Goshen’s own South Side Soda Shop has been awarded a $50,000 grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The grant comes after a fire at the location damaged the South Side Soda Shop building in  Wednesday, March 26. Photo by South Side Soda Shop.

News Release

GOSHEN — Goshen’s own South Side Soda Shop has been awarded a $50,000 grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The grant is part of the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” program, which has distributed more than $8 million to older restaurants across the country over the past five years.

The origins of the old-fashioned eatery date to the early 1980s, where the then-vacant building was purchased and restored by the family of current co-owner Nick Boyd. Boyd and his wife, Charity, reopened the Soda Shop in January 1986, and it has remained an area landmark ever since.

The $50,000 grant will be used primarily for refurbishments, such as restoration of the restaurant’s sign. The award comes at a crucial moment for the restaurant, which had to close temporarily earlier this year following a fire in an upstairs apartment.

The diner retains much of its historic implements, including siding dating back to the building’s 1910 construction, an original Bastian Blessing soda fountain, tin ceilings, and a 1993 addition designed to resemble a ’50s dining car.

The restaurant has earned regional recognition for its authentic Philadelphia cuisine, including cheesesteaks, chili and pies, while also being featured in national media, including Gourmet Magazine, Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and the film Lonesome Jim.