How Sunday's Soda Fountain Turned History Into A Modern Hangout

A lot of restaurant stories start with a menu. Ours starts with a building, a chipped tile floor, and a stranger who walks by and says, “That used to be the old soda fountain.” We’re sitting down with Mike and Setareh Delcambre inside Sunday Soda Fountain in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, and they take us through the real behind-the-scenes journey of bringing historic spaces back to life without sanding off what made them special in the first place.We talk about Mike’s early leap into creating 307 Jazz Club, the “trial by fire” moment of suddenly leading a team in his 20s, and how a passion for music and design shaped a venue that drew touring musicians. From there, the story keeps expanding: The Green Room’s sustainability roots, the realities of operating bars and restaurants, and the way real estate investing can become a tool for downtown revitalization when you’re willing to bet on underloved blocks.Then we get into what makes Sunday Soda Fountain so unique: the research into soda fountain history, prohibition-era influences, and why counter service, house-made sodas, and a smart alcohol program actually fit together. Mike and Setareh also share the tough operational pivots that changed everything, including the move from quick service to table service and scaling days back to protect the guest experience. If you love adaptive reuse, historic restoration, and the craft of building community-centered places, this conversation is for you.Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, then share this with a friend who loves downtown Lafayette, and leave a review with your favorite thing to order at Sunday.The podcast was made possible through partnerships with Rouses Supermarket, Logic Refrigeration HVAC, Cajun Table, Vermilionville, Soul Haus Kitchen, Chris Logan Media, and Sunday Soda Fountain – proving that when a community rallies around celebrating local food culture, amazing things happen. Subscribe now to join this delicious adventure and become part of the movement that's transforming Lafayette's food scene one bite at a time!learn more: foodiesoflafayette.comSocial MediaFacebookInstagramYouTube