By Bill Clevlen
I recently popped into the newest tourist attraction and meeting venue in Historic St. Charles to meet Tom Smith. Smith, who has been collecting soda-related memorabilia and artifacts since the age of 10, greeted me inside his latest business venture: The Soda Museum. “I told my parents when I was a teenager that one day I’d have my own museum. They thought I was nuts.” These days, his Dad can be found at the museum every day, helping his son with random projects and tuning up old pinball games downstairs at the Main Street Arcade – another business venture Smith created from a personal collection.
As you gaze around the first floor of the building, it’s hard to believe that only one-third of Smith’s soda collection is on display. My first reaction was wondering where on earth this stuff has been stored all of these years. “Some of it is actually still in my parents’ basement”, he said with a laugh. His collection began growing when he was still a teenager. As he works to put the finishing touches on his museum, he’s been rediscovering cool things he collected back then.
His dream of opening a museum finally came true in December of 2023. The building at 126 North Main Street in Historic St. Charles had previously been a shoe store, and before that a longtime J.C. Penney location. As you walk through the front doors, your eyes are immersed by red and overwhelmed by the globally recognized Coca-Cola logo in every direction. However, Tom Smith’s massive collection includes far more than just Coca-Cola memorabilia and artifacts.
Throughout the museum you’ll see an abundance of displays showing promotional materials, bottles, packaging, and advertising souvenirs for other recognizable names like Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, Mr. Pibb, and 7-Up. But even small soda brands that are mostly known regionally throughout the U.S. have some representation in the museum’s display cases. One example is Ski – a soda made by Excel Bottling Company in Breese, Illinois, about 60 miles east of St. Charles. Ski is shown some love in the display cases. The museum gift shop even sells bottles from dozens of various soda makers around the country.
You’ll spot some items you might not expect to see. One display has carriers that were once used by concession workers when they sold bottles of Coca-Cola at stadiums. There’s an entire wall of vintage coolers, oversized vending machines, antique soda fountains that were used to mix syrup, and historic artifacts relating to 7-Up, which was invented in St. Louis.
What’s great about the museum is that Smith has a backstory to most of the items on display. Which is impressive when you see just how many things he has in the collection. His knowledge of soda history and the various brands and products is remarkable. It’s obvious it’s been a passion since childhood.
There are plenty of unique and rare items on display as well. For example, one display case features a book produced by Coca-Cola that highlights companies they sued for trademark or copyright infringements. There’s also a vending machine that was used during segregation in the south. While I initially thought this would simply be a museum of old Coca-Cola bottles and memorabilia, it’s really a great American history museum told through the business of producing (and consuming) soda.
After you’ve finished browsing The Soda Museum, dip into the basement which is full of vintage video and pinball games that are available to play for a flat fee. Main Street Arcade is akin to an oversized “man cave”, with plenty of games and things to amuse the family. It’s also a great spot to book a birthday party or any type of gathering. They do have a snack bar with (of course) soda in actual bottles that you can purchase. It’s been a very popular spot since the facility first opened earlier this year.
Corporate groups can also rent a mezzanine overlooking the museum’s main floor that has a full sized bar. The space was recently used for an Anheusuer-Busch holiday party. Smith notes that they loved having a place where they could bring their entire family to a Christmas party.
For more information about admission, hours, or how to book space at either The Soda Museum or Main Street Arcade, you can visit their website: sodamuseum.com or call: 636-724-7632.
MEET
Bill Clevlen is a contributing writer from St. Louis.
