do.

 

[Legend12]

Thought this thread would be a good place for this link:

http://iowapublicradio.org/post/old-time-fountains-still-serving-sodas-around-iowa

 

[InsHAWK]

Thought this thread would be a good place for this link:

http://iowapublicradio.org/post/old-time-fountains-still-serving-sodas-around-iowa

Candy Kitchen in Wilton was open up until a year or so ago and might still be.

 

[ihawk in FWB]

Bauder's in Des Moines has been around forever and was an old school fountain and lunch counter. My siblings and I lived there growing up. I saw, a few weeks ago, that Bauder's was still open. No idea if they still have the fountain, but I saw that the current owner Graziano got 2 yrs in jail for drug trafficking.

I worked at Bauder's in high school. Mark Graziano and I graduated the same year, different schools.

I think the fountain and home made ice cream are still going.

 

[dgordo]

I worked at Bauder's in high school. Mark Graziano and I graduated the same year, different schools.

I think the fountain and home made ice cream are still going.

Yep but mark is prison bound.

 

[gojojo]

Yep but mark is prison bound.

Is he is a member of The Graziano family that makes the best sausage in the area?

 

[joelbc1]

My father owned a small town drug store back in the 50's, 60's 70's and 80's.......When he bought it (from my uncle), my uncle retired and went on his "European vacation" as was the custom in the day back in the 50's.......Dad HATED the "soda fountain" as it was messy, a pain in the tush to manage...and it encouraged and offered all the town's "know it all's" a haven to gather 6 days a week.
When my uncle left on vacation (he LOVED the damn fountain), my father "remodeled" and rid the store of the fountain and replaced it with a camera department. He later salvaged the marble counter top for personal use in his remodeled home.
6 weeks later when my Uncle returned from his European Tour, he was shocked...and even upset, that the soda fountain was no longer there. My dad reminded my uncle that he was now the owner of the business. Anyway.....I do know one thing....that the camera sales business did allow for many very nice Christmas presents......and also saved me from having to work that damn counter as a high schooler..........However, Dad, ever the entrepreneur, may have abandoned the store's soda fountain, a few years later he did but an "ice cream" wagon and kept several hard to employ youths (including a son or two) busy during the summer months for several years following selling ice cream up and down the streets of my home town.