Walgreen's / Varner's Drug Store

There’s nothing better than ice cream on a hot day. Since 1942, if you wanted to find some great ice cream in Brevard, you could walk to the building at the end of South Broad Street, come right up to the counter, and order a tall, cold milkshake.

Varner’s drug store began in the Aethelwold building.  When Varner’s moved across the street in 1942, it became an agency of Walgreen’s.

Drug stores were popular in the early to mid 1900s. Much like drug stores today, they provided medication along with miscellaneous items including toiletries, magazines, office supplies, and more. Many drug stores also had a soda fountain and lunch counter which served as a gathering place to chat, eat, and listen to music. In 1956, Varner’s expanded next door to and a more modern lunch counter and serve more people. At Varner’s, soda jerks served ice cream, soda and food, and provided a great place to hang out and catch up.

When Varner sold his business in 1960, it continued operating as a drug store under the same name until in closed it 1993. Rocky's Grill and Soda shop opened next door in 1995 and expanded into the Varner's location in 2017.  Rocky’s operates as a soda shop and restaurant in a style reminiscent of its earlier days as Varner’s.