Since 1923, Sutton’s Drug Store has been serving great food and filling your prescriptions. It used to be that all drug stores did both. Today at a drug store, you can pick up groceries or frozen meals, but you will not find a freshly made BLT, burger, or hot dog. Sutton’s, located on Franklin street, is a Chapel Hill institution and has been serving up great food drinks to UNC students for decades.
In my research of where to eat in Chapel Hill, the orangeade at Sutton’s was at the top of many people’s lists. It had been years since my last orangeade. While growing up, there was a soda shop near my house that I would visit frequently to get this cool and refreshing beverage, but sadly that ended years ago. What is orangeade? It is a mixture of a sugar water solution and fresh squeezed oranges. It is nothing like orange juice. Think lemonade, but using oranges instead of lemons. To accompany this orangeade I had a hot dog and ketchup. Nothing fancy, but delicious all the same.
For those of you who are unaware, UNC has a storied basketball history. They have won 5 NCAA tournament titles and Michael Jordan did play there. I could keep going on about their basketball team, but I am a Duke fan so I will end there. This basketball pride is evident in the decor at Sutton’s.
It is rare to find a place that has been serving food for almost 90 years, it is even rarer to find a drug store that still does this. If you are in Chapel Hill in the summer, you definitely need to cool down with an orangeade at Suttons’s Have you ever been to an old fashioned drug store?
There is a drugstore, White’s Pharmacy, in Sitka, Alaska that has a soda fountain. As in, milkshakes, and
(My last comment got cut off… grrr.)
There is a drugstore, White’s Pharmacy, in Sitka, Alaska that has a soda fountain. As in, milkshakes and coke floats. I always thought it was so random, but fun.
America is amazing. The UK has nothing like this.
Our pharmacies do your prescriptions and sell over the counter meds/make up/pregnancy tests etc. but none of them do food!
Thanks for the comment Sarah. Not all of our pharmacies do, they used to, this is a very unique one that still does.
My favorite things at Sutton’s are the hamburgers and milkshakes. Can’t decide which I like more. I’ve never tried their orangeade! Looks like I’ll need to put that on my list of things to do
Hey Sarah, I will have to try the burger and milkshake next time, definitely try the orangeade it is awesome!
casey says
i ran a ‘tab’ at sutton’s while in college. there was a hysterically funny gal that worked behind the counter whom we called “too late” because we once tried to order a handmade milkshake but were ‘too late’ – i guess she was shutting down the machine for the day. i always went with the same friend – paige (aka “little rage”) latham – and i always got a chili cheeseburger, crinkle fries and cherry coke. so many good memories. such simple, honest food and a great time eating it. i love that sutton’s is still around!
Benny says
There is a drug store in Statesville that still has a grill and a pharmacy, called first RX.
Nikkie says
I was craving this exact meal this morning and looking for a place to find it for lunch in Austin. I searched “hot dog fresh orangeade” and found your post on Sutton’s, the inspiration for my nostalgic cravings. Thanks for the reminder!
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