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What's Up with Billy B’s

[What’s in a name?]

By Jeff Roedel | Also by this reporter

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

This classic soda shop has anchored Bocage Village since 1955 when it was known as Dearman’s drugstore and pharmacist Bill Dearman was serving up more Valium than cheeseburgers. Billy B’s current manager Jan Benson used to shop there. When Dearman died in 2000, William Wright purchased the store and turned it into a full-scale restaurant. Last fall, Wright took a cue from his nickname and rechristened the shop Billy B’s Old Fashioned Soda Fountain, with eyes on franchising the retro brand. “It would’ve cost me too much to keep it Dearman’s,” he says.

Comments

Posted by andrea on March 6, 2006 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My family loved going to Billy B's. Unfortunately, the last few times I've been in it has been terribly dirty. The floors were so sticky I couldn't walk, and the tables had not been cleared. They need to do some serious housekeeping.
I don't think I will go back unless I hear that things have changed considerably.
I still love those burgers and fries. And Billy Wright is sooo nice!

Posted by MOFED on March 6, 2006 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Someone needs to let him know that if you are going to advertise your franchise, you might want to spell the name of the city you are opening in correctly. The horrific commercial for Billy B's, targeting all of the evacuees here in Baton Rouge, that has been airing over the last several months, misspells Metairie across the screen.

Posted by velvetlove_261 on April 23, 2006 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As I grew up going to Dearman's it was very disappointing to see the old time drugstore go. That was part of the 50's vibe you went to the soda shop at the drugstore for a malted and a burger. While your buger was cooking you could wander the aisles and look at the things the store had to offer. It is just sad to see a Baton Rouge institution go down again. It is comforting that he did keep it a burger joint but it is sad to see that when you ride by the front of the shop all you see is tables and none of the old charm that Dearman's had. I will have to try the burgers and a malted before I say that it isn't worth the 2 minute trip for me though.