Another Time Soda Fountain & Cafe

Soda Fountain in Rosenberg, Texas

On Sunday we drove about 15 minutes, to Another Time Soda Fountain, in Rosenberg. The building did indeed remind me of another time!

The impressive corner building has housed many things in its 120 years, but a soda fountain has always been on the first floor.  ​

Since 1904

​The structure was completed in 1904, when Meyer-Forster Land & Loan Co. occupied most of the space. That was the same year the waffle cone was invented at the St. Louis World's Fair. 

That trivia makes me guess the old fountain only served ice cream in dishes, when it first opened. But we know the ice cream CONE eventually made its way to the Rosenberg soda fountain. More on that later!

Last Visit

It was 2014, when I last visited Another Time Soda Fountain. Don and I went on my 57th birthday. 

It's been 10 years since I got ridiculously excited about my Birth-Year-Birthday! Since my age matched the year I was born, I figured I'd celebrate like it was 1957... at a "malt shop".

I ordered grilled cheese with bacon, fries and a milkshake! If it had really been 1957, I'm sure I would have ordered a malt.

11:15 on a Sunday

We arrived for an early lunch, last Sunday.  A few tables were filled with "after church families", but the stools were all vacant.

That would have been fun, but we had our 3-year-old granddaughter with us. She wouldn't have been able to reach the counter.

Charlie

​Charlie was excited to sit anywhere. She loves a restaurant outing and she dressed for the occasion... in jewels!

On the drive to Rosenberg, I pointed out the train tracks that ran parallel to Hwy 90.  "We'll see train tracks near the restaurant... and maybe we'll see a train!" So Charlie was eager when we parked between the restaurant and tracks. Silly me for getting her excited. There was no train. "Maybe later." I stupidly assured.

Seated in Back

Luckily Charlie was eager to go inside the big building. She didn't know she was missing out on those fun stools, when our hostess guided us to the back of the room.

I was glad to see the soda fountain hadn't changed in a decade. The pressed tin ceilings and decorated walls looked just how I remembered.

Odd Table

We couldn't spin on barstools, but we did have a curious feature at our table. 

Each corner had an interesting cupholder. 8 holes in all! I guess this design accommodates left-handed people. But we forgot to use them! 

What's Up?

After ordering, I was entertained watching Charlie and Pop Pop chat.

Suddenly they both looked up at something that I hadn't noticed. The little figure above us was familiar to me. My family had one in our New York apartment, in the 1960s!

A little clown on a unicycle was going back and forth on a tightrope, right above Charlie's head. We clearly had the best seats in the house, for clown viewing. Unless you're scared about a high wire mishap.

Evidently this clown has been entertaining customers at the soda fountain since 1946. The current owners inherited the clown when they started up Another Time, about 20 years ago. 

Ruth

Our server Ruth couldn't have been nicer. She even had a bit of a 1950s vibe going on, with her hair tied up in a scarf.

As Ruth delivered a few baskets of chicken strips, she answered my soda fountain questions. I'd gotten curious after studying a nearby case, filled with vintage ice cream parlor goodies.

Ruth said there had always been a soda fountain on the first floor. "For years there was a doctor's office upstairs. Patients were given a wooden nickel that bought them an ice cream cone at the soda fountain." 

I loved picturing kids with their cones, (after 1904!!) at the soda fountain. But I also loved comparing my own memory! 

Memory Tangent!

Dr. Grimmer was my family's doctor in Grinnell, Iowa in the 1960s. After our check ups, Dr. Grimmer would write us (me and my sibs) prescriptions for ice cream cones, at Cunningham Drugstore!

The Cunningham Drugs building (rebuilt after 1954 fire) doesn't look nearly as picturesque as the Rosenberg building. But, my fond ice cream memories likely match those of many Rosenberg kids, way back when!

Blue Plate Special

​I didn't repeat the grilled cheese order on this visit. Instead I went for the Blue Plate Special. How could I pass up a retro diner feast for $10.00?

Pork steak with gravy, on top of sauerkraut! Served with potatoes, salad and roll. The meat was tender and tangy! The slightly mashed potatoes were  delicious. I took half home!

Ice Cream!

When Ruth asked if there would be anything else, Heidi ordered a dish of ice cream for Charlie. I missed getting a picture of Charlie's expression when she shrieked with delight. I didn't get a video a second later, when she leapt from her chair and twirled around 5 times, squealing "Ice Cream! Ice Cream!" at the top of her lungs. 

But I did get a million pictures, during the 19 minutes of icy vanilla bliss!

The 3 adults were totally entertained. She started with giddy gusto and finished by tipping the dish and slurping up the melted cream at the bottom!

​Headed Out

​On our way out, I paused briefly to take in some of the many photos covering the walls.

I love this old building and its history.

The exterior looked completely different when Frank Dedek took over the pharmacy in 1967. Amusing!

Wheelchairs, hobby supplies and photo processing! All available at Frank's!

I have no idea when this police photo was taken!

I didn't have time to ask Ruth. We needed to get Heidi and Charlie to the car before rain started up. They were headed home to Austin.

The Big Building
​

I walked with Heidi and Charlie across the street. Charlie asked about the train tracks again, but there was no time to walk over for a look. It was sprinkling and skies threatened.

While Heidi got Charlie in the carseat I studied the 2-story brick building and suddenly appreciated the owners (the Butlers) who purchased and refurbished over 20 years ago. What a beautiful landmark.

Bye Charlie

​Charlie was halfway buckled, when the clanging started. Suddenly a freight train was rumbling down the tracks, while the red lights flashed.

Charlie had a great view from her seat. 

What a perfect ending to our soda-fountain-near-the-tracks-adventure!

Another Time

I said good-bye, then Heidi and Charlie headed off, just before the skies let loose.

I crossed over to where Don was parked and peeked up at the old building once more. The train was still thundering by. I peeked at the sign for "Rosenberg Railroad Museum" right next to where Heidi had parked.

"Another time!" I thought! "We'll come back to Rosenberg, go to the railroad museum, watch trains and come back to Another Time for ice cream... at the counter! 
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