Two new businesses in Caulfield offer tasty treats, unique finds and a glance at the past
A cafe and sweets shop with deep local history and an eclectic little store that sells all sorts of interesting treasures both opened last month in Caulfield.
The two stores, 101 Pastries & Cream and Ozark Mountain Trading Post, are located directly across from one another on Highway 101 near Highway 160, making it convenient to visit both in one outing.
101 Pastries & Cream
Ted and Carey Harris, the proud owners of 101 Pastries & Cream, live just down the street from their new cafe, bakery and ice cream shop.
“I was born and raised in Caulfield,” Carey told the Times earlier this month. “When we opened this up, we decided we really wanted to highlight the memories and history of the area.”
Part of that history is the building in which 101 Pastries & Cream is housed, a small, iconic piece of local history that also housed a popular ice cream shop, Frosty Freez, 60 years ago.
“The building had been empty for 40 years at that point,” Carey said. “We bought it and got to work with demolition and remodeling.”
The result is impressive.
The white cement brick building is tastefully trimmed in black wood, complementing its bright turquoise door and signage featuring the shop’s pink cupcake logo.
Upon stepping inside, customers are greeted by Ted and Carey’s smiling faces behind a barnwood-front counter. To the right of the counter is an ice cream case featuring eight tubs of hand-dipped ice cream from The Ice Cream Factory, a specialty ice creamery based in Eldon, Missouri, that “has the best ice cream around,” Carey said.
To the left of the counter is the shop’s glass-front display case, which is generally filled with homemade cakes, cookies, cupcakes, donuts, brownies and other pastries. A large wood-framed chalkboard sits directly behind the counter, showcasing breakfast, lunch and dinner entree options.
Passing by the baked goods display, customers walk into the shop’s dining room area, which features eight retro-style tables and chairs.
Several large, framed photos of businesses and people from Caulfield’s history hang on the whitewash walls.
“Families have been so generous to bring in their old photos and share them with us,” Carey said.
Among the photos and documents on the far wall include a merchant’s license issued in 1961 for S.O. Langston’s Frosty Freez business. The frame also includes an old business card, an ice cream permit from 1974 and several photos from the Frosty Freez.
“We’ve had so many people come in here and share their stories from when they used to come to the Frosty Freez,” Carey said. “They’ll say this is where they had their first date, or this is the only place they could afford to eat at with a 67-cent burger. And we love that. We want people to know that even if they aren’t here to eat, come on in, have a cup of coffee and remember those good times.”
The limited-entree menu at 101 Pastries & Cream features breakfast options that include sausage and bacon biscuits. The shop also has casual lunch and dinner options such as burgers and chicken tenders, along with a weekend special. A child’s menu is also available.
Pastry options vary each day and include a spread of homemade cinnamon rolls, cookies, fried pies, cobblers, brownies, sliced pie and other sweet treats, made from scratch each morning.
Hand-dipped ice cream, milkshakes and sundaes are available. The store keeps eight flavors of The Ice Cream Factory ice cream available at a time, and various flavors are worked into the rotation as one ice cream tub is emptied.
Drinks include canned soda, coffee, water, sweet tea, milk and orange juice.
The business is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Harrises say they are awaiting the installation of a phone line, which they hope will happen soon, but until that happens customers can reach the shop through their Facebook page at “101 Pastries & Cream.” On that page, the business actively posts photos and information about weekend specials, ice cream flavors, pastries and more.
Carey says she hopes as the weather warms later this year they’ll be able to add some outdoor seating to allow more customers to enjoy the space at one time.
Ozark Mountain Trading Post
The same week 101 Pastries and Cream opened, Melynni and Ty Jolliff of Caulfield opened Ozark Mountain Trading Post at 12033 Highway 101 in Caulfield directly across the highway.
Like Carey, Melynni was born and raised in Caulfield.
Her parents, George and Sally Hoppes, owned The Big Store, which operated in Caulfield from 1957 to 1982. They sold the business to their son Kevin Hoopes, who ran the store until 2001. He also opened a little antique store next to the Jolliffs’ building and enjoyed buying and selling items there until he died in 2013.
“We’ve definitely had a long history in Caulfield,” Melynni said. “And when I was a kid, I used to go to the Frosty Freez when it belonged to the Langstons.”
The trading post features what Melynni calls “good, old-fashioned, high-quality junk,” which includes little treasures she has procured from auctions, antique shops and individuals.
“I love buying and selling things,” Melynni said. “I probably like buying more than anything, and I really would love to take everything in the store home for myself. That’s the hard part.”
Upon entering the store, customers are met with a feast of interest for the eyes.
“We have gently used clothing, shoes, antiques, furniture, collectables, furniture, home decor, books, movies, pictures, toys, jewelry… really just about everything,” she said.
Melynni said she and her husband had originally constructed the store building several years ago, but it wasn’t until recently that she’d entertained the idea of opening the trading post inside it.
Prior to the store opening, the couple used the building for another business they’ve run, Ozark Mountain Woodsmith, specializing in custom-designed cabinetry and countertops since 1994. Their sons, who were a big part of that business, have since gotten jobs in other fields, and Melynni and Ty have each started putting more time and energy into other businesses, although they still design cabinets and countertops on a part-time basis.
Melynni primarily runs the Ozark Mountain Trading Post, and Ty has been putting more hours into his other business, Ozark Mountain Dirtworks, which specializes in dozing, fence rows, food plots, small ponds, driveways, leveling building sites and other dirt-moving projects.
The Ozark Mountain Trading Post is open regularly on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Melynni says she’s often at the store on Tuesdays and Wednesdays too. “Just look for my vehicle and the big ‘open’ sign out front,” she said.
Find out more or follow along with Ozark Mountain Trading Post on Facebook, call the shop at 417-284-7688 or email ozarkmtntradingpost@gmail.com.