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Doc's Soda Fountain

133 S. 2nd St., Girard, IL
Phone:

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The former Deck's Drug Store was established 1884. The business remained in the Deck family for three generations, that added up to 117 years. The soda fountain was installed in 1929 and became a popular spot to hang out at on Saturday night, and it is still in use. For several years while the Decks owned it the store had a once a year special of all the home made root beer you could drink for a nickel rather than the normal nickel per glass. All served on hand chipped ice in the early days.

In 2007 Bob & Renae Ernst took over and established Doc's Soda Fountain and Pharmacy Museum. In 2021 Casey Claypool purchased Doc's Soda Foundation. She also works for the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.

The Doc's Soda Fountain sign in the front window also mentions the Pharmacy Museum as well as Glassware and Lamps. Most of the items in the museum portion of Doc's are part of the Deck family collection.

The sign on the side of the building lists some of the things they sold included drugs, paints, oils, glass and books and stationary.

Photo(s): 2016, 2023