This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

Clinton’s Soda Fountain is a historic soda fountain and ice cream counter at 100 W Maple Ave on Independence Square, operating since 1988 in the same building where a teenage Harry S. Truman worked his first job at the Crown Drug Store soda fountain in the early 1900s.12 Owned and operated by McClain Restaurant Group (Ken & Cindy McClain), it is one of the anchor institutions of the McClain-revitalized Independence Square.3

Description

Clinton’s Soda Fountain occupies one of Independence Square’s most historically charged storefronts — the building at 100 W Maple Ave that was home to the Crown Drug Store soda fountain where Harry S. Truman worked his first job as a teenager in the early 1900s, mopping floors and serving customers before he became the 33rd President of the United States.24 The current soda fountain, which opened in 1988, leans into this heritage with period-appropriate décor: a 100-year-old marble countertop, a mirror-backed wooden bar sourced from other historic soda fountains, cherry-red stools, and a checkerboard floor.12 The signature menu item, “Harry’s Favorite” — a butterscotch sundae with chocolate ice cream — is named in Truman’s honor.2

The fountain is notable for featuring Polly’s Soda Pop, a locally bottled soda brand operated by Ken McClain on the same Independence Square, as the base for its floats — tying the soda fountain back to the McClain ecosystem of small-batch, locally made products.5 On any given day the space hosts regulars at the counter alongside tourist groups visiting Truman-related sites, as Clinton’s is a natural complement to the nearby Truman home and Harry S. Truman National Historic Site.

Clinton’s sits within a dense cluster of McClain Restaurant Group properties on Independence Square. The McClains acquired the soda fountain as part of their ongoing revitalization of the Square, which they began in 1998–1999 with Ophelia’s Restaurant & Inn and have since expanded to 18+ businesses.3

Ownership and history

Ownership

PeriodOwner / OperatorNotes
Pre-1900sCrown Drug Store (historical)Harry S. Truman worked here as a teenager at the pharmacy and soda fountain.
1988 → presentClinton’s Soda Fountain (current operation)Opened 1988 in the historic building.2
(ongoing)McClain Restaurant Group (Ken & Cindy McClain)Confirmed as one of the nine food concepts operated by the group.3

McClain Restaurant Group context

Ken and Cindy McClain began their Independence Square revitalization in 1998–1999 with the opening of Ophelia’s Restaurant & Inn, purchasing a boarded-up building on the Square with a vision to restore life to the historic district.6 Over 27+ years they have built a portfolio of 18+ local businesses. Clinton’s Soda Fountain is confirmed among the group’s nine food concepts.3 Cindy grew up in Boulder, CO, but both she and Ken have deep family ties to Independence (both had grandparents who lived there) and their church headquarters is located in the area — they chose Independence as a deliberate homecoming.6

Other McClain Restaurant Group properties on Independence Square include cafe-verona, el-pico, square-pizza, and main-street-coffee-house.

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

  1. Clinton’s Soda Fountain official website. https://www.clintonssodafountain.com/ — Asserts: 100 W. Maple Ave, Independence, MO 64050; active hours Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun 12pm–6pm; “Harry’s Favorite” sundae on menu. ↩ ↩2

  2. KCUR — “Meet the ice cream lovers at Clinton’s Soda Fountain in Independence” (June 20, 2024). https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2024-06-20/meet-the-ice-cream-lovers-at-clintons-soda-fountain-in-independence — Asserts: opened 1988; building was Crown Drug Store where Truman worked as teenager; vintage marble counter, mirror-backed bar, checkerboard floor; Polly’s Soda Pop floats. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. The Independent — “Palatable Pursuits: Trailblazer Cindy McClain.” https://kcindependent.com/palatable-pursuits-trailblazer-cindy-mcclain/ — Asserts: Clinton’s Soda Fountain is one of nine food concepts under McClain Restaurant Group; Cindy McClain is president; group has 18+ businesses on Independence Square. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. Feast Magazine — “Ken and Cindy McClain Begin Bottling Polly’s Soda Pop in Independence.” https://www.feastmagazine.com/kansas-city/article_024eb8de-6872-11e6-af4d-53819d9f1157.html — Asserts: Clinton’s Soda Fountain listed among McClain Square businesses; Polly’s Pop on tap there. ↩

  5. KCUR — “Where to find old-school soda fountains in Missouri and Kansas” (Aug 2025). https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2025-08-09/kansas-city-soda-fountains-ice-cream — Asserts: Clinton’s 1988; Crown Drug Store / Truman connection; 100 W Maple Ave; floats made with Polly’s Soda Pop. ↩

  6. Ophelia’s Restaurant — About Us. https://opheliasrestaurant.com/about-us/ — Asserts: McClains purchased first Independence Square building in 1999; named Ophelia’s after “Reviving Ophelia” — intentional metaphor for reviving the Square; 18+ businesses as of article. ↩ ↩2

See also

  • Registry
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
  • _Tier1-Non-Service-Local-Businesses
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Independence Square Mo