The Nostalgic Penn Drug Co. In Iowa Is Sure To Bring You Back To Your Childhood
By Kim Magaraci|Published November 11, 2019
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
If you love the idea of tracking down an old fashioned soda fountain in Iowa, head to the tiny town of Sidney. Here, you’ll find Penn Drug and you’re sure to feel like you’ve taken a trip back in time.
Penn Drug is one of Iowa's oldest family-owned drug stores, and it has been continually operating sine 1863!
The Drug Store was opened by Dr. John Newton Penn, a traveling physician. Dr. Penn's son became one of the first registered pharmacists in Iowa, in 1880.
In 1898, the first Soda Fountain was installed, and the drug store became a community gathering place. Today, you'll find a soda fountain still operating here!
Order a reuben or a BLT from their old fashioned menu and you'll be transported straight back to your childhood. Penn Drug still uses the freshest ingredients, like homegrown tomatoes and local produce.
Along with sandwiches and salads, this retro soda fountain makes outrageously tasty ice cream sundaes. Order a banana split piled high with toppings and whipped cream!
Of course, you can also find a tasty malt or a soft-serve cone here, too. Your sweet tooth will be jumping for joy when you look at the ice cream menu.
Today, Penn Drug is a pharmacy, soda fountain, and general store. You'll find candy and sweets along with seasonal home decor lining the shelves and tables.
You’ll feel like family at Penn Drug, a community staple that has been serving Iowans for 155 years. To learn more about their history and the life of Dr. Penn, visit their website here.
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