Cancel

Open app

Search

Clinton's Soda Fountain

4.0 (51 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Clinton's Soda Fountain Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Clinton's Soda Fountain

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Sampler
Jana J.

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!

Cup of Chocolate Chip
Wanda H.

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.

Banana Split
Travis T.

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.

a cold beverage
Ralphie S.

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.

Jim H.

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.

Cherry phosphate
Cathryn G.

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.

Tux sundae.
Marcella N.

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!

Menu
Kimberly G.

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.

Rhonda S.

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.

Ice cream case

See all

Photo of Fili C.
1
98
22

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 days ago

closing time is outdated, google sayd 7pm, but its not even accurate there. closing at 6pm on a thursday is wild . looks nice tho i guess.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Td B.
0
135
0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Aimee A.
2357
980
5605

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of April W.
106
39
2

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ryan H.
272
93
117

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Steve J.
1208
6
7

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Cory L.
42
18
1

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sue B.
1
20
0

4 years ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Urs M.
354
362
2294

11 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

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!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jason R.
204
144
166

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

12 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

15 years ago

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.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

13 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of C E.
1
37
7

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Darla B.
28
81
35

9 years ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Clinton's Soda Fountain

Review Highlights - Clinton's Soda Fountain

“And as it turns out Harry Truman used to work here (History nerd score!).”

Mentioned in 8 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt 1,883 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

IT'SUGAR

IT'SUGAR

3.1(16 reviews)
10.1 mi•Country Club Plaza
•$$

When we would travel, we would always stop at its sugar location because we did not have one close…read moreto us. My children love coming here and seeing all the nostalgic candy from their parent's childhood and even their own. This is a great store if you have someone that's hard to shop for. You can grab a box of nostalgic candy from the year they were born. The service here is great and they are always really helpful. And the store itself is nicely, decorated and organized.

We walked into this candy shop because we like to see unique candies. This place had a bunch of…read moreunique candies to try. We looked at some foreign candy and drinks. They had a sour patch kids flavor drink we had to try. We hadn't seen it anywhere else before. One thing about candy shops, they normally have center displays with chewy candies you can buy by the weight. This allows you to try a bunch of different things in one place. This is the option we went with in addition to the sour patch kids soda. The layout is nice and they really do have options I haven't seen other places. The decor pops and it inviting. Everything is clean and seems well taken care of. The employee was very helpful, a little too much since he kept asking us if we had questions, but we were the only patrons in the store. Overall, it was a more unique shop then some of the stores you might shop in, but still commercialized. If you like candy though, its definitely worth a try. Oh.. and the sour patch kids soda was waaaaaay to sweet. It wasn't sour at all. I thought it would be more like flavored lemonade with a sour punch, but that's not a comment on the shop itself.

Photos
IT'SUGAR
IT'SUGAR
IT'SUGAR

See all

Parkville Trading Post - Candy selection

Parkville Trading Post

4.0(12 reviews)
15.8 mi

I come to this store mostly for the saltwater taffy but there's plenty more things to look at and…read morebuy. Right now they are in the process of moving down the road a bit (but still on the same street), where there will be even more space for the antiques and for all those tempting sweets. "Sweets" also includes ice-cream, and since the Parkville area is a little short on ice-cream parlors, it's nice to know you can get a cone at Old Town Sweets and Antiques. My husband pointed out that it's the same Belfonte brand you buy in stores but everyone knows it's just better when someone else scoops up your ice-cream and hands it to you in a cone. I've had their homemade fudge and it is very good. I love the huge variety of salt water taffy flavors and usually what you get is nice and soft. That said, today's batch is harder than usual. Maybe they've not been restocking since they are moving locations? At this point, the upstairs of the store no longer exists, as it has already been hauled over to the new location. I've been up there many times in the past, however, and found a nice size room crammed with all kinds of antiques. Funny thing, when I was really young, I thought all antiques came from a million years ago and cost about a million dollars. As in, "Oh, that vase - that's from the Ming Dynasty.".... Old Town Antiques is more like taking a visit to your grandma's house and getting a visual remembrance of all the things she had in her kitchen and in her living room and all the rest of the rooms of her house. Of course, as I've gotten older, antiques are also the things that were in my parents house, and even some of the toys my kids played with in the early 80's. The first time I walked in to Old Town Sweets and Antiques there was this large over-the-sofa picture that, no kidding, was the exact same as the one my mom had in our family room when I was a child, in the late 50's and 60's. (Or mid-century, as the cool people call that era.) Old Town Antiques has a large selection of these kinds of treasures from the past. The owner, Susan Cunningham, is a sweet lady who is very helpful. Her son, Chris, also sometimes works in the store. I'm looking forward to checking out their new location, after the end of this month.

We stopped in to purchase some candy while walking around. We bought about $11 of saltwater taffy…read morethat was good. They have some bulk candy to purchase and a variety of boxed candies and ice-cream and other treats. They also have some food available. They had an antiques area in the back room but we didn't go in because we had other bags and purchases we didn't want to carry in that area. The customer service could be friendlier I would say.

Photos
Parkville Trading Post - Front of the building

Front of the building

Parkville Trading Post - Saltwater taffy  (pick your own)

Saltwater taffy (pick your own)

Parkville Trading Post - Chocolates

See all

Chocolates

Clinton's Soda Fountain - icecream - Updated November 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...