Pharmarista, a drugstore and soda shop, opens in Babylon

A dose of nostalgia lives on in Babylon village, where a charming new drugstore-soda shop blends the functionality of a pharmacy (insurance welcome!) with the convenience of a cafe. You want an egg cream or latte with your Prozac? Pharmarista has you covered.

Owner (and pharmacist) Dan Marcello is a Babylon native who worked within Stop and Shop’s pharmacy division, but always wanted his own pharmacy. "I live right here, I can walk here," he said of opening within the idyllic village. Open for about two months, Marcello is clear that "first and foremost, we are a pharmacy ... but the soda shop, the coffee shop, and most importantly, the egg cream, it’s a fun extension for us."

Marcello credits his friend, the late Mickey "Leggs" Beltrami, with the fusion idea, sharing with him the back story of how New York’s early local pharmacy culture was paired with soda shops serving egg creams, popular during Prohibition when other social drinking was illegal. "I didn’t even know what he was talking about," Marcello said. "But a lot of people have mentioned it throughout the years."

The egg cream is a quintessential New York beverage, originating in the Jewish sections of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Purportedly invented by Louis Auster, an immigrant in Brooklyn, egg creams are made from seltzer, chocolate (or other flavor) Fox’s U-bet syrup — which Pharmarista uses — and milk. The mixture is whipped into a frothy, drink-immediately treat that sets many generational hearts ablaze. Made with neither egg nor cream, it’s the top foam, which resembles fluffy egg whites, that gives the drink its name.

"When I was talking about this place, if I mentioned the word ‘egg cream,’ people got excited. Even when I told the landlord the idea, he was like ‘Egg cream? I’m in.’"

The shop, a simple open space with exposed brick, has an elevated pharmacy counter — which also has a wide selection of the over-the-counter meds — makes egg creams ($5) in vanilla or chocolate (complete with a pretzel stick), lattes ($4), cappuccinos and espressos ($3.50) and tea. A candy wall is stocked with old-timey lollipops, throwback Goldenberg’s peanut chews, a full selection of chocolate bars, gum, and more modern favorites like Swedish fish and Sour Patch Kids. Although the egg creams were always in the plan, "the coffee shop piece evolved naturally, because that’s what everyone drinks," Marcello said. Judging from the foot traffic on a recent Tuesday morning visit, Marcello’s idea looks like a good one.

Pharmarista, 68 W. Main St., Babylon, 631-320-2102, Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.