This is a friendly place! And it's the famous soda shop where President Truman got his start! On the corner out front is a statue of young Harry sweeping up, but he did everything in the store including opening to closing, to everything in between. Enjoy one of their many ice cream delights at the old-fashioned soda fountain up front, or create one of your own and gather with friends in the genuine soda shop booths in the back, complete with signage from "back in the day." Peruse the creatively displayed shelves chock-full of both popular candies of generations of childhoods past, and today. You won't see any of what we called "Penny Candy" in my day, or at least they aren't priced like that now! The only thing lacking for me was enough different flavors of ice cream, but I got MY start in the working world at the home of 31 flavors, Baskin-Robbins! read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - All the comforts and memories of a real soda fountain shop! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This little shop is so cute and has amazing homemade ice cream options! Perfect if you're looking for a local, old timey spot. I got the sampler and loved every flavor, especially the strawberry cheesecake! My boyfriend got the cup with pieces of cheesecake, strawberry syrup, etc. and this was AMAZING! Highly recommend--I would definitely come back here! read more

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Cute little place. Kinda throwback atmosphere. Ice cream was pretty good. Service was slow - two people behind the counter, one polishing stuff, the other just talking. Didn't take my order for about 5 minutes. People behind me, called by name, got in and out quickly - maybe it was just me .. read more

Stopped in for an after lunch ice cream snack. Hubs and I shared a chocolate chip cup and it was very good. The service wasn't the greatest, a bunch of kids that probably could've used some adult supervision. It's a neat historic place. read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Cup of Chocolate Chip - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

A historical landmark of Independence, MO. The inside reminds me of an old-school diner and has some old-fashioned candy and other merch for sale. The phosphate reminds me of the cream soda when I was younger. However, the banana split tasted like it was store-bought. read more

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While giving my out-of-town sister-in-law the tour of Independence, we stopped in Clinton's for a refreshment on a hot August afternoon. My wife and her sister each ordered a bottled Polly's Pops Root Beer which happens to be bottled just a block away. I splurged and had a Root Beer Float. The root beer was made the old fashioned way with flavoring syrup and seltzer water from the fountain head on the bar. A great treat. Clinton's besides being a soda fountain, they are also part gift shop with a lot of historical photos; harkening back to the days when Harry Truman worked in this space when it was a pharmacy and a soda fountain. My only complaint is that the young lady working would have been more engaging. When you work in a business that caters to tourists you should really try and give them a few tidbits of info about the history or menu. She just wanted to get back to her reading ASAP. read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - a cold beverage - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Stopped in for dessert after dinner. Fun little place where Harry Truman worked when he was younger. We got there close to closing but still were able to get a quick dessert. Had butter pecan sundae which was just great and hit the spot! Highly recommend for the desserts and the fun! read more

A blast from the past. Think "It's a Wonderful Life." Plenty of seating and an old time soda fountain with a plethora of ice cream choices. Candy choices from the past as well. Revisit your childhood and treat yourself to a treat. On the square in Independence. read more

This is where Harry Truman had his first job. Today, it's still a traditional soda fountain/ice cream joint and they serve a great chocolate phosphate (lots of chocolate flavor). The place is a real throw back to the old soda fountains of years ago. The menu is strictly ice cream and all the variations of what you can do with ice cream -- cones, dishes, sundaes, shakes, floats, banana splits, etc. If you love ice cream or chocolate phosphates -- this is the place for you. read more

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How adorable is this place? I'm a history teacher and I actually teach my students about the old American Soda Fountain that 99.9% of them have never experienced. Well, I got to and it was super neat. I stumbled upon this place while driving around Independence. And as it turns out Harry Truman used to work here (History nerd score!). I wasn't really that hungry though the sundaes and floats looked awesome. So I just ordered a phosphate (homemade soda). It was super fun to watch them make it and it only cost $2. I loved my cherry soda and I loved my journey back to early 20th century America. read more

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History awaits this rich walk down memory lane with Harry Truman. Where he worked and ate. The ice cream is legit and they make waffle cones fresh on the iron. Highly recommend for an afternoon treat when in town. There were about two other people when I visited. read more

Lovely historic vibe. Delicious ice cream. Clean and a great way to look around at experience a step back in time.

It's like a trip back in time! Located in Independence, it has a small town feel. The staff here are friendly and will confide in you about their day, and answer any questions you have. It's hard to find a place with old fashioned phosphate soda. It's smooth and delicious. Their ice cream is great too! We shared a tux sundae and it was delicious. Favorite place to go in this area! read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Tux sundae. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This place is a must if you are in the Independence square. Just going in to look around is super neat, it is like you walk into a time capsule and go back in time. The setup is super cute, and Harry S. Truman used to work there when it was a pharmacy! They have a ton of ice cream sundae amd soda options. Of course it being a soda/ice cream place, I had to try out a float. I ordered a cream soda float, and it was delicious! My husband ordered a grasshopper sundae and he also enjoyed that. My little brother got a root beer float, and he just enjoyed the place a ton. There was a little gift shop section and he picked out a mini coloring book and pencils. read more

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This is a place you can skip and not miss it. We ordered sundaes, and they were served in small plastic cups with skimpy plastic spoons. It was nearly impossible to eat the ice cream as the flimsy spoon kept bending, and it was a struggle the entire time. They looked like something you would get in a fast food joint. They called mine a sundae but it was ice cream with some crushed cookies on top, no sauce, and some canned whipped cream. The ice cream wasn't particularly good, it tasted like run of mill supermarket ice cream, the whipped cream was a joke, so frankly, not worth the calories. It was a waste of time. read more

Here's Your Scoop, you kind of bombed out on me today. I was looking forward to a scoop of Red Velvet Ice Cream, drove all the way out there, and you were closed, with a sign on the door. Probably my fault, I should've waited, and called, but hours are hours. Which bought me back to Independence. I'd driven by Clinton's thousands of times. This time, I decided to stop in. It is a nice little old time-y ice cream shop, that also sells trinkets, and candy. There is a full espresso menu, with hot chocolate, and coffee. It offers a choice of sandwiches, as well. For ice cream, it serves flavors of Well's Blue Bunny. It has a number of sundaes, and banana splits, waffle cones and regular cones. The bakery items were yummy. I found the brownie to be a bit dry. I also bought a 7 layer cookie bar. it was good, and much easier than making one myself. The ice cream sundae is served in a tall ice cream dish. I had a marshmallow sundae. It was really good. I want to try an ice cream soda, so I will, eventually. My mouth was watering, and I didn't frankly know which to try. On the walls are memorabilia from Independence, and President Truman. It's nice that Independence has this little piece of history to step into. read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Great experience if you are ever in Independence, Missouri! Working soda fountain that has a cute gift shop area too! Famed for being a former workplace of President Truman. Get a float! I asked for popular variations and the soda jerk (ha!) had some good suggestions. I got a black cherry float with vanilla ice cream. Very affordable and quick. You can walk around the square after as well. Enjoy! read more

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I would have loved to give this place an actual review. However, I was never even acknowledged. I went up to the counter to look at the menu. Two employees, one blonde and one brunette, were in deep discussion, about work relations, I'm assuming. There is a sign that says all orders must be placed at the register, so once I made my decision, I went to the register, where these employees were still talking. I stood there, waiting to be acknowledged. Nothing. I took out my wallet as a sign that I was definitely ready to order. Not even a pause in their conversation. The man sitting at the counter told me I would need to just speak up and tell them what I wanted, because that's what he had to do. I told him that really shouldn't be necessary. I stared at the two employees for 10 more seconds and they never stopped talking to each other. So I left. Oh well. read more

Hours show 11am-6pm, arrived at 4:45 pm and closed. 30 minute drive wasted. Whats the point of being in business at all? Will not return. read more

Such a fun place to visit. Clean and great atmosphere. Clinton's is like going back in time to the soda fountain in the early days of Independence. Our server was so nice and friendly. I had a chocolate cream soda! I also learned about Polly Pop and we bought some bottles to take with us! Fun flavors and more exciting than Coke or Pepsi products! They have a nice gift shop! read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Chocolate Cream Soda and some Polly Pop sodas. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Clinton's is a prime example of how an establishment with fine food can turn into a horrid experience because of the customer service. Please let me introduce you to the most snobby barista I've come across in quite some time. I would provide her name, but she wasn't wearing a name tag nor did she give us a receipt. Upon entering, there was no one in line. The lady was making a sandwich, and we were not greeted. No "hello", no "I'll be with you in a minute," not even a head nod. Fine, you're really into your sandwich making, I can look past that. When she was finally done, she was all "What do you want?" with a blank stare. I politely said "I'm a bit overwhelmed by the menu. I have no idea what to get...Could you help me out, please?" She responded with "Uhhh...the menu is right behind you." Yes, thank you lady, that's the same menu I've been staring at for the past ten minutes as you made someone else's sandwich!!! My mom ordered a BLT and iced tea and I ordered a Tarimisu Latte. She kept looking at me like I was evil or something for only ordering coffee and kept insisting/demanding that I order something else. This is the first time that a restaurant employee has made me feel like a horrible person for being un decisive. I sat down and waited for my latte. When I came up to get it, I said a cheerful "thank you!" and she ignored me. I asked her if I should pay now or wait till we were done and she said "You can pay as you leave in case you decide to actually order ice cream." My latte was delicious. I'll give her that. My mom enjoyed her BLT but said it was too greasy. Apparently the bread was coated in butter or something. Loved the idea/ atmosphere of Clinton's but the barista lady made me feel like I fail at life for not knowing what I wanted to eat. read more

My 1st time here and I will be definitely be back. There are so many things I need to try. Service was the best! The place was the cutest soda shop I've seen in awhile. My friends kids were with me and they thoroughly enjoyed it. And that's saying alot trying to entertain a teenager, lol. The 5 yr old of course, loved picking out his own ice cream, toppings, etc. And getting it all over his face. I also let them pick their own flavor of Polly Pop, the extra treat . Drinking from a glass bottle, after trying to figure out how to open it, . They both loved that also. The history of the soda is interesting. Check it out. read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Ice cream sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

What an Amazing place! I'm visiting from LA and my friend told me about this iconic place. Everything was perfect from the food to the service. 5 Stars all the way! read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Stopped by here do some baby gender reveal pics. It was an awesome venue with the old time look. The staff were so cooperative with all the needs of the shoot (obviously when u catch them when no one else is there, makes photos so easy). Got a shake and eatable cookie dough! If u find yourself on the square, stop on by. Reminds you of the candy shop from Willy Wonka. read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Great throwback to the past! Love the soda fountain. Kids love it here, as well as those lookin for sweet treats you had as a kid

Step back in time, sit back, and think of the old days on the Square. If the walls could talk, you would hear all the gossip!

The manual on how to be a 5 year old again for a couple hours: Walk into Clinton's Soda Fountain. Plop yourself down by the counter. Order up a sundae. Any sundae will do. Grab a spoon and start digging in. This place is great. Their big claim to fame is that Harry Truman used to work here before he got his start as a politician. There's a plaque at eye level on the outside of the building. Seriously, though, it really is a flashback to all the good things that came with being 5 years old and a step back in history, in particular the Harry Truman era. What once used to be a drugstore and ice cream parlor is now fully an ice cream shop. The old-time counter is still there and in place of the drug store are now retro chairs and tables at which anyone can sit, though I do highly suggest the counter). There are historical pictures all around if you care to wander and look. They also sell some retro candies on the walls and some other items that were popular back in the middle of the last century. It doesn't look like much has changed in the interior since Truman's worked here. Service was pretty rock solid too. I waited while the ice-creamtenders scooped up some cold, yummy goodness for others in the shop. When it came to me, I asked what they recommended. A sundae. Being indecisive, the girl serving me happily through in several things for me. Hooray! She also offered up a cup of water since I was working while munching on my sundae. I wish more places had as great a staff as Clinton's (you hear me, Ophelia's across the street?). read more

Love this little place on the independence sqaure! They're good for local soda, traditional soda, icecream sundays, floats, etc. I normally tend to get a blue raspberry float! Today I try their pineapple phodphate! read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Great throwback to the soda Fountains of the past. Love all the different phosphate flavors to choose from. Ended up settling on Mango, but I was strongly tempted by the Blackberry. They also have a wide selection of ice cream shakes and malts. And a nice surprise was that they carried a cane sugar soda, from the reopened, classic soda company Maid-Rite in Independence. the interior was maintained with classic vinyl-chrome tables and chairs also. Worth a visit if in Independence. read more

Clinton's Soda Fountain - Phospate - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This is great little gem in downtown Independence. Sometimes it can get busy and you have to wait a while due to only having one worker most of the time. But besides being slow the old fashioned soda fountains are hard to find. read more

They call their sodas "phosphates." THEY CALL THEIR SODAS PHOSPHATES! HOW COOL IS THAT? Stupid GPS didn't know where it was taking us again. Tried four different BBQ joints and they were either closed or didn't exist anymore. Really need to update our GPSes because I was super haaaangry by the time we ran into Clinton's. We were only five miles from the hotel, but it felt like 50 with as much running about we did. PHOSPHATE I was really in the mood for a steak, but hangriness didn't care anymore. I think there was a Mexican restaurant right beside it, but there as just something about this semi-old timey place that caught my attention. pHoSpHaTe I walked in and my mood completely changes. It's just the kind of place I'm into! It looks old and like it has a lot of history. My coworkers and I go up to the counter to place our orders (tuna salad on white bread with chips and a MANGO PHOSPHATE for me - under $10). The servers were really nice. Kinda unfortunate that some other Yelpers didn't have the same experience as we did. P.H.O.S.P.H.A.T.E. The sandwich was pretty simple, but it hit the spot. Not too much mayonnaise, just enough relish for some tang, and it actually had some tuna in it. Snacked on a few chips and guzzled down my MAAAAANGO PHOSPHATE. I really can't get over that. I think it's so awesome. Coworker surprised me with an apple pie sundae. I really wanted the turtle sundae, but this was good. If the apple were just a liiiiittle warm, it would have been perfect! Ended our meal with cinnamon pecans and cashews, no longer hangry, but happy. Bye! PHOSPHATE! read more

Love the look of this place! Clinton's is where Mr. Truman got his first job before becoming the president and where any adult can feel like a child. The prices are up there but you pay for experience as well as the food I guess. Order the Hot Fudge Peanut Sundae.. You won't regret it if you're into that sort of stuff. Oh! And it's a gift shop as well, nothing fancy but still cool. read more

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I love this place! I have had a hot fudge phosphate, it was delicious. I haven't had a phosphate in years, it was as good as I remember. Love the decor and service was exceptional. I will definitely be back. I am so thankful to live close to this little gem. read more

Neat soda fountain in a beautiful building. The price seemed a bit steep for a small chocolate malt ($5+ with tax) but it was a nice stop.

I love old-fashioned soda shops like this! Two of us shared a "Mudslide" and it was delicious. If you stop in, check out the gender-specific packaging on the old toys for sale-pretty interesting that they did that back in the day! Casual - perfect for families - but yet also romantic - perfect for a date. Pricing seemed reasonable. read more

Old timey soda fountain, candy, dessert, ice cream shoppe. I like the sodas and stop by here whenever I'm in this part of town. Very cute decorations and fun place to go. Nice to be able to customize your drinks, which you can't do very many places. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Clinton's Soda yet! I used to come here for ice cream every SantiCalGon when I was a child. Clinton's is an Independence classic! They have ice cream cones, sundaes, phosphates (sodas) and even lunch items. Now a days I just usually pop in for a phosphate made of Polly's Pops root beer! read more

Choices for lunch are very limited - just a few sandwiches that really don't taste all that great. The real reason to come here, other than seeing where Harry Truman had his first job, is the old-fashioned soda fountain. You can order up all kinds of floats, sundaes, and other ice-cream dishes. I had a great orange cream float. The place also has candy though I noticed way less selection when I was there this week. I liked it better when they had all kinds of individual size candies to mix and match. read more

Very Cute old timey soda fountain. Cleared are super nice and the ice cream shakes are beyond awesome!

I love the fact that this place makes soda the old fashion way. The Root Beer and Sarsaparilla tastes like it should not out of a can!