Ordering a soda fountain treat, statewide
The Irwin-Potter soda fountain in Anthony.
Ball Brothers fountain in Atchison. Photo courtesy Atchison Chamber of Commerce
Fountain located in Cardinal Drug Store, Chanute. Photo courtesy Chanute Chamber/Tourism
Neon sign above Clark Pharmacy and Ice Cream Fountain, Cimarron. Photo courtesy Clark Pharmacy
Soda fountain located in the Aldrich Apothecary, Council Grove. Photo courtesy Council Grove Chamber/Tourism
The Old Store soda fountain, Johnson.
City Sundries Soda Fountain in Marquette. Photo courtesy City Sundries
The Potwin Drug Store soda fountain in Topeka. Photo courtesy Old Prairie Town
The soda fountain at the Gibson Health Mart in WaKeeney. Photo courtesy WaKeeney Travel & Tourism
Soda fountain at the Hoffman Pharmacy, Westmoreland. Photo courtesy Pottawatomie Co. Economic Development
Old Mill Tasty Shop in Wichita. Is is basically the same now as it looks in the photo. Photo courtesy Old Mill Tasty Shop
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One of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs
The Custom:
Ordering ice cream treats at the soda fountain.
Where can you do this? 39 soda fountains around the state.
HAVE A TREAT AT A KANSAS SODA FOUNTAIN!
In the first half of the 20th-century, most Kansas towns claimed at least one soda fountain. At the start of the 21st century, we had about 48. Now, in 2012, we are down to thirty-nine operating fountains.
Make it a quest to visit each of the 37 fountains! You'll see many different styles. A few date back to the 1920s and are located in their original location with the back bar, mirror, brass rail, and marble counter. Those built after 1950 have Formica counter-tops and some early marble tops have been converted to Formica.
At some places you'll feel like you've stepped back into the
1950s.
Purists love working spigots and use of syrups but this list is more lenient. Some spigots work, others don't. Parts are
expensive and hard to find and someone to install them is even more rare.
For more history on some various Kansas soda fountains, click here.
ABILENE,
Bankes Drug, 304 N. Broadway. 785.263.4330. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6
p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. It's a 1920s seven-stool soda fountain with
round mirror and 1972 Formica counter top. The spigots not working.
AGENDA, Hope Floats, 400 block of Railroad Street. 785.732.6595. Open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Marble counter and back bar, mirror. Five stools.
ARKANSAS CITY, Graves Drug, 212 S. Summit. 620.442.2300. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
ATCHISON, Gateway to Kansas, 504 Commercial. 913.367.1533. Open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
BELOIT, Perfect Pair, 100 S. Mill. 785.738.3000. Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. A marble countertop, back bar and mirror, and six stools are featured.
BENNINGTON, The Linger Longer, 119 N. Nelson. 785.820.6050. Open Monday-Friday 3-7 p.m.; Saturday 3-9 p.m. Dating back to 1912, this five-stool, marble counter top fountain comes complete with a back bar and mirror. They still mix their syrups using spigots. Dr. Pepper collectibles are featured along with a player piano, a tin-pressed ceiling, and waffle cones made from scratch!
CANEY, Gabby's Flea Market, 204 W. Fourth. Open Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m. Originally located in Baker's Drug Store, this 1935 fountain still uses the spigots and syrups!
CANTON, Soda n' Suds, 116 S. Main. 620.350.8006. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 4-8 p.m. Just recently opened, this soda fountain has seven stools.
CHETOPA, Riggs
Drug, 426 Maple. 620.236.7272. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday
8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Owner Dr.
CIMARRON,
COUNCIL GROVE,
GARDEN CITY,
Traditions Soda & Sandwich, 121
GLASCO,
HAYS, Soda
Shoppe, 800 Main inside Northwestern Office
Supply Store. 785.625.7323. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 11
a.m.-4 p.m. A seven-stool counter! Owner
HERINGTON, Boelling Pharmacy, 2 W. Main. 785.258.3703. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The soda fountain dates back to the 1910-1915 era with back bar, mirror, brass rail, and six stools. However, the spigots no longer are used.
HOLTON, Koger
Variety, 417 New York. 785-364-3321. Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday 12-4 p.m. Built in
1920s, this fountain still has the original tile counter, five stools and mirror.
HUTCHINSON, Fraese Drug, 25 N. Main. 620.662.4113. Open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. New location. 16 stools. Spigots not in operation but great place for lunch and ice cream.
INDEPENDENCE,
The American Soda Fountain and Sandwich Shoppe, 205 N. Penn. Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 620.331.0604. A fifteen-stool counter and a 1970s juke box.
LEAVENWORTH,
The Corner Pharmacy, 429 Delaware.
913.682.1602. Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Thursday 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. This Victorian era replication
soda fountain has a handmade mahogany bar, faux marble countertop, and 15 swivel,
bentwood mahogany fountain stools.
MERRIAM, Georgetown Pharmacy
Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain & Espresso Shop, 5605 Merriam
NORWICH, Redz,
246 N. Main. 620.478.2401. Open Tuesday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.;
Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The soda fountain came from Sawyer.
OSKALOOSA, Parker's Pharmacy, 321
QUINTER,
SABETHA,
SENECA, Rogers & Son Electric, Inc., 418 Main. 785.336.6505. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
TOPEKA,
Potwin Drug Store (within Old
Prairie Town
at Ward-Meade Historic Site), 124 NW
WAKEENEY,
WICHITA,
WICHITA, Old Mill Tasty Shop, 604 E. Douglas. 316.264.6500. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.. Built in the late 1920s, this twenty-five foot marble counter with eleven stools, a wooden back bar, and brass foot rails is a dandy.
WILSON, Grandma's Soda Shop, 2524 Ave. E. 785.658.2200. Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Opened in July 2012, the fountain was recently refurbished and verified to be built in 1950. Also serving homemade baked goodies, deli sandwiches and Grandma's secret recipe pizza. A fun hang out for kids too.
Phone: 620-585-2374