Indiana still has spots where you can sit on a spinning stool and order a chocolate malt at a real counter. Some of them sit inside working pharmacies, while others are grand old parlors with carved wood and stained glass.
These five places keep the soda fountain tradition alive, from a small-town drugstore in Brazil to a downtown tower in Fort Wayne. Save this list for your next road trip, because each stop serves up a sweet slice of Hoosier history.
1. Lynn’s Pharmacy, Brazil, IN
Picking up a prescription and a fountain treat in the same trip sounds like a scene from decades ago. In Brazil, it still happens every week at 22 W National Ave.
Lynn’s Pharmacy is a true hometown drugstore. The staff fill prescriptions quickly, handle compounded medications, and offer delivery, in-store pickup, and medication disposal.
The fun part is next door in spirit and in fact. Lynn’s Soda Shoppe is connected to the pharmacy, giving this small business an old-fashioned soda fountain that feels right at home on the old National Road.
I would save this stop for a weekday, since the pharmacy keeps hours of 8:30 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday and 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Saturday. It is closed Sunday, and afternoons early in the week tend to be the busiest.
Call 812-446-2381 if you want to check on anything before you head over.
2. Salem Apothecary, Salem, IN
Here is a soda bar with a built-in face check. A mirror runs behind the counter, and the stools spin, so you can see whether that chocolate malt left a mustache.
Salem Apothecary sits at 3 Public Square and has served Washington County since 1985. The pharmacy team brings a combined 40 years of experience and offers delivery for local patients.
Up at the soda bar, chocolate malts lead the lineup, along with other ice cream favorites. The shop also serves food, which makes it an easy lunch stop while you explore the square.
Plan ahead on timing. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, with weekends closed.
Parking is simple here, with a free lot and free street spaces nearby.
3. Zaharakos, Columbus, IN
Since 1900, Zaharakos has been pouring sodas on Washington Street, and the room still looks the part. Carved oak and stained glass frame one of the best-preserved early 1900s soda fountains you will find anywhere.
A working player piano and orchestra machine adds to the show. There is also an on-site museum, so dessert comes with a history lesson.
The menu goes beyond scoops. Expect classic American comfort food, old-fashioned sodas, and sundaes, and the peanut butter sauce is a smart choice for your first one.
Families get plenty of perks, including a kids’ menu, high chairs, and a play spot across the street. Most meals land around $10 to $20 per person.
Zaharakos is closed Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 11 AM Wednesday through Sunday, staying open until 9 PM on Friday and Saturday and 8 PM on other days.
Reservations are not accepted, and Saturday afternoon gets crowded. Street parking can be tricky, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
4. Schimpff’s Confectionery, Jeffersonville, IN
Candy canes and red hots made by hand are the headline act on Spring Street. At Schimpff’s, you can sometimes watch the candy come together right in the shop.
The confectionery also has a small candy museum with tours, which makes it a fun stop for curious kids and adults. Glass cases hold fine chocolates made in-house.
Then there is the counter. Schimpff’s runs a lunch counter and soda fountain with simple comfort foods and old-fashioned sodas, giving the place a classic 1950s soda shop style.
Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday. Saturdays are busiest, while weekday mornings are calmer.
Free lot and street parking make it an easy add-on to a day in downtown Jeffersonville.
5. Lincoln Tower Soda Fountain, Fort Wayne, IN
Downtown office workers have a sweet secret inside one of Fort Wayne’s most striking buildings. The Lincoln Tower Soda Fountain sits at 116 E Berry St, inside the historic Lincoln Tower.
Sodas here are made the old-fashioned way. The menu also covers a wide range of diner classics, with burgers being a popular pick.
Prices stay friendly, often in the $1 to $10 per person range. Service is quick, which helps on a lunch break.
Timing matters most at this one. It is open 8 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday and closed on weekends, so it works best for breakfast or lunch on a weekday.
Takeout is available if you need to get back to your desk.
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