Jamie's

By Erin Shultz
Tribune columnist

January 30, 2006 03:25 pm

— One of only a handful of real soda fountains left in the United States, Jamie's (MAP) is a one-of-a-kind gem in Kokomo, but take a second look and you'll see a tiny diner with more to offer than fizzy drinks.
There's something about the atmosphere at Jamie's that takes you back to a better time. Employees know their customers to a T.
"The usual?" one employee says to a regular who walks into the squat little restaurant one afternoon.
Barely pausing to hear the answer, she turns on her heels to prepare the customer's drinks. She already knows the answer.
She scoops a mound of shaved ice into a huge Styrofoam cup, adds a few squirts of soda syrup, tosses in a flavoring or two and tops it all off with soda water.
The best part about Jamie's? You get to pick from about 743 different flavorings, from vanilla to marshmallow and lemon to chocolate.
Mix and match. Try something that sounds horrible like a chocolate, strawberry and lime cola. You might discover something amazing. It's all about experimentation at Jamie's.
This reporter has been known to make a daily "Jamie's run" to keep her pepped up through the afternoons here at the Tribune.
When I moved here, I actually vowed to try a new cola every day until I had tried every possible combination. After about three weeks of tasting a "fountain soda" every day, I settled on diet vanilla cola. It has become my drink of choice.
Honestly, there's really nothing like sipping on a freshly made soda from Jamie's -- ice cold and sweet -- during the muggy Kokomo afternoons.
After you've properly quenched your thirst, though, check out Jamie's full menu.
A popular downtown lunch locale, Jamie's is quick and easy -- and best of all, it won't break the bank.
With its traditional diner-style menu, featuring lots of hot and cold sandwiches, appetizers, breadsticks and fried delights, there's something for everyone.
The club sandwich is to die for and the french fries and appetizers are mouth-watering.
Jamie's food hits the spot, especially on cold winter afternoons. It's stick-to-your-ribs good and, while it has a tendency to be a touch on the greasy side, don't we all need that every once in a while?
So next time you reach for a store-bought cola, head on over to Jamie's for a delicious beverage, a great atmosphere and some tasty food.
Erin Shultz may be reached at (765) 454-8587 or via e-mail at erin.shultz@kokomotribune.com.