Why go to Silver Dollar City to see barrels being made when you can watch their resident woodcarver, Doug Bratcher, demonstrate his craft in downtown Liberty ten months of the year?
That’s not all being made in Liberty. Jewelry artist Kilee Nickel and her team make Italian leather accessories in her 12,500-square-foot production facility, and fourth-generation soap maker Jill McDowell makes 20,000 bars of natural soap each year.
Keep reading to hear about the hidden gems hand crafted right here in Liberty, MO.
Oak Barrels and Buckets by Bratcher Cooperage & Gifts
Doug Bratcher moved to Kansas City from Tennessee to work at Braniff International Airlines. When Braniff closed in 1982, Bratcher began making handcrafted oak barrels, buckets and kegs in Liberty, Mo. at Bratcher Cooperage and Gifts across Mill Street from the Clay County Courthouse.
Thirty-eight years later, Bratcher is nationally known and sought after by Civil War reenactment groups and movie makers seeking authentic wood barrels and buckets and he works seasonally at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO doing barrel-making demonstrations.
Watch Bratcher make a barrel the primitive way in the video below and when you come visit, check out his wife Jan's gift shop for a wide selection of "Made in the USA" gifts, cards and accessories.
Italian Leather Jewelry and Accessories by Nickel & Suede
When Kilee Nickel went to Italy with her husband to purchase leather supplies for their belt company, she couldn't resist bringing home some gold and pink leather. The leather was too thin and too bright to use for belts, but she knew she’d eventually find the perfect use for the stunning leather.
Two weeks later, she DIY’d gold leather teardrop earrings to match one of her outfits.
The earrings were so comfortable and stylish that she began making more in every color. From that moment of creativity, Nickel & Suede was born and has sold more than a million pairs of earrings.
Nickel began manufacturing in the couple’s home, then moved into a shop near Liberty’s downtown square, which Nickel & Suede quickly outgrew.
The firm’s headquarters is now in its third location on the west side of Liberty, where it employs around 27 people.
When not creating jewelry lines and forming new partnerships, Nickel and her husband Soren are raising their five boys.
Together, they've brought Italian craftsmanship to Liberty. Save what you’d spend on airfare and gift Italian inspired jewelry and accessories to you loved ones (and yourself)!
Natural Soaps and Lotions by Bittersweet Soap and Apothecary
Jill McDowell, owner of Bittersweet Soap and Apothecary, has always been one step ahead of beauty trends. She began wholesaling her all-natural soaps and beauty care products in 1997, long before clean, chemical-free beauty became popular.
In 2001, McDowell opened her apothecary store in downtown Liberty as a one-woman enterprise. She did all the soap making, packaging, special events and marketing herself, and 27 years later, she continues to be a one-woman enterprise.
McDowell makes 20,000 bars of natural soap a year and serves 8,000 customers, not counting the annual bus trips that stop by the shop bringing new customers who heard about her through raving customers on social media.
McDowell is Liberty’s own Martha Stewart. She's authored two books, is an avid gardener, and creates 100 unique beauty, cleaning, and self-care products, including her tallow crème, which is a top seller.
She’s been featured on HGTV, and her products have been included in celebrity gift bags at the Emmy’s and American Music Awards.
Come meet Jill at her boutique at 111 N. Waters Thursday through Saturday. Don't leave without creating something uniquely you at her Scent Bar.
Coffee Beans and Coffee Products by Hammerhand Coffee
Co-owner Alex Merrell opened Hammerhand Coffee in its original location on the square in 2016. After two historic building incidents, he moved his coffee business to its third location at 249 W. Mill St. in 2023, where he regained his pre-Covid clientele and then some.
Merrell says the store's name is a nod to an obscure "Lord of the Rings" character and John Henry, the legendary steel-driving man with a hammer in his hand.
Hammerhand’s staff roasts all of its coffee and makes its syrups by hand, including vanilla, mocha and seasonal flavors such as spice caramel for fall and peppermint for winter. It also serves light sandwiches and salads, tea from fellow Liberty business Anna Marie’s Teas, baked goods from Sasha’s Baking Company, and Boulevard Brewing Company’s beer.
The coffee shop sold 63,000 cups of coffee in 2024, and the space has become a third space to students and business regulars who hang out to meet, create and taste Merrell and his team's latest creations.
Microgreens by Green Farm Life
Ann and Joe Dugdale started Green Life Farm in January 2024 in the lower level of their event space, just off Liberty's Historic Downtown Square. Heritage Hall’s basement was the perfect space for growing microgreens.
The Dugdale started selling the microgreens at the Downtown Liberty Farmers Market but soon became suppliers to Cosentino’s Market, Hy-Vee and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
The couple grows 10 varieties of microgreens, including:
- Arugula
- Broccoli
- Radish
- Spicy Mustard
- Red Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Kale
- Salad Mix
- Sunflower
- Sugar Pea
If you want to purchase or carry Green Life Farm’s microgreens, visit hellogreenlife.com.
Craft Beer by 3 Halves Brewpub and BBQ
Customers rave about the Cannonball Pale Ale and Stick 'Em Up Stout, highlighting the brewery's commitment to flavor and craftsmanship. The menu boasts mouthwatering dishes like tender ribs, flavorful burnt ends, and unique sides like wasabi slaw.
3 Halves offers a diverse selection of beverages, including IPAs and cocktails. The owner, John Kennebeck, relocated to the metro from Trenton, Missouri, in 2018 with plans to open a co-packing company.
Requests for beverage canning work led him on the hunt for equipment — and to the doorstep of Rock & Run Brewery, which closed in 2018. Along with their canning equipment, Kennebeck bought the brewery and changed the name to 3 Halves Brewing Co. in September 2019. The name is a hat tip to the 150% effort it takes to succeed.
Kennebeck hired Bryan “Bucky” Buckingham to run the brewery part of the business in 2021. Buckingham brings his experience working for Free State Brewery, 75th Street Brewery, and a seven-year run at Cinder Block Brewery in North Kansas City.
Drop by for beer, BBQ or one of the many events the brewery hosts - like Karaoke any Tuesday night at 110 E. Kansas St.
Wines by Belvior Winery and Inn
Belvoir Winery & Inn is located in the old Odd Fellows Home, which housed and cared for orphans, the sick and others who’d fallen on hard times.
A hospital was added to the property in 1920, and a nursing home was operated from 1980 to its closing in 1993.
Dr. John Louis Bean purchased the property in 1993 so that his wife could start a winery. The nine-room Inn at the Belvior underwent an extensive restoration and opened as winery, hotel and event space in 2011.
Near the back of the property is a 600-person cemetery, which adds to its mystique. Guests often describe hearing footsteps and distant voices, as well as sounds of children running about, which aligns with the hundreds of orphaned children who lived there over the decades.
Today, the Inn is owned by Melissa Leimkuehler, Dr. Bean's daughter, and managed by Melissa’s husband, Jesse.
Frequent wine tastings, dinner theatre and paranormal events are hosted on the 170-acre property, and hundreds of couples have held their weddings and receptions there.
A full wine production facility is on-site, and guests can sample one of the eight wine labels below.
- Norton (dry red)
- Chardonnet (dry white)
- Sorelle Dolei (sweet white)
- Lucky Pierre (sweet red)
- Naked Pink (semi-sweet rose’)
- Casanova (semi-dry red)
- Plumeria (semi-dry white)
- Boo’s (port-fortified dessert wine)
You can also taste Belvior’s Three Graces Collection, which includes three effervescent varietals.
Women’s Apparel by Love Letters
LeAnne Cruce started Love Letters with her husband, Scott, and a few friends in 2013. It began as an online store and transformed into a brick-and-mortar location thanks to the rise of the Kansas City Chiefs and the demand for attire.
The enthusiastic team at Love Letters makes a comfortable, sporty clothing line that speaks to its female clientele.
During the 2023 playoff season, Love Letters was half the size it is today. The Chiefs' 2024 Super Bowl run pushed sales to the level that Love Letters now has its own storefront and has expanded to the space next door at 1919 Industrial Drive in Liberty, Mo.
Cruce partially credits Taylor Swift's impact on the number of women watching the Chiefs and wanting fashionable Chiefs gear to wear to the market or a game.
If you're a supporter of local farmers, artisans, makers, and entrepreneurs, we invite you to visit Liberty, Mo. This list only scratches the surface of what's made right here in our quaint community.