FOOD NEWS
The NYC Diner That Still Produces Coca-Cola The Old-Fashioned Way
BY LISA CURRAN MATTE
A mainstay on New York City’s Upper East Side, Lexington Candy Shop is an homage to the city’s past. The vintage diner has been welcoming patrons since 1925.
Given that the shop has stayed in the same family’s hands for nearly 100 years, it’s no surprise that the owners like to do things the old-fashioned way.
For instance, the shop doesn't just pump Coca-Cola out of a machine. John Phillis, the founder’s grandson, unveiled their traditional method on a local television station in 2010.
“We pump the syrup by hand and then mix it with seltzer with a spoon [...] just the way as it would have been done in 1925 or 1940,” Phillis explained.
Coke mixed the soda jerk way isn’t the only classic menu item at Lexington Candy Shop. Visitors can also order a real egg cream, a blend of milk, seltzer, and chocolate syrup.
In 1948, the Phillis family pivoted away from selling candies to focus on diner service. The original name, however, stuck, and the shop has remained a beloved icon for 75 years.