Step into the South Side Soda Shop in Goshen, Indiana, and you’ll find yourself transported to an era when life moved a little slower and a good meal came with a generous helping of hometown hospitality. This family-run retro diner isn’t just another restaurant—it’s a living piece of American history that’s been winning hearts and stomachs for nearly four decades.
A Rich History That Started Over a Century Ago
The story of South Side Soda Shop begins in the early 1900s when the building first opened as a grocery store in 1910. But the real magic happened in the 1940s when the original Bastian Blessings soda fountain was installed—and it’s still there today, serving up sodas, shakes, malts, and floats just like it did more than 80 years ago. The building served multiple purposes over the decades, functioning as everything from a bus stop to a post office before finding its true calling as a soda shop.
After a period of closure, restoration began in 1985, and the South Side Soda Shop reopened its doors in January 1986 under the loving care of Nick and Charity Boyd. The couple has been running this beloved establishment ever since, creating a legacy that extends far beyond the city limits of Goshen. Eight years after reopening, they added a dining car to the existing building, providing additional seating while maintaining that authentic 1950s dining atmosphere.
Award-Winning Food That’s Earned National Recognition
What sets South Side Soda Shop apart isn’t just its nostalgic atmosphere—it’s the incredible food that keeps customers coming back generation after generation. The diner’s chili has been voted Michiana’s best chili an impressive seven times, and their lemon meringue pie won the Indiana Pie Quest Contest. These aren’t just local bragging rights; the quality has caught the attention of national food critics and television producers.
The restaurant was featured in Gourmet Magazine and made an appearance in the film “Lonesome Jim,” directed by Steve Buscemi. But perhaps the biggest claim to fame came when Guy Fieri and the Food Network crew rolled into town for the premiere season of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” In the episode titled “Retro,” Fieri highlighted their Philly Cheesesteak, famous chili, fresh seafood, and dessert selections. The recognition was so well-received that Food Network returned in 2024 to feature the restaurant again on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Triple D Nation,” which premiered in March 2025.
A Menu That Blends Nostalgia with Philadelphia Flavors
Nick Boyd’s Philadelphia roots shine through in many of the diner’s most popular dishes. The Philly Cheesesteak is served on an authentic Amoroso hoagie roll, just like you’d find on the streets of Philadelphia. But perhaps even more creative is their “Philly Chili”—a brilliant presentation where egg noodles are topped with their award-winning beef-and-bean chili, onions, cheddar cheese, and sour cream, all served in a soda glass like a savory sundae.
The soda fountain specialties are where this place really shines. They serve phosphates, malts, shakes, and floats using recipes that haven’t changed in decades. One of the most beloved offerings is the Green River Soda, a retro flavor that’s become a cult favorite, especially with kids who delight in its super-sweet taste and its ability to turn their tongues green. The soda fountain experience here is authentic—no modern shortcuts or artificial flavors, just the real deal prepared the way it was meant to be.
More Than 30 Flavors of Homemade Pie
If you thought the main courses were impressive, wait until you see the dessert selection. South Side Soda Shop offers more than 30 flavors of homemade pie, and they bring them out to your table so you can see each option up close and personal. It’s an old-school touch that adds to the charm and makes choosing your dessert an experience in itself.
The pie selection changes regularly, but you can always count on finding classics alongside seasonal specialties. Their fresh peach pie was recently featured on Food Network’s “Triple D Nation,” and locals swear by their turtle sundaes and fresh, flaky pastries that Nick Boyd makes fresh daily. The dessert buffet alone is worth the trip, showcasing the kind of from-scratch baking that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s restaurant world.
An Atmosphere That Feels Like Home
Walking into South Side Soda Shop is like stepping onto a movie set from the 1950s, except everything is real and functional. The original bar stools still line the counter, which often overflows with the day’s fresh pie selections. The dining car addition provides booth seating that maintains the retro diner aesthetic while accommodating families and larger groups.
What makes this place truly special is how it’s woven itself into the fabric of the community. Nick Boyd often notes that children who came in during the 1980s are now bringing their own kids in, creating a multi-generational tradition. The Boyds have shared their family with the community and become part of countless other families’ memories and traditions.
A Living Piece of Americana
In an age of fast-food chains and corporate restaurants, South Side Soda Shop represents something increasingly precious: authentic, family-owned hospitality that’s been perfected over decades. The restaurant operates Wednesday through Saturday with limited hours, making each visit feel special rather than routine. They’re closed Sundays through Tuesdays, adding to the sense that this is a place that operates on its own terms, prioritizing quality over quantity.
The street parking and busy atmosphere during peak times—especially near the neighboring elementary school during pick-up and drop-off—only add to the authentic small-town diner experience. This isn’t a place trying to recreate the past; it’s a place that has authentically preserved it while continuing to evolve and serve its community.
For anyone traveling through northern Indiana or looking for a genuine slice of Americana, South Side Soda Shop offers more than just a meal—it provides a connection to a simpler time when every neighborhood had a place like this, where everyone knew your name and your order, and where a perfect burger and a Green River Soda could make any day better.