NYC staple, Lexington Candy Shop, is celebrating its centennial this year. Founded in 1925, opening just a year after the building was constructed, the city’s oldest luncheonette has been owned and operated by the same family across three generations. It remains a time machine to an era when soda fountains and luncheonettes defined NYC neighborhoods.
Beyond being an incredible spot to belly up at the counter, it’s most recognized for making coca-cola the old-fashioned way. This requires mixing coca-cola syrup and seltzer water, but not forgetting to top the concoction with a scoop of ice cream. Believe us or not, Lexington Candy Shop once sold coca-cola for just 10¢.
If you’re unfamiliar with what a luncheonette is, the term was first coined in the early 1900s for an American establishment that, well you probably guessed it, serves lunch! It’s typically informal and primarily serves light meals. The Lexington Candy Shop menu even has a whole section dedicated to “Lite Delights.”
As soon as you enter, you’ll be instantly transported to what life might’ve looked like decades ago in NYC. It’s extensive offerings range between everything from french toast and pancakes to hamburgers, salad platters and homemade soups.
You can find it on the Upper East Side at 1226 Lexington Avenue. Its operating hours are 7am to 6pm from Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 8am to 4pm on Sunday.
Its current owner is John Philis, the grandson of Soteris Philis who founded the luncheonette 100 years ago. The restaurant’s name comes from a time when it used to sell candy and homemade chocolates, before stopping candy-making in 1948.
To give more context on just how old Lexington Candy Shop is, Calvin Coolidge was the president at the time it opened. The United States had only 30 presidents in its history at that point. Kind of crazy when you think of it like that!
Who knows what awaits in the next 100 years, but for New Yorkers looking to step into a rich piece of NYC history definitely, make a point to stop into Lexington Candy Shop sometime soon.
📍1226 Lexington Avenue
🚇 Near 86th St Q and 77 St 6
🕙 Hours vary