The Soda Shop in Davidson has served up ‘memories for the community’ for 70+ years
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When you walk through the doors of The Soda Shop in downtown Davidson, it’s like stepping back in time.
The iconic Main Street diner opened in 1951, back in the days of Nat King Cole, Grace Kelly and “I Love Lucy.” Seventy-one years later, there’s still a good chance you’ll catch Lucy on the diner’s TVs or hear “Unforgettable” while sipping milkshakes at the retro counter.
“We still have the ‘50s vibe, with checkered floors, old bar stools, original booths and lots of memorabilia,” said Misty Utech, who took over ownership of the Soda Shop about 22 years ago. “We’ve added a little something extra from each decade since, but the atmosphere’s the same. You just don’t find many places like this. It makes you feel like you’re back in time.”
Even the menu hasn’t changed much.
“When the shop first opened, people came in just for the fresh-squeezed orangeade, lemonade and handmade egg salad or chicken salad,” Utech said. “And that’s still what they want today. I’ve tried to stay authentic to that original menu. We’re not a chain — just a little mom and pop shop here to make sure we’re providing memories for the community.”
The Soda Shop is one of the last of a vanishing era. It’s weathered a sea change of owners, the Civil Rights movement, economic crises and a pandemic — all the while remaining a staple in the college town.
William “Bill” Jackson is one of the shop’s longtime customers. He started eating at the diner shortly after he entered Davidson College in 1953 as a student and later as a member of the faculty. Fast-forward a few decades, and you can still find him at the shop about four days a week, usually after the lunch crowd clears, enjoying a cheeseburger piled with relish, chili, lettuce, onion and tomato.
“The Soda Shop has always been a cozy place that serves a diverse crowd,” he told CharlotteFive. “Any given day, there are policemen in here, professors, garbage truck drivers, school kids. The atmosphere is very friendly.”
Jackson, a freelance writer who has written about politics and foreign policy matters for New York Times and Huffington Post, enjoys perusing the memorabilia and old photographs that can be found around the shop. The walls are lined with dozens of old sports photos from Davidson College teams, including a track and field photo that includes Jackson.
“I’ve seen generations come in here; people who’ve played sports and look up on the walls to see if their pictures are still there,” Jackson said.
Utech echoed that sentiment, adding that she’s watched many children grow up coming into the shop. “People come in now and say, ‘I was here 20 years ago with my dad, and now I’m here with my son and want to give him the same experience.’”
For the past 12 years, middle schoolers have stopped by the Soda Shop each Friday afternoon. They grab cottage fries and milkshakes before going to play in the green space across the street.
“They like the atmosphere, where kids can just be kids and joke around and have fun,” said Utech, who noted they typically sell about 50 milkshakes in the span of two hours on these Fridays.
“It could be 20 degrees outside, and they still want to come for milkshakes. It’s just a tradition they started, probably passed down by their brothers and sisters, and it caught on with the whole school. They eat, hang out with friends and then go play.”
Utech believes the secret to the shop’s more than 70-year success can be summed up in one word: consistency. She doesn’t change the menu often — it’s already eight pages as it is — and is proud that the restaurant has maintained its small, hometown feel over the years.
“The town is extremely supportive, and I am forever grateful for that,” Utech said. “I want us to continue being unique — our own little entity — and to be able to give people that nostalgic experience.”
The Soda Shop
Location: 104 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Neighborhood: Downtown Davidson
Cuisine: American
This story was originally published January 25, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
