This is something that I’ve wanted to do ever since the Alabama Tourism Department listed the drug store’s fresh lemonade on their “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” list. This fresh squeezed lemonade is so good that in 2001 Esquire magazine ranked it No. 1 on its list of “162 Reasons It’s Good To Be An American.”
My son and I dropped by Toomer’s Drugs for a quick visit on Saturday, and I can say without a doubt that the fresh lemonade I enjoyed was the best that I’ve ever had. It was strong and tart, but left you with a sweet aftertaste that made you feel like you could drink a gallon of the stuff. In fact, they sell it by the gallon, at $14.95 a jug. My 16-ounce lemonade wasn’t nearly that expensive though, coming in at a modest $2.52. It was worth every penny.
Located at 100 North College Street, many of you have probably heard of Toomer’s Drugs because it’s often mentioned in relation to Auburn football, especially during radio and television broadcasts. The drug store is located on Toomer’s Corner, at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue. It’s also across the intersection from the famous Toomer’s Oaks, which are two massive old-growth oaks that are “rolled” with toilet paper after big Auburn football wins.
Toomer’s Drugs opened in 1896 and was founded by Sheldon “Shel” Toomer, a halfback on Auburn’s first football team. Toomer went on to work as a pharmacist and represented Lee County in the Alabama State House of Representatives. The business is currently owned by Betty Haisten of Trussville, who renovated the building in 1999.
In addition to its lemonade, the drug store also includes a full diner with menu items like sandwiches, melts, hot dogs, bowls of chili, baked potatoes and soups. Naturally, they also sell prescription drugs and just about any kind of Auburn University souvenir you could ever want. To check out their Web site, visit www.toomersdrugs.com.
If you get the urge to visit Toomer’s Drugs yourself, it’s open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. When we paid the drugstore a visit on Saturday, it wasn’t very crowded and there was almost no wait. Other than a few college kids milling about, we were the only customers in arguably the most famous landmark in Auburn, outside of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
In the end, I enjoyed scratching another item off my life list, especially one that tasted so good. How many of you have ever had a fresh lemonade from Toomer’s Drugs in Auburn? What did you think about it? Did you like it or not? Let us know in the comments section below.
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