The Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain have been a historical landmark of the South Pasadena business district since it was founded more than one hundred years ago. The original name was the South Pasadena Pharmacy in 1915, then the Raymond Pharmacy in the 20s and 30s, and then in the early 40s, the permanent name was established as The Fair Oaks Pharmacy. It was originally started by entrepreneur Gertrude Ozmun, a woman with a far-sighted investment vision who was really impressive and outstanding back then. 

It may seem very unusual now that a pharmacy and soda fountain are combined in the same building, but it was normal at that time. The products are also very special because the soda water is mixed with concoctions from the pharmacy, which would craft and market their own recipes that were used for various treatments. The custom-made flavor is really attractive for the young generations.  

The architectural design is very unique. It’s like a time capsule transporting customers to a different era when they walk through the door, experiencing being stuck in the 1950s.  As owner Brandon Shahniani says, “ You can get an ice cream everywhere, but you can never get an ice cream the way we serve it.” 

Since the  economy of the world is always changing, especially during the pandemic period, to be flexible and valuable, they keep figuring out new creative ways to fully adjust and shift the business model to match what’s happening in the economy. For instance, the historical building looks the same, but behind-the-scenes adjustments always exist, like adding or moving stuff in the menu.

Thank you to the English as a Second Language (ESLN) students from Pasadena City College for partnering with us on this special project. As part of their U.S. Cultural Traditions and Social Change class in Spring 2024, the students gathered stories and information directly from local legacy businesses, capturing their unique contributions to our community. We are proud to showcase their authored profiles and celebrate their hard work. A special thank you to Xiaoyun (Grace) Xu and Yuho Sawada for working closely with Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain. Your dedication has brought these stories to life beautifully!