Drink This Now: Romero Paloma Phosphate at Elixir Soda Fountain

Romero Paloma Phosphate at Elixir Soda Fountain // Photo by Emily Wheeler

Nearly a century ago, C.W. and Wilma Kirby opened a family-owned drugstore and soda fountain in Modena, MO. The store quickly became the town’s social hub, offering medicines, candy, and ice cream, and even housing the local post office for over 40 years. After closing in the 1970s, the store’s original contents, including cabinetry purchased from a St. Joseph company, were donated to the Museum of Kansas City, formerly the Kansas City Museum.

The soda fountain was moved to the basement of the museum and served as an interactive exhibit for many years. When the museum underwent renovations, the soda fountain closed but reopened in early 2024 as Elixir Soda Fountain. The revamped menu features house sodas, elixirs, ice cream, coffee, local wines, beers, and select cocktails.

Sticking to its historic charm, the soda fountain also offers phosphates. Phosphate, popularized in the 1870s, was commonly added to drinks and juices as a health tonic. It adds a tangy, sour taste to drinks, along with its signature fizz.

They also have a menu of elixirs—their selection of non-alcoholic drinks. The Romera Paloma Phosphate, a refreshing blend of rosemary syrup, grapefruit syrup, lime juice, and phosphate is worth the try, regardless of your current relationship with alcohol. Both grapefruit syrup and phosphate can be quite tangy and sour, but this drink manages to keep things in check. 

Single scoop of Corinthian Crunch at Elixir Soda Fountain // Photo by Emily Wheeler

The sweetness of the grapefruit and rosemary syrups softens the sharpness of the phosphate, preventing the drink from becoming overwhelmingly tart. The grapefruit flavor holds its own, yet doesn’t take control of the drink. For a cold winter day, the drink is a much needed reminder of sunnier seasons.

For those in need of a sweet snack, Elixir also offers milkshakes and ice cream sundaes. Blessed with being fully lactose-tolerant, I exercise my privilege to a scoop of ice cream when I can. I tried the Corinthian Crunch—a museum-exclusive flavor made by Fairway Creamery. This simple yet satisfying taste blends creamy vanilla ice cream with small chocolate crisps. It’s smooth and flavorful, and if it weren’t exclusive to the museum, I’d grab a pint at the grocery store.

One downside to the concoction brick-and-mortar is that there are limited hours. Be sure to check their schedule before making the trip.

Elixir is located in the basement of the Museum of Kansas City at 3218 Gladstone Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64123