From the very beginning, teenagers loved to meet, eat and work at Warren's Soda Shop.

Photos courtesy of Cheryl Price and Paul Magnabosco

The Beach Shop and Grill has been an island tradition for generations.  People love coming back year after year to a place that holds so many memories from when they were young.  Others enjoy bringing their children and grandchildren to share those small-town, feel-good experiences that just seem to happen when sharing a meal at the Beach Shop.

Warren's Soda Shop was the first soda fountain to open on the island in the early 1950's.  Shown here in their second location, they moved to the corner of Davis and South Anderson in 1959 about the time the first streetlights (shown above) were installed, paid for by private residents. 

But before the Beach Shop and Grill—as it is called today—there was Warren’s Soda Shop, the first fountain to open on the island in 1952.  The “Soda Shop,” as it was affectionately called, was originally located on the corner of Crews Avenue and South Anderson in Topsail Beach.  William Warren and his sister Rachel Warren Magnabosco were the owners and operators.   From early on, it became a gathering place for young and old alike, not to mention a great place to have a summer job.  If you talk to old-timers who have been coming to or living on the island for decades, it won’t take long before they tell you a story about the good times at the Soda Shop.

In 1959, the Soda Shop moved up the road to the corner of Davis Avenue—the site of today’s Beach Shop and Grill.  Taking a look back at photos from those early days will give you a sense of déjà vu because today’s Beach Shop and Grill is in the same building with the same look, inside and out.  The knotty pine paneling and signature bar with stools all combine to give you a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of milk shakes and fries and fun with friends.

Warren’s Soda Shop owner, William Warren (right) is shown here with Emory Sadler, who—like so many teenagers over the years—worked and hung out at the popular eatery. 

“Warren's Soda Shop lived up to its slogan, ‘Where Friends Meet,’ from 1952 until our family sold the business in 1974,” said Paul Magnabosco.  “It is tremendously exciting to experience a similar atmosphere now at The Beach Shop.  My mother, Rachel Magnabosco, and my uncle, William Warren, would be proud that Jeff Price has placed a high priority on the hospitality and inviting environment that they worked hard to emphasize several decades ago.”
 
“We bought the Beach Shop in March, 2002, from Hap and Suzanne Alexander,” said Cheryl Price, current owner with husband Jeff.  At that time, Jeff was a sales representative for Alliant Foodservice, now US Foodservice, and by good fortune, the Beach Shop was his account.

 “He loved the restaurant and in October, 2001, took me to lunch there and talked me into buying it with him,” said Cheryl.  “It was not a difficult decision.  The Beach Shop has such a wonderful aura.  We have not looked back since!”

Like Jeff, Cheryl also has a background in the food service industry.  A talented baker, she owned Blueberry Hill Dessertery in Wilmington for six years before selling it in January, 2006, in order to focus on the Beach Shop.

“Running between the two was hard, but I still make the same desserts at the Beach Shop,” said Cheryl.  Prior to owning Blueberry Hill, she was a pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach.

Jeff (left) and Cheryl Price—current owners of the Beach Shop and Grill—welcome old and new friends alike to their restaurant, an island tradition.  With them is their beloved English bulldog Annabel Mackmurdo.
 
That welcoming feeling isn’t limited to the people who come to eat or shop.  The camaraderie of the people who worked at the Soda Shop/Beach Shop is legendary.

“A lot of our summer wait-staff came in to eat as children and now work here with us,” said Jeff.

According to Paul, “A few of the former employees that met at Warren’s Soda Shop, married, currently own homes at Topsail Beach, and still enjoy friends and fellowship at the Beach Shop.”  It’s no surprise that one of these couples includes Paul and his wife Susan, in addition to Susan and Bill Burnette, as well as Jim and Linda Hundley.

“We were attracted to the Beach Shop and to Topsail Beach because of the warm, inviting family atmosphere,” said Cheryl.  She and Jeff have made an effort to create a feeling of stepping back in time, a place where people stop and say hello, throw up a hand in greeting, and often pull up a chair and have dessert with friends.

Upscale dinner options now include a delicious variation of a popular favorite "shrimp and grits."

“We believe in growth, but still want to maintain that hometown feeling,” agreed Jeff.  “We know our customers’ names and they feel at home here, so we enjoy that aspect of owning the Beach Shop.”  The couple admitted that Jeff had always wanted to own his own restaurant.

“So this is very much a dream come true for him,” said Cheryl.

Although much of what is loved about the Beach Shop has to do with the traditions, the history, and the friendly fellowship, not to mention the fabulous food, but it has also seen its share of changes over the years.

“We modernized the kitchen in winter, 2006, which allows us to serve the customers more quickly and offer a better variety of menu items,” explained Jeff.  “We added dinner during our second year, which had not been done before and we’re happy that it’s a huge success.”

At night the atmosphere is a bit less “fountain shop” and more “evening restaurant” with the wait staff dressed in black and white and the menu offering more sophisticated dishes.  But the burgers that have practically become famous over the years are still available at night.

Jeff Voelck, the dinner chef, is affectionately known as Big Jeff to the regulars

Other changes include summer entertainment with live bands and various offerings throughout the season.  Whether you’re a visitor or a local, check in often to see what might be happening while you’re at the beach or for something new and interesting to do.

“The same people come back year after year,” said Cheryl, “not only because the food is really great, but because we are consistent and we provide a warm, inviting atmosphere of days-gone-by at the beach.”

 

How's your memory?

Do you know all the names of these guys who worked at Warren's?

Send your best guess to publisher@topsailmagazine.com.

 

There is no doubt that The Beach Shop and Grill is still carrying on a tradition of good food and good friends started fifty-five years ago.  The motto still stands .  .  . “Where Friends Meet.”

A Step Back in Time…..Word for Word with Sandra Davis

 

In the sixties and seventies, just like today, Warren’s Soda Shop was “the” place to check in with your friends several times a day.  William “Unk” Warren and Rachel Magnabosco were first bosses for many of us and they were the best.  They loved to have fun and gave us much flexibility.  Lots of us stayed at the beach all summer, working some and playing a lot.  We alternated working 9-1 and 6-10 one day, then 1-7 the next. 

 

Since some of our parents only came on the weekends we were often short of cash.  Rachel kept “The Book” on the back counter.  Whatever you consumed or carried out, the beach kids were allowed to write it down in “The Book.”  Bills were paid when parents got down on Fridays.  This service extended to anyone they knew whenever they came in from a beach walk or just had no money.

 

Every two weeks we closed an hour early to scrub and wax the floor.  It was our favorite night because there were enough of us to laugh, slide around in the water, eat the pancakes they would cook for us, and still get to that night’s party house.

 

Unk and Rachel went home from six to seven every night for dinner, a drink, and probably time away from us.  Oh, did they trust us!  There were quite a few hot fudge sundaes consumed by Martha Chambliss and me during those hours.  One of Martha’s tricks was to dress up the mannequins and parade them over the shoulders of unsuspecting customers sitting in the booths. 

 

Mickey Anderson would come in each night for a pint of raspberry sherbert.  One night we watched her drive up and stashed Ri-Ri Faison in the ice cream cooler.  Mickey was a petite lady and Ri grabbed her arm and practically dragged her down into the deep cooler with her.  I do not remember Unk and Rachel ever getting mad at any of us, but nephew and son Paul Magnabosco would often catch it.

 

SANDRA DAVIS

 

6 summers Warren’s Soda Shop clothing sales
1 year Warren’s Real Estate Maid…now those are some stories from Susan, Paul, and me
1 night Warren’s Soda Shop Jerk/Cook…another story for another day

 

“Thanks for the chance to salute the patience and love Rachel and Unk showed all of us.”
–Sandra Davis,
Sneads Ferry Resident