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'Milk bar' is a term in some parts of Australia for suburban local shops or general stores. They are known as delicatessens or delis in South Australia and Western Australia, and as corner stores in Queensland. Milk bars are traditionally a place where people drop in to pick up milk and newspapers, and where school children spend their pocket money on milkshakes or lollies.

Contents

History

Modern era

Traditional Milkshakes in Australia

In popular culture

A Clockwork Orange

The Legend of Zelda

Cow and Chicken

Similar establishments

References

History

The first businesses to use the name "milkbar" were franchises opened by Burt Brothers in 1934. The concept soon spread to the United Kingdom, and over 1,000 milkbars had opened by the end of 1936. Milk bars were known in the United States at least as early as 1940 as evidenced by contemporary radio recordings.
By the late 1940s, milkbars had evolved: not only were they retailers of groceries, they were also places where young people could buy ready-made food, non-alcoholic drinks and socialise. Milkbars often used to include jukeboxes, pinball machines – later upgraded to video games – tables and chairs in their decor to encourage patrons to stay and spend more money.
The milkbar as a social venue was gradually replaced by fast food franchises, such as McDonalds, and shopping malls. Much of the elaborate decor has disappeared from the milk bars that remain. However, they are still found in many areas, with their primary function often being that of a convenience store.

Modern era

Milkbars in Australia today almost universally stock ice creams, sweets, chocolate bars, soft drinks, newspapers, bread and occasionally fast food. They also serve milkshakes. Although there are many fewer milk bars than there were during the 1970s and 80s due to changing shopping habits, most people living in suburban areas still have a milk bar within walking distance or a short drive of their home. A prime example of a suburban milk bar is the Olympia Milk Bar in Stanmore, Australia.
In the United Kingdom, the National Milk Bar franchise is an ordinary café / restaurant chain which is related to the original milkbars in name only ^[1]. Most of these are found in Wales and near the Welsh border in England. In the UK, corner shops serve a similar function to milkbars in modern Australia, providing everyday groceries, sweets, newspapers etc.
There is also a campaign in the UK to encourage school children to consume more dairy products, by installing 'milk bars' in schools. The idea behind this is that if the perishable dairy products are attractively presented and properly stored, the children will be more willing to buy them. The organisers behind the project work to develop links with school caterers, so that the handling of milk and dairy produce can be improved, and they promote milk consumption and encourage milk drinking to become a habit that will be carried into adulthood. The Milk bar project has been extremely successful in Scotland for 18 years, and it is currently being extended across England and Wales.

Traditional Milkshakes in Australia

Traditional Milkshakes are available from Australian milkbars, often old-style corner shops. The most common and standard flavours are Chocolate, Strawberry, Caramel, Vanilla, Banana and Lime. They are prepared by placing chilled milk, scoops of vanilla ice cream and the flavouring syrup into a stainless steel cup, then mixing them. Malt flavouring is also sometimes added. Traditionally the Milkshake is served in the metal cup, though for take-away it is poured into a paper cup.

In popular culture

A Clockwork Orange

Milk bars were also mentioned in a more sinister context in Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange, in the guise of the Korova Milk Bar, a hangout where the delinquent Alex and his friends gathered to plan their crimes and consume milk laced with narcotics. Burgess grew up in England during the period discussed above in which milk bars originated.

The Legend of Zelda

There was also a milk bar featured in the Nintendo 64 ''Zelda'' title ''. Situated in the Eastern village of Clocktown, it showcased live entertainment, stocked milk from Romani Ranch, and was a place for Ingo to spend his lonely nights moping. It opened only at night and only to registered members; no children were allowed entry.

Cow and Chicken

Additionally, a milk bar was featured in the fictional show Cow and Chicken in which the title character Cow was put to work singing in a "seedy milk bar" and her performance mimicked a run-down lounge singing act. The bar served at least milk and ice cream, though most likely it was not meant to reflect true milk bars.

Similar establishments

A "dairy bar" is the term for a similar restaurant/store common in the Northeastern United States, especially Upstate New York, which is a large producer of dairy products.
The term dairy is also used for these establishments in some places, particularly in New Zealand.

References

1. A tribute to National Milk Bars