Former Pearson’s Drug Store customers gather to remember old shop

IOWA CITY - Al Thomas said he remembers when he made his friend homemade jelly and the clerks at the former Pearson's Drug Store would keep it in the refrigerator so his friend could enjoy his morning English muffin during their coffee meetings.

“We thought he deserved some better jelly so we made some for him” the 77-year-old man said chuckling. “They would store it in their own refrigerator; it was just that kind of place.”

About 25 people gathered in City Park Sunday afternoon to reminisce about mouthwatering malts, delicious sandwiches and fizzy soda, but most importantly – to remember the strong friendships and good conversations that surrounded them at Pearson's Drug Store, 202 N. Linn St.

The old fashioned drug store and soda fountain closed in August of 2001, but the various coffee groups that used to enter the shop throughout the day still meet, but at different locations.

“The different groups went to different place after Pearson's closed,” Thomas said. “We went to Lou Henri's.”

Thomas said he still regularly meets with his group of five to 10 coffee goers, but he wanted to host a reunion so everyone who used to go to Pearson's could get together.

Nancy Sereduck said she met some of her dearest friends at Pearson's.

The 60-year-old Iowa City resident said she remembers munching on American cheese sandwiches and sucking down peanut-butter malts, but most memorably meeting friends that she says she is so close to, they are like family.

Sereduck said she moved to Iowa City when she was 26-years-old and didn't have any relatives in the immediate area, but she found her niche at the old drug store and still meets with the same people today.

“When you go every day, it becomes part of your life,” she said.

Former Iowa City Police Chief Harvey Miller, 81, was there with his wife Maxine Miller, 83, both of Iowa City.

Harvey Miller reminisced fondly of the former owner, Pat Pearson, noting the owner's kind personality and gracious demeanor.

Miller said he remembers when he would send less fortunate people up to Pat's drug store with checks from the Red Cross to buy over the counter medications. Pearson would fulfill their requests, but refused to cash the checks and would later return them to Miller.

“It's pretty rare to find people who would do that,” the 81-year-old said, tearing up.

Enjoying their picnic, the group dinned on a whole smorgasbord of goodies, but for desert nibbled on Blue Bunny ice cream, the same brand Pearson's used to sell.

Each guest had their own favorite item the old-fashioned soda fountain used to concoct, varying from hot fudge Sundays to egg salad sandwiches to even something as simple as flavored coke.

Ellen Colony, 81, of North Liberty said she had been going to the store since 1946, when her Aunt used to work at the fountain and she would stop in to visit.

“They would mix the coke so strong it made your eyes water,” she said, remembering fondly.

To this day Colony still drinks coke, and brought a few canned sodas to commemorate the tasty treat.

“The place [Pearson's Drug Store] was kind of like Cheers,” she said. “You knew half a dozen people just when you walked through the door.”