Anyone who has experienced the ambience and colloquial feel of the Cockrell Mercantile gets it. There is just something about entering the front screen door and stepping inside the delicious aromatic interior.
Since the 1990’s, generations of shoppers have made this locale a family tradition and destination for everything from birthdays, girls’ trips and afternoon outings. They continue to carry Fiestaware in its own cottage, while the main store carries so much. Kitchen gadgets, specialty foods, seasonal décor, a myriad of teas, aprons, tea towels…there is no end to the treasures you discover as you explore each nook and cranny.
“It’s truly ‘experience shopping’,” noted new co-owner, Sarah Tangblade.
She and her husband, Eric, have taken over the reins from Becky and Chris Glaze. Sarah’s story is a true Cockrell tale. She started working at Cockrell in 2004, at age 16.
“It was my first job! John Perucca hired me, and I ended up working on and off for 10 years. When I was in college, I worked weekends and summers,” she enamored.
During this time, she went to Baker University and UMKC where she earned her degree in elementary education. She taught preschool and elementary school and continued to work at her beloved Cockrell summers until she had her first baby.
Eric has moved his woodworking shop to Cockrell, and they now carry an assortment of his handmade charcuterie boards in the store.
“The Cockrell ladies raised me. You learn a lot during that time of life,” she mused.
So, it seemed quite natural, and a dream came true when she and Eric became owners. The couple started their side business hosting booths at local antique malls, including Greenwood and the West Bottoms. When she quit teaching full time, they leaned into that more, eventually opening their own store front in a historical building in downtown Pleasant Hill called American Dwelling.
“My husband did woodworking in the back, and we lived upstairs. We owned that over the last six years. It was a true family business,” she smiled. “Becky and Chris wanted to keep the integrity of the business going, and we knew what that meant. Eric and I are here full time now. We have known them a long time, and I used to babysit their kids. We stay in close contact. We feel honored and want to keep it a place people can visit for years.”
She is happy to let visitors know about some updates and several differences they are implementing so they can be competitive now and in the future. One of the first updates is making the Cottage much more of a boutique.
“It has changed a lot through the years. It was décor and gifts, switching a little toward clothing. We are offering more clothing options and Eric is building dressing rooms,” she explained. “We will continue to carry Vera Bradley bags and even more boutique clothing.”
They are passionate about working with local businesses and people, and will carry more local shirts and hats, continuing relationships they had at their other location.
They hold mini farmers’ markets on Saturdays during the summer, with food trucks, and are keeping customer favorite events going.
The Biggest event of the year is the Holiday Open House, a three-day event with lots of vendors, samples and door prizes. This will be held October 25th, 26th and 27th.
“We truly love the community feel of Cockrell. It’s like a homecoming for me, and I love working with the same people who were working here when I was younger,” she mused.
Visit cockrellmercantile.com or call 816-697-1923.
There is no end to the treasures you discover as you explore each nook and cranny of Cockrell Mercantile.