Am I just making this up or did drugstores used to be places where kids in the 50s would meet for milkshakes and stuff? I'm sure I've read things like "we sat down at the drugstore counter and ordered two chocolate malt shakes".

A lot of drugstores did used to have soda fountains, but almost none do anymore. But the soda fountains was an added-on feature, not the main function of the store, at least to begin with.

Revolting, but a national tradition.

Only depending on the pie. Vili's pies are delicious, even the plain meat pie. Their goulash pie is to-die-for and the chicken pie is pretty damn mouth-watering. Then there are the "Ma (something ... forget the name)" pies; chili beef, bacon and cheese is another one I can't get enough of. (poor grammar, I know but my mouth is watering too much for me to care)

No, you're not making it up, it's just not generally true anymore.

In the 50s, I think that was common. (In the 50s, maybe the drugstore was the only place that could afford industrial freezers to keep ice cream in. I don't know, it's as good a guess as any.)

Now, there are coffee shops that fill the niche, and drugstores sell drugs, pantyhose, cheesy paperback novels, and hair dye.

Specifically, ground meat of uncertain provenance smothered in thick gravy, enclosed in pastry, and eaten with tomato sauce--sorry, ketchup. Revolting, but a national tradition.

I find it endlessly entertaining that they actually had a political scuffle about meat-pies in the last NSW election. Or more specifically, Bob Carr was accused of being un-Australian or some such for not liking sausage rolls, and he countered with the "Actually, I prefer meat-pies, which are more Australian anyway!" masterstroke.

Edit - because typos do not a good first impression make.

yeah but what can you sing with a meat pie?

at least with a sausage roll you can sing: "It's a long way to the shop, if you wanna sausage roll!"

The drugstore in my hometown has a little meal counter area, though it's more 70's cafeteria now than 50's soda fountain. And, the people you see there have probably been going since they were teenagers in the 50's.

A friend of mine, whom I can vouch for as being authentically un-American, has written a British-American-British dictionary which will be published soon. You can see it here and review it here.

at least with a sausage roll you can sing: "It's a long way to the shop, if you wanna sausage roll!"

Is it wrong for a newbie to shudder at ACDC related puns? It's just that band ruined all my childhood attempts at listening to any channel that wasn't Classic FM.

Fay, yes, Eddie Izzard. Cake - or death?