Some lunch spots are built to look old. This one simply never stopped being old.
In downtown Corinth, Mississippi, a corner of the historic square hides a counter where drinks are still mixed the way they were decades ago. Prescriptions and burgers have shared the same small room for generations.
Locals point newcomers here before they even ask for directions. Travelers have been known to stop at City Hall for a lunch tip and leave with this exact recommendation.
The menu holds a regional oddity that confuses first-timers and wins over regulars. The fountain still turns out root beer floats and cherry phosphates.
The staff can tell the building’s story from memory. Keep reading for the history, the house specialties, the quirks of the seating, and the practical tips that will save you a headache before you ever find a parking spot.
A Pharmacy on the Corinth Square
The address to remember is 604 E Waldron St, Corinth, MS 38834, right on the busy edge of the downtown square in northeast Mississippi.
The name on the building is Borroum’s Drug Store. Google lists it as a pharmacy, and that label is technically correct.
Most people, though, come for lunch. Behind the door sits an old-time soda fountain restaurant that serves burgers, fountain drinks, ice cream, and shakes.
The title promises a chili dog and a root beer, and the root beer part checks out, since root beer floats appear on the fountain side of things. The bigger draw here is the full lineup of classic diner-style plates served in a working piece of local history.
Part pharmacy and part lunch counter, the place feels less like a themed restaurant and more like a time capsule that kept its doors open.
Small-town squares often hold one spot that everyone in the county seems to know. In Corinth, residents tend to name this one first, often before a visitor has even finished asking where to eat.
Traffic around this side of the square can be heavy even on a weekday morning. That bustle is a clue that lunch here is something of a local ritual.
So what makes a drug store lunch counter worth a detour? The answer starts with a family story that stretches back further than most businesses in the state.
Four Generations Behind the Counter
Bragging rights do not come much bigger for a small business.
Borroum’s is widely described as the oldest drug store in Mississippi and the oldest business in Corinth. It is also often called the oldest drug store in the United States still run by the same family.
The operation is now in its fourth generation. It began as a drug store and gradually became just as well known as a place to eat.
That kind of staying power is rare. Plenty of downtown pharmacies across the South closed their soda fountains decades ago, but this one kept serving.
The result is a space that does not feel manufactured to look like something it is not. The nostalgia here was not ordered from a catalog.
Even longtime area residents sometimes discover the place late. Some people who have lived nearby for decades say they had never heard of it until a friend sent them in.
Once they find it, many make it their regular stop whenever they pass through town. Locally owned and family run, it fits right into the character of the square around it.
History buffs will want to ask questions while they wait for their order. The staff tends to have the answers, which leads neatly to the room itself.
Where Prescriptions Meet Lunch Plates
Here is a detail that surprises nearly every newcomer. The pharmacy portion still shares the same compact space as the lunch crowd.
Next to the booths, a pair of plastic chairs has been set aside for anyone waiting on a prescription or hoping to speak with the pharmacist.
That arrangement says a lot about the building. Lunch and errands overlap, and nobody seems to mind.
The space is small enough that conversations drift between tables. Regulars lean over to say they will see each other tomorrow, and talk turns to everyday life around town.
For an out-of-towner, it can feel like dropping into a neighborhood gathering where everyone knows everyone. Newcomers are welcome, though, and the friendly tone extends to strangers.
The kitchen is just as tiny. It has been described as roughly six feet by six feet, with two cooks turning out home-style plates from that small footprint.
Watching a full lunch rush come out of a kitchen that size is part of the fun. It is efficient, and food tends to arrive quickly.
Of course, the pharmacy chairs are not the main event. That honor belongs to the gleaming fountain along the counter, where the real show begins.
Fountain Drinks Made the Old Way
Soda straight from a can? Not at this counter.
Drinks are still assembled the way they were in the past, and watching the process is a small treat on its own. Sitting at the bar puts guests right in front of the action.
The fountain menu leans into classics. Cherry phosphates, original Coca-Cola from the fountain, strawberry soda, and other fountain drinks all make appearances.
And yes, the root beer promise from the headline is covered. A root beer float is a popular pick, especially paired with a quick lunch.
Many people describe the lineup as fountain drinks straight out of the 1960s. That is a fair summary of the whole experience.
Sweet tea is on hand too, for anyone sticking with Southern tradition.
The phosphate is the drink that tends to raise eyebrows. Plenty of younger guests have never ordered one, and the staff is happy to explain what it is.
Trying one is a little like taking a quiz on soda history, minus the homework. It is a good way to start a meal before the most talked-about item arrives.
That item has a name that sounds alarming. Spoiler: no garden creatures are involved.
The Burger With the Strange Name
Corinth has a culinary claim to fame, and its name stops people in their tracks: the slug burger.
Relax. It contains no slugs.
The patty is made from a mix that includes soy, onions, and some pork, smashed thin before cooking. One fitting nickname is the Southern slider.
Borroum’s is often credited with serving the original slug burger, and many say it is the best one around. For first-timers, ordering one is practically a rite of passage.
The verdict from newcomers is usually upbeat. Plenty of people say it turned out better than they expected, and some call it phenomenal.
Not everyone leaves converted, to be fair. A few find it simply good, especially after the whole town has hyped it up.
That honesty is useful. Go in curious rather than expecting fireworks, and the slug burger delivers a true taste of local tradition.
Beef burgers are also a strong choice. They come cooked well, and the kitchen will add whatever toppings you want.
Sides include crinkle-cut fries, spicy fries, tots, onion rings, and chips. A patty melt on grilled rye has its own loyal fans too.
Save some room, though. The dessert side of the menu is where many guests end up lingering.
Milkshakes Worth the Mention
Count the compliments and one item clearly wins: the milkshake.
Shakes come up more than any other menu item in conversations about this place. Some people flatly call them the best they have ever had.
That is a big claim for a pharmacy lunch counter. Then again, soda fountains like this one practically invented the classic American shake.
Blue Bell ice cream is also on hand. Guests can top off a meal with a scoop instead of a shake if they prefer.
Either route works well for a sweet stop in the middle of a downtown stroll. The counter is a natural place to pause for dessert even without ordering a full meal.
Families tend to appreciate this part of the menu. A shake and a slug burger make a simple lunch that kids and grandparents can agree on.
Root beer floats, mentioned earlier, belong to the same sweet-tooth category. They are a handy compromise for anyone torn between soda and ice cream.
Pro tip: decide on dessert early. The place can fill up quickly at midday, and the kitchen runs on a short schedule.
Speaking of seating, where you sit changes the experience more than you might think.
Booths, Bar Stools, and a Chalkboard
Two seating options, two very different lunches.
The floor holds tables and booths with old-school vinyl seats and formica tabletops. It is the classic setup for groups and families.
The counter is the other choice. Bar seating puts guests right next to the fountain, where staff mix drinks and chat between orders.
On busy mornings, every table and booth can fill up. The bar often becomes the best seat in the house by default, and many solo diners prefer it anyway.
Keep an eye on the chalkboard. Daily lunch specials are written there, and they occasionally include Southern dishes that out-of-towners have never encountered.
Cornbread salad is one of those surprises. It is a tossed salad served on top of a piece of cornbread, and it tends to spark curiosity.
Pimento cheese also earns praise. Mozzarella sticks and barbecue chips round out the casual side of the menu.
None of this is fancy, and that is the point. The furniture, the board, and the counter all feel like they have been doing their jobs for a long time.
Of course, a room is only as welcoming as the people working in it. Here, that is where the stories start.
Servers Who Double as Historians
Ask a question at Borroum’s and you may get a history lesson with your lunch.
The waitstaff is known for knowing the building inside and out. Some servers have worked there long enough to share stories from the days when the old pharmacy was in full operation.
Guests with very specific questions often find staff patient and well informed. One local legend they may bring up is the store’s famous “putt putt,” a story best heard in person.
Menu guidance is part of the package too. Staff take time to explain unfamiliar items, which helps anyone facing a slug burger or cornbread salad for the first time.
Many guests describe employees as cheerful and smiling. In a busy little room, that friendly attitude goes a long way.
Service is attentive more often than not, and food comes out fast. Recommendations are offered freely, especially to first-timers sitting at the counter.
A fair note: not every visit goes perfectly. Occasional slow or uneven service does happen, particularly when the place is packed.
Overall, though, the staff is a big reason people return. Their knowledge turns a quick bite into a small tour.
Before planning that tour, a few practical details are worth knowing.
Hours, Cash, and the Parking Puzzle
Timing matters here more than at most restaurants.
Borroum’s opens at 10:30 am and closes at 2:30 pm, Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.
That short window makes it strictly a late-morning or lunch destination. Arriving at 2:15 is cutting it close.
Bring cash. The counter is cash only, a detail that catches some first-timers off guard.
The good news is that prices are friendly. Many people say the bill comes in lower than expected for what lands on the table.
Parking takes some patience. The streets around the square are tight, and maneuvering can feel a bit nerve-racking for anyone unfamiliar with the area.
Leaving a few extra minutes to find a spot is a smart move, especially on busy weekday mornings.
Accessibility is another consideration. The historic square has not been fully updated for people with mobility needs, so guests with wheelchairs or walkers should plan ahead.
Tipping is easy to forget when the conversation is good. Since the counter runs on cash, set aside a little extra before you sit down.
With the logistics handled, all that remains is deciding whether the trip is worth it. Spoiler alert, again.
A Lunch Stop With Staying Power
So, is a drug store lunch counter worth a road trip detour? For most people, the answer is a confident yes.
Borroum’s holds a 4.6-star average across well over a hundred opinions, which is a strong showing for a place this small and this old.
The appeal is easy to explain. It offers honest diner food, a fountain that still works the old way, and a family history spanning four generations.
Go expecting a simple lunch, not a gourmet event. A few people find the food more average than legendary, and that perspective is worth keeping in mind.
Still, the atmosphere carries the day. The step-back-in-time feeling comes up again and again, and it is not staged.
History lovers will find plenty to ask about. Road trippers will find a quick, affordable meal right on the square.
Families can split a shake, try a slug burger, and watch the fountain in action. Solo travelers can grab a stool and let the staff do the storytelling.
The chili dog from the headline may be wishful thinking, but the root beer float is real. So is the welcome.
Bring cash, arrive before 2:30, and leave with a story about the oldest drug store in Mississippi.
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