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Star Drug Store, Galveston, Texas
The oldest drug store in Texas
Historic Soda Fountain on Galveston Island Beckons Locals and Tourists
by Carl Burnham
The heritage continues on strong today, as delicious treats and food are served from the original soda fountain on 23rd Street in Galveston. The porcelain neon Coca Cola sign by artist Jules Lauve with his signature above Star Drug Store is the oldest one known to exist.
Front Entrance By Stairway
There are a wide range of menu selections available to choose from at Star Drug Store, including burgers, sandwiches (I had a delicious ham and cheese), salads, soups (the tomato-basil soup I hear is very tastey), plus breakfast selections that include omelettes, eggs, pancakes, bacon, toast, and of course grits.
View of Soda Fountain
Near the Strand and cruise port
The original building was designed by famed Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton in 1886, along with Levy's Department Store which used to be located next door and was the largest mercantile in the South. When druggist Charles J. Michaelis purchased Star Drug Store in 1906, he kept to Clayton's design, but converted the building to brick, opening in 1909. Through the years, Star Drug Store has held a special place in the hearts of islanders and tourist alike. When customers were given medicine to take, they laid down on cots upstairs to check for any allergic reactions. In the early days, it had the distinction of having valet parking, quite unusual for a drug store.
Side of building
We would like to thank Natili and the Star Drug Store staff for assisting with our feature.
Directions:
I-45 becomes Highway 87, then Broadway once in Galveston. Turn left on 25th, go 5 blocks and turn right on Avenue E (Post Office) Street. Go 2 blocks and you will see the large Star Drug Store sign.
Hours of Operation:
Breakfast:
Tuesday - Saturday from 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
New Orleans Style with free Mimosas
Lunch:
Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Soda Fountain: All Day
When visiting the Star Drug Store, be sure to stop in to say hello to Demetrios Chionsini, or "Chili" as known by the locals.
Chili personally creates unique handcast sand wall sculptures and also handmade spun glass creations for his company Sandcastle Originals (how many items can you say are done this way locally today?). We had to get the seahorse, but wanted to buy a dozen others.
Chili, born in 1922, claims to be 39... He knows all and has seen it all as a native of Galveston Island, and has many memories to share. He graduated from the original Ball High School in 1939, was in the Navy, before graduating from from the University of Oklahoma in 1949 with a BS in Industrial Arts. He has owned numerous souvenir shops around Galveston (including in the Galvez Hotel, the Jack Tar Hotel and two on the former Pleasure Pier), in addition to a camera shop and hardware store (destroyed in Hurricane Alicia). Chili has a booth at the Star Drug Store, and will entertain you with stories of Galveston, reportedly all to be true! Tell him Southpoint.com sent you.
A few of the many unique sculptures that can be made include lighthouses, villages, starfishes, heron, pelicans, sea shells, moon, etc.
For order inquiries, contact
Chili at:
Sandcastle Originals
Mailing Address:
115 Bonita
Galveston Island, TX 77550
(409) 765-9081
(800) 253-1044
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