This is my first Inspiration post, so I’ll give you the what’s what. Every week, I’m going to post a brief recap of my experience somewhere I’ve either never been before, or I haven’t been to in a long time, here in the Twin Cities, MN. I’ll talk about what it was like, what I liked or didn’t about it and why, and throw in a few pictures. The goal is to encourage other stay-at-homes like me to get out there and be inspired by the world that’s already around them.
For my first excursion, I didn’t want to be adventurous. The Greater Twin Cities boasts multiple cave systems, scrapyard art galleries, and an electricity museum (oh, you’d better believe I’ll be going to the Bakken). But for starters, I settled on St. Paul Corner Drug.
First, some backstory on this small drug store. Many people have heard of Wall Drug, a small drug store in South Dakota that has turned into a shopping mall complex of a store. By contrast, St. Paul Corner Drug, which opened in 1922, has stuck to its roots and remained a small drug store. It doesn’t share the notoriety of Wall Drug, but this also means that for the people of St. Paul that want the intimate experience of a mom-and-pop store, St. Paul Corner Drug delivers. Prescriptions are dispensed with the advise of seasoned veteran pharmacists.
One of the benefits of such a small store is pricing. There’s not a lot for sale, but what is for sale is very competitively priced, and nearly every essential basic health product can be found. Vitamins, off-the-shelf medicine, floss, cough drops; if you need to feel just a bit better, this store has you covered. But sage medical advise and affordable products are not the only draws.
In ye olden times, drug stores were not only a place of healing, but a place of relaxation. Soda fountains were commonplace, providing refreshing sodas and phosphates. In keeping with this tradition, St. Paul Corner Drug has a soda fountain, although it has been upgraded to a more modern design. They offer fountain soda and hand-mixed sodas advertised as phosphates. I must be critical, however, and inform you that if you looking for a true phosphate, they are missing the phosphoric acid that gives phosphates their name and distinctive sour twist.
I selected an orange phosphate; the medium was only $1.25, which is a great deal in comparison to nearly every restaurant soda. It was very good. It tasted like orange, unlike commercial sodas like Fanta, which feel like they’re beating you over the head with orange flavor. This was a very pleasant orange soda. At the same simple counter, bar games sat between nickel-and-dime candy and a selection of sarcastic buttons, neatly juxtaposing traditions of old and new. If I go back (and I probably will), I’ll have to pick up a few buttons and try the chocolate phosphate. I’ve never had true chocolate soda; maybe it’ll be good.
St. Paul Corner Drug is by no means the only small, independently-owned business in St. Paul. However, I know that in my day-to-day, it feels easier to just run into Wal-mart or Target to get quick essentials. Big stores sell everything, so it’s the safe bet. Based on my experience today, I feel like not stopping into this small business does me a disservice, and I would be more inclined to shop at smaller businesses.
St. Paul Corner Drug is located on the corner of Snelling Ave and St. Clair Ave.
That's Pretty NEET 