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Great shopping, meals and fun in Rockaway Beach

Writer's picture: Cynthia J. ThomasCynthia J. Thomas

As the fall season progresses in the Ozarks and leads into the holidays, head to Rockaway Beach! You’ll find some new shopping opportunities, great food and some fun family events coming up soon. 

 



Much has been happening along St. Hwy. 176 through downtown Rockaway Beach, right alongside Lake Taneycomo, in terms of revitalization and renewal. One of those locations is The Mercantile, a wonderful collection of gifts, crafts and unique finds where every purchase supports continued downtown revitalization. As a for-profit project of Bridge of Faith Community Church, The Mercantile helps create jobs and support local artisans. 

 

Many of the pieces available at The Mercantile are hand-selected by a team led by Jamie Polley, who serves as director of The Mercantile, but there are also many charming items donated by generous individuals who want to contribute. Antiques? Pottery? Furniture? Unique jewelry and gifts? Yes, and much more! There’s also a special cozy spot to pause for coffee, conversation and even Bible study during your visit. And the coffee, as well as some of the items for sale, comes from a small-town market in El Salvador, so your purchase contributes to missions projects through Puente de Fe, a ministry in El Salvador. 

 

“Some of our visitors have relished in our delightful store so much that they have blessed us with devotionals or created content on social media to promote The Mercantile,” said Polley. “We feel the love and support, and are committed to the continued economic growth of Rockaway Beach.” 

 

That sense of community continues at the beautifully remodeled Cedar Restaurant down the street to the east, where manager Alex, his wife Katie, and food designer Natalia have put together an amazing menu reflecting Russian, Slavic Polish, and Siberian influences. Savory crepes, butterflied garlic shrimp, Armenian shish kabobs, and an amazing burger with a special secret sauce are just a few of the choices, but save room for dessert—or plan a special stop just to check out the pastries! The restaurant is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 

 

Cedar Restaurant helps support New Life USA, a substance abuse recovery ministry located in Cabool, Missouri. New Life USA is a branch of New Life Russia, which began working with homeless addicts in 1995 and led to a changed life for Alex. With over 5,000 graduates, the program incorporates faith in God, accountability and skills development to help graduates move forward. After starting as the “Eat and Enjoy” food truck, the restaurant was remodeled using skills learned by graduates, including some beautiful cedar woodwork. Cedar Restaurant offers custom catering for weddings and other events, as well as custom bakery specialties; call 417-755-1172 or email cedarrestaurant2024@gmail.com for details. 

 

White Oak Station convenience store, also on Hwy. 176, is also now open for your practical needs while you’re in town. Along with these and other new business development, special events are held regularly to bring the community together as well as welcome visitors from around the area. The lighting of Christmas Island on Lake Taneycomo will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, and on display from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturdays, December 7, 14 and 21. While in town to view the lights, stop by the Rockaway Market at the Community Center, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

 

Stay up to date on special events and continued new things happening, by following the City of Rockaway Beach on Facebook. 

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