This 128-Year Old Drug Store Is One Of The Most Nostalgic Destinations In Alabama
By Lisa Battles|Published December 22, 2023
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Lisa Battles
Author
Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
If you hear the word “lemonade” and are from Alabama, chances are you’ll immediately think of Toomer’s Drugs in downtown Auburn. Since its founding over a century ago, it’s become one of the most nostalgic destinations in Alabama.
Full disclosure: Auburn University grad, here. And yet no one denies Toomer’s appeal extends far beyond Auburn alumni and football fans.
What has made Toomer's so special? Much like the secret formula for its lemonade, it's hard to pin down precisely. Some ingredients are obvious: time, presence, and an unbeatable location. The main gate to Auburn University shares the intersection where the business sits – Magnolia Avenue and College Street. For many years, that intersection has been known as Toomer's Corner. Of course, that wasn't always the case. Let's look at how it came to be.
A 1948 edition of The Montgomery Advertiser tells us that Sheldon "Shel" Toomer attended Auburn University, then known as Agricultural & Mechanical College of Alabama, in the late 1800s. It's worth mentioning he was a halfback on the college's first football team. In 1893, Toomer graduated in chemistry and agriculture and earned another degree in pharmacy four years later. It was during that time he joined the pharmacy business with his stepfather, establishing Toomer's Drugs in 1896.
Anyone who's enjoyed the vibe of Toomer's Drugs (and the whole corner) might think that was enough of an accomplishment. To say Toomer didn't stop there is an understatement. In 1907, he was among the group that organized the Bank of Auburn (now AuburnBank), for which he served as president the next year and continued to do so for another 44 years. The bank was directly across from the drugstore.
Toomer also owned the Toomer Hardware Company, was president of the Auburn Ice and Coal Company, and served numerous professional and civic organizations and boards. He was a town councilman for a decade and a member of the Auburn school board. Oh, and he served three terms in the Alabama Legislature and a decade as a university trustee. Upon entering Toomer's Drugs today, you'll see historical photos of him and significant moments of his life lining the upper walls.
While people can still count on classic treats and eats at the classic soda fountain counter, the drug store looks much different in other spaces. Shel Toomer passed in 1957. By then, he had sold the store to a couple named McAdory “Mac” and Elizabeth “Libba” Lipscomb. The Lipscombs ran the business for many years until selling it in 1984, retaining ownership of the building.
The business changed hands a couple more times before 1999 when the Lipscombs partnered with Don and Betty Haisten, who took over the business. Toomer's closed a few months late that year while the Haistens remodeled, with the grand re-opening just in time for football season in October. The new business began to stock more Auburn University souvenirs, apparel, and game day gear. The inventory has grown to an impressive retail shop today.
The Haistens also revived the tradition of Toomer’s lemonade, which had been a thing as long as anyone could remember. It just wasn't yet the world-famous thing it is now. These days, people can get it in two sizes, add flavors, or get it in slushie form. You can buy it in gallon jugs, 16-ounce bottles, or Toomer's Mason jars. The Alabama Tourism Department listed it among the state's 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama. Esquire magazine included it on a list of 162 reasons it's good to be an American. Betty continues to operate Toomer's and carry on traditions after Don's passing in 2005.
I'd be remiss not to mention the other treats you can order at the soda fountain. You can also grab lunchy snack-bar foods like sandwiches, hotdogs, and soups, although most people come for the famous lemonade.
Back to word association: If someone says "lemonade" and you think "Toomer's," then the next thought is likely "toilet paper." That's because another tradition that's as big or bigger than the lemonade has been associated with the drug store, too. Celebrating Auburn victories by "rolling Toomer's Corner" – throwing toilet paper into the trees – has a direct connection to the drugstore beyond just the name.
Supposedly, the drug store was the first business in the city to have a telegraph machine. When news came in about an away game win for Auburn, the employees would throw the machine's ticker tape onto the power lines. While there is no record of when this transitioned to toilet paper, the TP version has been documented as far back as the 1950s.
Should you go visit to try Toomers’ famous lemonade, do not miss another gem in the Auburn area, Chewacla State Park, It’s one of our most underrated state parks and full of beautiful nature and plenty of opportunities to hike, kayak, mountain bike, swim, and fish. Check out AllTrails’ top-rated trails in Chewacla to choose one that best suits you!
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