Before chain stores and soft-serve machines took over, ice cream parlors were local treasures. Soda fountains were places where kids gathered after school; couples shared sundaes and the clink of soda glasses filled rooms lined with marble counters and chrome stools. While many of these spots have vanished, a few have survived, offering a nostalgic step back into a sweeter, simpler time.
Here are a few spots where you can enjoy the nostalgia over a cold, tasty treat.
Zaharakos: A Museum of Ice Cream Culture in Columbus, Indiana
Tucked in Columbus, Indiana, Zaharakos has been scooping since 1900. Inside, you’ll find an original soda fountain, complete with Tiffany stained glass and a live Welte pipe organ that still plays. Whether you’re ordering a phosphate or a banana split, Zaharakos makes it feel like 1922 never ended.
The Franklin Fountain: Philadelphia’s Period Piece
Opened in 2004, The Franklin Fountain feels older than it is by design. Located in Philadelphia’s Old City, this soda fountain recreates the early 20th-century experience so well it blurs the line between the museum and the dessert shop. Staff wears traditional soda-jerk uniforms, and everything from the flavor list to the glassware reflects turn-of-the-century style. Their hand-dipped ice cream and house-made syrups are based on historical recipes, offering a rare chance to taste how vanilla or sarsaparilla might have hit the tongue a century ago.
Farrell’s: A Loud, Joyful Throwback
Not every nod to the past is hushed and reverent. Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour, first opened in 1963 and inspired by the 1890s, brought back the over-the-top joy of old-time parlors with siren-blaring birthday sundaes and the infamous “Zoo” dessert, an enormous sundae delivered with fanfare. Though many locations have closed, Farrell’s left its mark as a mid-century revival of a tradition many thought was gone for good.
Leopold’s: Savannah’s Ice Cream Institution
In Savannah, Georgia, Leopold’s Ice Cream has been serving scoops since 1919, holding strong with original recipes and stylish interiors. Co-owned by Hollywood screenwriter Stratton Leopold, this parlor combines cinematic charm with authentic historical touches. It’s one of the country’s oldest continuously operating ice cream shops. The line out the door is proof that some traditions never melt away.
Lagomarcino’s: Four Generations of Fizz and Fudge
Family-owned since 1908, Lagomarcino’s operates in both Moline, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa, with a strong emphasis on handmade quality. Antique booths, tiled floors, and a still-functioning soda fountain keep the environment warm and familiar. Their house-made chocolates and syrup-laced sodas round out the old-school experience.
The Comeback of Small-Town Soda Fountains
Modern sports like Soda Pops in Wimberley, Texas, and Doozy’s in Topeka, Kansas, prove the soda fountain isn’t a relic; it’s a concept people still crave. These newer establishments capture vintage aesthetics with chrome counters, vinyl booths, and menus full of floats, shakes, and sundaes that feel timeless.
In an age of quick service and digital menus, these ice cream parlors remind us that slowing down for a scoop is still one of the best parts of summer. Or any season, really.
