This shop has perked up its small town, bringing in customers from around the state.
Pickle & Perk owners Dave and Stephanie Myer knew that Ironton’s main street had lost its spark, but recognized it still had a soul worth reviving. After brainstorming what kind of space would bring joy to the town, the couple landed on a pickleball court and coffee shop space where residents, young and old, could come and enjoy a lively game of pickleball and a delicious handcrafted espresso drink.
The Missouri Life editors selected Pickle & Perk as the Shop of the Year for several reasons: it’s warm and welcoming staff, it’s creative business approach, and the impact that the shop has had on the small town of Ironton.
After six years of renovations and improvements to the building, Pickle & Perk opened to the public and quickly became a space that many townspeople said “felt like home,” according to Stephanie. “It’s fun to hear people say, ‘It feels like home,’” she says. “That word keeps coming up, and I never expected that.”
Over the past year, Pickle & Perk has continued to expand its business, now offering pickleball courts, a coffee shop, baked goods, a boutique, and Airbnbs for overnight stays. Though it has drastically changed their lives, Pickle & Perk has also had a snowball effect on the town of Ironton as a whole. For the first time in years, the couple says that Main Street has traffic again. Stephanie says that after taking a risk on their own business, others followed their lead. Now, “there are more businesses open than there have been in several decades,” she says.
To Stephanie and Dave, this business born from nothing means everything. “We created something out of nothing,” Stephanie says. “When we first opened, someone ordered food and sat at a table we built, and we just had this moment of ‘oh my gosh, it’s real.’” Stephanie and Dave say that if they can build their dreams from the ground up, anyone can. They hope to inspire younger generations to revive their communities and take risks to make a difference.
132 N Main St, Ironton • PickleandPerk.com
The Shop of the Year article is digital-only. Click here to purchase the 2026 “Show Me the Best” edition in print.
