For reference I’m 34. From what I can tell, when my parents were younger, it was just accepted that you could get a burger and milkshake at your local drug store. That’s not intuitive if no one told you it was a thing. But by the time I was a kid, the practice seemed to have gone away almost entirely.
So where did that come from and where did it go?
The endpoint is obvious. McDonalds.
The start is more interesting. Historically, quick food has been part of a hotel or roadside inn, or served to employees in a factory, or dished out by temporary kiosks and carts. The single-purpose sitdown restaurant was invented in 1765 by Boulanger, and was initially a larger version of the roadside stand for travelers.
The history of Coke and Dr Pepper probably explains the drugstore connection. Pharmacists were experts in compounding. They knew how to mix liquids that were attractive or stimulating or soothing. Before penicillin, most medicines were ‘healing tokens’ to restore confidence, which in turn strengthens immunity.
Now, of course, most medical products and medical services are designed to destroy confidence and kill immunity.
Soft drinks extended the pharmacist’s skill into semi-medicinal territory. The soda fountain became a non-alcoholic alternative to a bar, and soon found that people wanted snacks and sandwiches along with their liquid refreshments.
Polistra's Mill 