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>>> AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, PHARMACIES BECAME THE PLACE TO
SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH WITH ROOT BEER FLOATS AND HOT
FUDGE-LADEN SUNDAES.
SADLY, MANY OF THESE SODA FOUNTAINS AND ICE CREAM PARLORS
HAVE DISAPPEARED, BUT IN THE SOUTH END OF CHARLOTTE, THERE'S
ONE THAT LIVES ON.
PRODUCER KEITH BLATZ TAKES US TO PIKE'S OLD FASHIONED SODA SHOP.
>> DECADES AGO FOLKS GOT THEIR ICE CREAM FIX AT THE CORNER SODA
FOUNTAIN SHOP OR ICE CREAM PARLOR.
THOUGH MANY OF THESE PLACES HAVE CLOSED, THERE'S ONE PLACE IN THE
SOUTH END OF CHARLOTTE WHERE YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR LICKS AND
SIPS.
PIKE'S OLD FASHIONED SODA SHOP IS NOT ONLY SERVING UP DELICIOUS
EATS, BUT ALSO SERVING UP A DISH OF NOSTALGIA.
>> ONE OF THE -- THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS THAT I SEE IS
WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND SAY, BOY, THIS REMINDS ME
SO MUCH OF MY YOUTH.
THE MUSIC, THE SODAS, THE ICE CREAMS, THE FACT THAT WE'RE
MAKING THINGS FOR THEM THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN OR TASTED IN 40 OR
50 YEARS.
>> HI, WELCOME TO PIKE'S OLD FASHIONED SODA SHOP.
HOW ARE Y'ALL?
>> AS YOU WALK INTO PIKE'S, YOU CAN FEEL WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN
LIKE TO BE IN A SODA SHOP IN THE 1950s.
YOU NOTICE THE BEAUTIFUL MARBLE COUNTERTOPS, THE HANDCRAFTED
STOOLS, AND THE GLEAMING SODA FOUNTAINS.
PIKE'S TRY TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF A TIME WHEN LIFE WAS
SIMPLER.
GENE PHARA REMEMBERS A TIME LIKE THIS AND WISHES MORE PLACES LIKE
PIKE'S WERE STILL AROUND.
>> THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE TO REALLY GO AND HANG OUT.
WE DIDN'T -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE MALLS BACK THEN WHERE THE KIDS
GO NOW, AND, UH, WE JUST WOULD MEET AT THE MILKSHAKE PLACE OR
THE DRIVE-IN, SO FORTH.
I LIKE TO SEE THAT IT STAYS THIS WAY.
>> PIKE'S OLD FASHIONED SODA SHOP SERVES UP A MENU INSPIRED
BY CLASSIC SODA SHOPS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
RANKED SIXTH IN CHARLOTTE ON urbanspoon.com, ITS 40-YEAR-OLD
FAMILY RECIPES, LIKE THE ONE FOR HONEY PECAN CHICKEN, ARE WHAT
KEEP PEOPLE COMING BACK.
BUT WHAT REALLY SETS PIKE'S APART FROM OTHER OLD-FASHIONED
SODA SHOPS IS THAT EACH AND EVERYTHING IS HOMEMADE FROM
SCRATCH.
>> I'M SQUEEZING LIMES FOR A KEY LIME PIE.
>> WE REALLY FOCUS ON HANDMADE.
WE DO A LOT OF HAND MADE MILKSHAKES WHERE WE STIR THEM
AND SCOOP THE ICE CREAM OURSELVES INSTEAD OF USING A
PRE-MADE MIX.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO MAKE DIFFERENT SODAS FROM
SCRATCH USING SYRUPS, SODA WATER, TO MAKE VARIOUS FLAVORS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME TO PIKE'S.
THIS IS TYLER.
I AM YOUR LOCAL SODA JERK.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE PHOSPHATE SODAS HERE TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO START OUT WITH AN ICE BASE.
WE'RE GOING TO HIT OUR PEPSI SYRUP NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD A CHERRY.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD A VANILLA.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LET'S MAKE THIS SOME SODA.
>> A VISIT TO PIKE'S WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A PARTING
TREAT, A MILKSHAKE.
MAKING OVER A FEW HUNDRED A WEEK, PEOPLE COME FROM NEAR AND
FAR FOR A PIKE'S SHAKE.
MAKING ANY NUMBER OF FLAVORS, A CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SHAKE IS
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR.
>> I COME HERE ALL THE TIME SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MILKSHAKES,
BUT I ALWAYS GET WHATEVER SPECIAL THEY HAVE, AND MY GOAL
IS TO GET A MILKSHAKE AFTERWARDS.
SOMETIMES I GET ONE.
SOMETIMES I'M TOO FULL.
BUT MY GOAL IS ALWAYS TO GET A MILKSHAKE.
>> SO WHETHER YOUR VISIT TO PIKE'S OLD FASHIONED SODA SHOP
IS TO RELIVE A CHILDHOOD MEMORY OR JUST TO ENJOY A MILKSHAKE,
ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN.
YOUR VISIT TO PIKE'S WILL BE A TASTY DELIGHT.
IN CHARLOTTE FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M JEFF SMITH.