Neighborhood Guide: Independence Square
A guide to eating and drinking your way through the West Bottoms- after all, you’ll need fuel for all that antique-ing!
Photos by Meredith Schneider
Twenty-four minutes east of downtown Kansas City, you will find Independence Square just off 24 Highway, or - more specifically - Truman Road. With the Historic Truman Courthouse as the centerpiece of the square, you can’t miss it, no matter what side of town you come in from.
The east side of the building has this detailed, lifelike statue of Harry S. Truman, for whom the courthouse is named. His family moved to Independence when he was six years old, and he spent a good portion of his life there.
Because Harry Truman is from the area, there are several great spots that reference him. One such storefront is a men’s boutique on the north side of Independence Square called Wild About Harry.
This store sells nostalgic items, beard balms, quirky mugs, and leather goods. You can boost your hometown pride by grabbing Chiefs and Royals gear, accessories, and local vendor items here as well.
The northeast corner of the square is stacked, with endearing and delicious dining option Ophelia’s to the north and Independence Square’s well-known 3 Trails Brewing Company right across the street.
Favorites currently on tap? Currently Numb, which is a milkshake with black currant that is 7% ABV. Their W.A.P. (Wet Ass Pineapples) is a mango/pineapple IPA that is 10% ABV. They also have a Black Cherry Hard Soda, which is 5.4% ABV.
Clinton’s Soda Fountain has been delighting Independence Square visitors for decades. A nostalgic town staple, you can get ice cream and soda inside – and take cute photos with the leaning cone outside!
Planet Queen Records and Vintage is just to the west of the square, along Maple Street. The cute little sign outside intrigued me, and the name of the shop made me want to go inside. The owner is a really congenial person who has a lot of knowledge about what she stocks.
Though it’s a small space, she curates it well, and every inch of wall space is utilized. If you happen to recognize any of the fixtures or hooks, they came from a place the owner formerly worked that was a staple in Kansas City for decades, 7th Heaven. (RIP)
The cutie, nostalgic hot dog joint Up Dog can be found at the northwest corner of Independence Square. You can’t miss it, the sign with its big, smiling hot dog will stop you in your tracks. The shop pays homage to famous hot dog varieties the world over, entertaining your tastebuds with specials like the Rio Dog, Detroit Dog, and Missouri Dog.
Up Dog sells a variety of other items for those who aren’t into hot dogs, including bbq pork, chicken tenders, and mini corn dogs.
Pharoah 4 Cinema is a four screen theater that lines the northern side of Independence Square. This beautiful, nostalgic space offers 3D movies, matinee pricing, auditorium rentals, and digital purchasing.
The theater has been in operation for over 40 years, and was prominently featured in the commercial for “Falling for Football.”
If you step just south of Independence Square, along Main Street, you will find the narrow storefront that belongs to Main Street Coffee House. Their baristas take pride in crafting incredibly layered and flavorful seasonal coffee beverages, and the space is open and inviting. They serve a rotating menu that includes sandwiches, breakfast biscuits, and pastries.
If you are looking for a spot to get hitched or a licensed officiant for your big day, you can swing over to KC Weddings 2 Go, just south of the courthouse on Main Street. Not only do they have a chapel inside, but they offer professional photography servies, same day events, and on-site officiants, among other services.
This time of year, you can walk there hand in hand while checking out adorable valentines on the lamp posts surrounding the courthouse.
Looking for something fun and unique to do on any given evening? The Game Cafe on the south side of Independence Square is a great spot to walk over to after a filling meal at one of the local eateries. Not only does the storefront have deals on different gaming cards, games, and dice, but they have open Dungeons & Dragons on Wednesday from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Check out their events calendar for more opportunities for fun.
