Keeping the Drug Store Soda Fountain Tradition Alive at Wiles-Smith, Memphis

Wiles-Smith Drug Store

At the turn of the 20th century, the American trend of soda fountains inside a pharmacy began to emerge. By the 1920s, when the prohibition began, almost every drug store in the US had a soda fountain, which became the new social hub. The tradition died around the 1970's when fast food, bottled soft drinks and ice cream became more popular.
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Wiles-Smith Drug Store

Wiles-Smith Drug Store, an original pharmacy soda fountain, keeps this tradition alive and is the only remaining one in Memphis. Today, it still operates as an indpendent drug store and soda fountain.

You are really stepping back in time at Wiles-Smith. There was a young girl sitting with her dad enjoying grilled cheese and a milkshake, and it was amazing to think that she is enjoying the same tradition that her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents enjoyed.

Try their malted milk, ice cream soda and grilled cheese sandwiches for a true original experience.

Wiles-Smith Drug Store Soda Fountain


Strawberry Soda Shake
Strawberry Ice Cream Soda

Chocolate Malt
Chocolate Malted Milk

Wiles-Smith Drug Store
1635 Union Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Telephone: 901-278-6416

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5 comments:

I find it so odd that a drugstore has a soda fountain inside it. O_O; I'd never have put the two together.

Come to think of it, you're right, it is weird. Sometimes I just ask myself if they use low calorie sugar. But disregarding that, their sodas are yummy.

I also thought of that! But their sodas taste really good. If you want a low calorie drink... well, I'm not sure if it's possible to order sugarless ones...

It's good to hear that they are keeping a kind of business like that to be alive. Well, who would've thought that there would be a soda fountain in a drug store.

What a unique business! A drugstore that do also have a soda business inside their establishment. A two-in-one business.