Mississippi Grandparents Remember These 5 Small-Town Soda Fountains, And They Still Pour Malts Today

A quick stop for a cold drink on a hot Mississippi afternoon turned into something I did not expect: a spinning stool, a chrome counter, and a chocolate malt so thick the straw stood straight up. Old soda fountains like that one are still scattered across the state, tucked inside former drugstores and roadside stands.

For grandparents, they bring back first dates and Saturday allowances. For kids, they are a brand new adventure that costs about the same as a fast-food trip.

1. Tom’s Soda Shop

Chocolate banana shakes. Coke floats.

Hand-cut fries piled next to a smash burger big enough to share. That lineup explains why Baldwyn’s little Main Street soda shop draws travelers across north Mississippi.

Housed inside the historic Tom’s Drug Store, the shop leans into a 1950s theme without feeling fussy. Breakfast starts at 7 AM Monday through Saturday, and the menu covers burgers, hot dogs, BLTs, chicken sandwiches, and good coffee for the grown-ups.

Most meals land in the $10 to $20 per person range, which keeps a three-generation lunch reasonable.

Families with little ones get a few welcome extras. High chairs and a kids’ menu are available, table service keeps everyone seated, and restrooms are on site.

Parking is free in a lot and along the street, and there is usually plenty of room.

Friday is the day to note. While the shop closes at 2:30 PM most days, it stays open until 8 PM on Fridays, making it a rare supper option for a weekend kickoff.

Sundays are closed. Baldwyn sits roughly between Tupelo and Booneville, so the drive is short for many northeast Mississippi families, and the historic downtown gives everyone a pleasant place to walk off a milkshake.

2. The Malt Shop

Ever had a malt so thick it collapsed the straw? At this Natchez mainstay, that happens often enough to count as part of the experience.

The name tells you the priority. Old-fashioned chocolate malts are the headliner, and peanut butter chocolate is a flavor many regulars swear by.

Still, the menu goes further than dessert, with handmade burger patties on soft buns, chili dogs, shrimp po-boys, and even a pork chop dinner. Prices usually fall between $10 and $20 per person, a comfortable range for feeding a crowd.

Seating is mostly outdoors at picnic tables, which suits kids who cannot sit still and leashed dogs, who are welcome outside. A drive-through helps on scorching summer days when the heat makes eating outside tough.

One practical note: there are no restrooms, so plan accordingly with young children.

Hours are generous and include Sunday. It opens daily at 10:30 AM, closing at 8 PM Monday through Saturday and 7 PM on Sunday.

Weekday mornings tend to be the calmest, while Tuesday evenings, Friday afternoons, and Saturday afternoons can get lively. Free parking is available in a lot and on the street.

Pair it with a slow drive past the antebellum homes Natchez is famous for.

3. Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum

In 1894, Coca-Cola was bottled for the very first time inside a downtown Vicksburg building. That same building still stands, restored and packed with memorabilia, and yes, the soda fountain still works.

Part museum and part sweet shop, this stop blends a history lesson with a reward at the end. Original bottling equipment and a huge collection of Coke items line the rooms, and friendly staff explain how the drink first reached bottles in Mississippi.

Afterward, the counter serves Coke floats, plain fountain sodas, ice cream, and candy. Admission has been listed around $3.50 per person, though it is smart to confirm before you go.

Why does it work for mixed ages? Grandparents recognize the old signs and bottles, while kids get to see where a drink they know started out.

The space is small, so a visit rarely wears anyone out. Restrooms, a gift shop, and on-site parking make things easier.

Hours run Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 PM. Weekday mornings are typically quieter.

Vicksburg is under an hour west of Jackson, and a cold float here makes a sweet break on a humid Delta-country afternoon.

4. Soda Pops

Natchez gets two spots on this list, and for good reason. While one shines outdoors, this little shop offers a cozy, casual indoor setting that feels right on a hot or rainy afternoon.

Homemade ice cream is the draw. Scoops pair nicely with floats and fountain drinks, and a full lunch menu of sandwiches, burgers, and salads means nobody has to settle for dessert alone.

The grilled chicken salad is a popular pick for anyone wanting something lighter before the sweets arrive. Expect to spend roughly $10 to $20 per person.

Convenience is a big plus for families. A drive-through and delivery options help when the kids are tired, restrooms are on site, and the free parking lot usually has plenty of space.

It sits in a shopping area off John R Junkin Drive, so getting in and out is simple compared with narrow historic streets.

Hours run Monday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 7 PM, with Sundays closed. That makes it a handy early supper stop after exploring the riverfront or touring historic homes.

For travelers coming from Louisiana across the Mississippi River bridge, it is one of the first places to grab a cone once you reach town.

5. Velvet Cream–The Dip

Locals simply call it The Dip, and folks in Hernando have been pulling up to its walk-up window since 1947. Few places in north Mississippi have kept the drive-in spirit going quite this long.

Choosing is the hardest part. The menu is enormous, covering shakes, cream slushes, scoops in flavors like Thin Mint, s’mores, and king cake, plus burgers, fries, and a Philly steak.

A local favorite is the snow cone with vanilla ice cream tucked in the center, a combination kids rarely forget. Portions on ice cream tend to be generous, so smaller appetites may want to share.

Service happens at the window, drive-through, or curbside, with no table service and no restrooms. Leashed dogs are welcome outside, and free parking is available in the lot and on the street.

Many families take their treats to go and enjoy them at a nearby park.

Late hours set it apart from most spots here. It opens at 11:30 AM daily and stays open until 9:30 PM Monday through Thursday, 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 10 PM on Sunday.

Summer evenings, once the heat breaks, can be the busiest, so arriving a little earlier may shorten the wait. Hernando is an easy drive from Memphis.