Yes, you can still sit at a drugstore counter and order a milkshake. These vintage pharmacies are alive, operational, and way more fun than your local chain.
Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain, South Pasadena, CA
If you’ve ever wanted to step inside a postcard, this is it. Fair Oaks has been a South Pasadena landmark since 1915, and the pharmacy plus soda fountain combo is the whole point. Order a classic shake, a float, or something delightfully old-timey, then wander the aisles like you are stocking up for a 1950s road trip. Bonus: it’s a beloved stop along the Route 66 story.
C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries, New York, NY
This place is basically New York history with a cash register. Founded in 1838, C.O. Bigelow is widely credited as America’s oldest apothecary, still operating in Greenwich Village. Expect a charmingly packed shop of pharmacy staples plus a global snack-bar of grooming and beauty finds, like Italian toothpastes and old-school remedies. It feels like a tiny museum where you can actually buy things, and yes, it’s still a real pharmacy.
ADD Drug (Athens Discount Drug), Athens, GA
Come for the prescriptions, stay for the lunch counter energy. ADD has served Athens since 1961, and it still nails that classic neighborhood drugstore vibe where everyone looks like they have a “usual.” Grab a no-fuss breakfast or lunch at the counter, then browse the fun gift-y stuff that makes you say, “Wait, they sell that here?” It’s nostalgic in the best way, like you found your hometown in the wild.
The Pickwick Pharmacy & Soda Fountain, Greenville, SC
Pickwick is your “one more stop” that turns into an hour. It’s a local, family-owned pharmacy that leans hard into the soda fountain charm, complete with classic counter seating and a menu that makes adults act like kids. A great detail: the soda fountain itself was salvaged and restored, a 1949 beauty brought back to life so the shop could return to its roots. Don’t leave without ordering a malt or some Pink Mama’s ice cream.
Economy Drug & Old Fashioned Soda Fountain, Ely, NV
Smack on the “Loneliest Road” vibes of Nevada, this third-generation pharmacy has been serving Ely since 1946, and it openly brags about the soda fountain inside. As it should. Pick a sandwich, an ice cream situation (try smothered churros), or a fountain drink, then enjoy the small-town magic of getting comfort food while your prescription is filled. It’s one of those places that makes you want to start collecting postcards again.
Wall Drug Store, Wall, SD
Wall Drug started as a humble pharmacy in 1931 and somehow became America’s most famous roadside “wait, what is this?” stop. It’s still rooted in the original drugstore story, but today it’s a sprawling, wildly entertaining complex of shops, photo ops, and classic South Dakota kitsch. The legend lives on with its free ice water tradition and those iconic highway signs that feel like a dare you cannot ignore. Of course, you can’t leave without grabbing a homemade donut.
Hoskins Drug Store & Soda Fountain, Clinton, TN
Hoskins is the wholesome movie set you wish your town still had. Family owned and operated since 1930, it’s a real pharmacy paired with a full soda fountain and grill in historic downtown Clinton. Come hungry for malts, burgers, and that “sit at the counter and talk to strangers” feeling. If you collect retro souvenirs, this spot is a must-visit.
Grants Pass Pharmacy & Historic Soda Fountain, Grants Pass, OR
This is your official excuse to try a phosphate drink like it’s 1933, because that’s when this soda fountain tradition began. Grants Pass Pharmacy is still a functioning pharmacy, but the star is the historic fountain where you can order floats, phosphates, and hand-packed milkshakes. The vibe is charmingly local, sometimes with student “soda jerks” behind the counter, and it’s the kind of place that turns a quick stop into a memory.
