Some spots on Long Island have stuck around so long they feel less like restaurants and more like time capsules. There is one corner counter that has been serving fountain treats and diner plates since the 1920s, and the neon out front still glows the same way it did generations ago.
Movie crews have filmed here. Kids who grew up sharing sundaes at the candy counter now bring their own grandchildren back for the same booth.
What keeps the door swinging after nearly a century is a mix of homemade ice cream, retro charm, and a stubborn refusal to modernize away its personality. Stick around, because the story behind this white-tiled classic is every bit as rich as the flavors on its menu.
The Corner Counter That Refuses To Age
Tucked at 84 Hillside Ave. in Williston Park, New York, this old-fashioned soda shop has anchored the same corner since 1927. The address hardly needs a map for locals, who point newcomers toward the neon and let it do the talking.
Billed as a circa-1920s classic soda shop, the place blends fountain treats with basic diner fare. Homemade ice cream sits at the heart of the menu, but the griddle stays busy too.
Nearly a century of continuous operation gives the spot a rare kind of staying power. Businesses come and go across Nassau County, yet this one keeps its counter packed year after year.
The formula is simple and stubborn. Keep the recipes honest, keep the decor untouched, and let the reputation carry itself down the block and across the generations.
A History Baked In Since 1927
Founded in 1927, the shop has quietly clocked in nearly a hundred years of scooping and griddling. That kind of longevity turns a business into a landmark almost by accident.
Stories tie families to the place across decades. One longtime patron once came back from out of state just to split a sundae in the old neighborhood, tracking down the same candy counter and phone booth that stood there in his teenage years.
There is even neighborhood lore about a class petitioning to keep the doors open when closure loomed. People here do not just eat at this spot; they fight to protect it.
New ownership stepped in and, wisely, kept the nostalgia intact rather than scrubbing it away. Loyal regulars noticed and approved, showing up in crowds even on off-peak afternoons.
A place that survives this long earns its stripes the hard way. It builds memory into the walls, one visit at a time.
Retro Decor That Doubles As A Movie Set
The look inside is unapologetically old school, and that is exactly the draw. Retro decor gets mentioned again and again as the first thing people fall for.
A counter runs along the front, complete with a couple of TVs for game days. Tables fill the back, a working phone booth stands as a relic, and framed pictures of winning horses line the walls.
Candy and ice cream sit for sale right by the front door, a throwback touch that feels pulled straight from another era. The whole layout reads like a set designer’s dream, which is fitting.
Filmmakers agreed. The shop appeared in the movies The Irishman and The Book of Henry, lending its authentic 1920s bones to the big screen.
Some folks say the neon alone is worth the trip. Even before a single scoop is ordered, the atmosphere makes an impression that sticks.
Griddle Fare Beyond The Fountain
While the sign leans hard on ice cream, the kitchen turns out solid diner plates that keep the counter crowded through lunch and dinner. Burgers get high marks for juicy patties and proper seasoning.
The Top of the Hill Burger stacks two four-ounce patties with bacon and American cheese on a pretzel bun, served alongside fries, cole slaw, and a pickle. Regulars mention the bacon comes out crispy and the bun holds everything together.
Fries here lean thick, cut more like potato skins or hand-cut chips than shoestrings. Other griddle favorites include tuna melts, a meatloaf sandwich, and the popular Randi wrap.
Wraps and sandwiches round out a menu that gives you a real meal before dessert. Some folks arrive planning only a treat and end up ordering a full plate anyway.
Breakfast deserves its own shout, and the counter serves it. That savory backbone is a big reason the place is more than a scoop stop.
Homemade Ice Cream Worth The Fuss
The homemade ice cream is the reason the name carries weight across the island. Made in house since 1927, it earns steady praise for rich cream and flavors that hold their own.
Mint chip shows up with big, fresh chips folded through it. Maple walnut, butter pecan, and butterscotch make regular appearances, and a Mallomar flavor has become a quiet staff favorite.
Creative twists keep things interesting too, like a Milano flavor built around the cookie of the same name. The cream reads as intense rather than overly sweet, which fans appreciate.
You can eat in or grab homemade pints to take home for later. Plenty of families do both in the same visit.
Prices sit on the higher side, and a few folks flag that a plain scoop can run steep. Still, the made-from-scratch quality keeps most people coming back for more.
Sundaes, Sodas, And Fountain Classics
Fountain treats are where the shop truly leans into its 1920s roots. Hot fudge sundaes get the most love, with brownie and butter pecan versions among the standouts.
Egg creams and ice cream sodas hold court on the menu like proper period pieces. A vanilla cream soda pairs nicely with a two-scoop sundae for anyone splitting the difference between drink and dessert.
Shakes and malts pull a big following of their own. A butter pecan milkshake comes creamy, and the extra gets left in the silver mixing cup so you can pour a second helping into your glass.
There is even a made-from-scratch soda that fans rave about, mixed the old way rather than poured from a gun. Small details like that separate a fountain from a machine.
Sharing is easy here since portions tend toward generous. A single sundae can make two people happy without much trouble.
A Family Table In A Small Space
Warmth toward big groups is part of the shop’s charm. A youth baseball team once celebrated a team outing here and got welcomed like regulars, energetic kids and all.
The nostalgic atmosphere makes it a natural fit for families building traditions. Grandparents who grew up nearby often return with the next generation in tow.
The owner has been known to walk the floor, checking on tables and asking guests how the food landed. That hands-on touch adds a personal layer many diners remember fondly.
One thing to keep in mind is the size of the room. The space runs small, so a crowd of lively kids can fill it up fast and turn cozy into busy.
For most families, that trade-off is easy to accept. The combination of comfort food, homemade scoops, and a genuine welcome tends to create the kind of outing kids ask to repeat.
Hours, Prices, And Getting There
Planning a visit takes a quick look at the schedule, which shifts through the week. The shop opens Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 8 PM, then stretches late Thursday and Friday from noon to midnight.
Saturday runs the longest, 11 AM to midnight, while Sunday keeps shorter hours from 10 AM to 5 PM. Monday is closed, so save your craving for another day.
Find it at 84 Hillside Ave. in Williston Park, an easy stop within Nassau County on Long Island. The neon out front makes the corner hard to miss once you are close.
Prices sit toward the premium end, and a few folks note you are partly paying for the experience and the history. A sundae for two can soften the sting since portions share well.
A smart move is arriving with buffer time rather than right at closing. Late-night stops can be hit or miss, so earlier visits tend to run smoother.
Why This Counter Still Draws A Crowd
Nearly a century in, the appeal comes down to authenticity. The shop kept its decor, its recipes, and its personality when it would have been simpler to modernize everything.
The homemade ice cream carries a devoted following, and the diner plates give the menu real weight beyond dessert. Together they turn a quick treat into a full outing.
Like any long-running spot, it has its off days, and busy nights can stretch waits when staffing runs thin. Regulars who love the place tend to plan around the peak crowds.
What lingers most is the sense of continuity. Families return across generations, film crews borrow its look, and a neighborhood keeps rooting for it to stay open forever.
For a taste of Long Island history with a scoop on top, this white-tiled counter still delivers the goods. Nearly a hundred years of loyal crowds suggest it will keep doing so for a long while yet.
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