Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Canoga Park's Beloved Old-Timey Soda Shop Is Closing. Their Ice Cream Float Was Unrivaled
The counter at Jerry's Soda Shoppe inside the De Soto Pharmacy in Canoga Park. Seen in 2011. (Photo by Elina Shatkin)
()
Jerry's Soda Shoppe is one of those places that feels like it was ancient from the moment it opened its doors. Located inside the De Soto Pharmacy in Canoga Park, it has been serving ice cream floats, sundaes, egg creams and scoops to residents at its 1950s-style soda counter for a two-and-a-half decades.
The shop's signature dessert is an ice cream soda. Is it the best ice cream soda in Los Angeles? We're not going to pussyfoot around. Yes. Here's why:
It begins with a frosty glass mug dipped in chocolate sauce. It's filled with Lappert's vanilla ice cream, fizzy soda water and more chocolate syrup. The whole thing is crowned with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and a maraschino cherry, then served with a sidecar of soda water (in case it's too rich and you need to water it down or fizz it up). The ice cream soda, heavy in its glory, is served on a plate to catch the inevitable overflow as you dig in for the first bite. (Pro Tip: Take several long, hard pulls off the straw before trying to extract the spoon.) As you work your way through this behemoth -- even the small size is a bellyfull -- you can break icicles of hardened chocolate off the mug or scrape away at it like Rodin carving his Thinker.
The ice cream soda at Jerry's Soda Shoppe inside the De Soto Pharmacy in Canoga Park. Seen in 2011. (Photo by Elina Shatkin)
()
Support for LAist comes from
The old-school ice cream shop is named after the late Jerry Meyers, who bought the pharmacy with his family in the 1980s. He always wanted to serve up ice cream treats to customers, according to his son, who spoke with KPCC's Take Two on Friday.
"It was always kind of a dream of his," says David Myers, who now co-owns the shop.
David Myers says that he and a friend built the soda foutain in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake, to help fulfill his father's dream.
The rise of social media has brought new customers to the ice cream shop -- and the most popular item on the menu is still the ice cream.
But rising rents and insurance costs for the pharmacy have prompted Myers and his mother to move on. Customers have shown an outpouring of love since the announcement.
"We've gotten some very touching letters," he says. "Having a hard time, a lot of them."
Support for LAist comes from
De Soto Pharmacy: 20914 Roscoe Blvd, Canoga Park.
Take Two's Emily Henderson contributed reporting for this story.
You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist