Wednesday, October 26, 2011

At Balfanz Pharmacy

balfanz pharmacy

When I was a kid, the ultimate source for the absolute best chocolate malt ever made was Balfanz Pharmacy, and I’ve never found anywhere else in the last 50 plus years that even comes close.

Located a block off of Heights Boulevard on White Oak at Harvard, Balfanz was a full service pharmacy, but the malts from their soda fountain were a source of pride.

Their concoctions were made with chocolate syrup and real powdered malt, tons of ice cream and no milk – well, maybe a teaspoon or so, but those malts were solid.  When they came off the mixer, they were served in a tall glass they pulled out of the freezer just in time to serve you.  The serving vessel  looked like a pilsner glass, but the glass was much thicker to retain the cold, and it frosted over as soon as it came out of the freezer.  They also gave you the stainless steel cup from the mixer because there was always a little bit that wouldn’t fit into the glass.

Balfanz served their malts with a long metal spoon, and if you asked for a straw, they would look at you aghast – totally offended.  Of course, they had straws on hand for sodas and such, but you would probably have had to wait around for at least a half hour before one of their malts could be pulled through one.

10 comments:

  1. My dad, Bill Engelbrecht, (still living, age 93) was a soda jerk at Balfanz, probably around 1936. He went on to open his own pharmacy in Austin.

    James
    jamestengel . . . yahoo.com

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    1. My grandmother worked there in the 40`s .One of her Chocolate ( Malts ),as I still call them,spoiled me for anything else.

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    2. We lived in a duplex at corner of Harvard and 7th with our window only 15 feet from the railroad track. At least 3 times a week, we made the one block walk to Balfanz to share one of their chocolate malts. No one has beat Balfanz since.

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  2. loved this pharmacy. they kept it nice and cold in there, and we would dive in on our walks to and from elementary. the school crossing guard was located on this corner...fond memories. circa 1960's

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  3. It looks exactly like Medfords Pharmacy that was in Southeast Houston. Stand alone little building with the best Malts as a kid in 50's & 60's we would beg to go there. No picture off of Telephone Road close to Griggs Rd.

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  4. Does anyone know anything about the pharmacist mr. Balfanz? I purchased their home in 2000 and would be grateful for any history about the home-especially knowing if they were the first owners and the year the house was built.

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    1. My Mother is Mr. Balfanz’s oldest daughter, and is still living comfortably at 92. He was the original owner….he built the house. He had purchased other lots in the area & kept as his homestead.

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    2. My Mom is 1of Mr. Balfanz’s daughters & is living comfortably at 92 years old. She says that he built the house after buying multiple lots in the area…so he was the original owner.

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    3. Bob Balfanz was my uncle. He and his family lived on Harvard and later built a house in Tanglewood. He died of a heart attack in 1968 at the age of 63.

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  5. Does anyone know anything about the pharmacist mr. Balfanz? I purchased their home in 2000 and would be grateful for any history about the home-especially knowing if they were the first owners and the year the house was built.

    ReplyDelete