EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. – Downtown Excelsior Springs is home to a variety of small businesses that line Broadway, many nestled within the original brick-and-mortar buildings dating back to the early 1900s. Among these historic storefronts is New Age Skincare Spa, formerly known as the Excelsior Springs Drug Company.
Located at 102 East Broadway, on the corner of Broadway and Main Street, the Excelsior Springs Drug Company opened its doors in 1900, according to Missouri State Parks historical records. The building itself was erected earlier, in 1894, as a two-story brick structure showcasing a late Victorian adaptation of Italianate architecture.
Historical documents note it was the first building constructed on the north side of Broadway between Main and Elizabeth Street, and its establishment helped set the tone for the commercial development of downtown Excelsior Springs.
Missouri State Parks describe the structure as a “two-part commercial block structure of painted brick,” with a valance line featuring “highly decorative relief patterns” and brick supports. Although the storefronts have changed over time, many original design elements remain, including double doors framed by large glass windows and windowpanes, bordered with wooden beams.
In 1906, Hughes Drug Company took over the location. Around that time, three local physicians—Dr. H.H. Wallace, Dr. J.A. Hodam, and Dr. D.T. Polk, established their practices in offices on the second floor. While records don’t explicitly state the use of mineral water in treatments, their presence in the building reflects the era’s health tourism and the popularity of natural remedies. As the historical record notes, “the types of commercial businesses contained within, such as the drug stores and doctors’ offices, reflected the basis of Excelsior Springs’ economy within the health industry.”
Over the decades, the space housed a variety of businesses. In addition to the drug store, the building was once home to a hardware store and barber shop. In 1940, it transformed again into the Owl Sandwich Shop, later known as the Owl Café, offering locals a place to dine and gather.
It wasn’t until 2008 that a more permanent identity took hold. That year, New Age Skincare Spa opened its doors, carrying forward the building’s legacy of wellness and care. Serving both residents and visitors, the spa strives to help guests relax and rejuvenate.
In 2009, the City of Excelsior Springs recognized the building’s rehabilitation, led by owners Ben and Amanda Mook, with the Preserve Missouri Award from the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation. The city noted it as “an outstanding example of what can be accomplished through utilization of historic preservation tax credits and accurate rehabilitation.”
Today, New Age Skincare Spa continues the building’s long tradition of healing. Where pharmacists once measured prescriptions and doctors scribbled diagnoses, licensed therapists now soothe sore muscles and ease today’s stresses. Though the names have changed, their mission remains remarkably in caring for the health and wellness of Excelsior Springs.
To visit or learn more about New Age Skincare and Spa, please visit their website or Facebook page. They can be found at 102 E Broadway, where passerby and customers can pause to admire their preserved historic architecture.
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