ROCHEPORT — While many businesses and attractions alongside the Missouri River are closed for the weekend due to flooding, The Rest Stop in Rocheport held a grand opening celebration Friday evening.
The brand-new business is located off of mile marker 178 along the historic Katy Trail. The building used to be a lightly used jailhouse in the 1950s and is being repurposed into a spot for trail-goers to enjoy food and beverages with live music.
The Rest Stop is the newest extension of the Leitza family business. Vanessa Leitza and her son, Jake Leitza, currently own the Old Neighborhood Cafe and previously worked at Katfish Katy’s in the area as well.
Vanessa’s daughter, Autumn Leitza, will run The Rest Stop, which will sell food from the Old Neighborhood Cafe.
“I like that I can still keep the food element and represent their restaurant so we can really create like a legacy thing,” Leitza said.
The Rest Stop will emulate a picnic spot along Katy Trail, something Leitza believes the area has needed for a long time.
“There’s nothing open after four o’clock in Rocheport on certain days of the week,” Leitza said. “So, they needed more options for the people who come and stay at the bed and breakfast here.”
For anyone that hasn’t been to the Rocheport area or visited the Katy Trail, Leitza said it is a trip worth taking.
“We’re a very inclusive environment so people can come and stay for a while. Being on the trail means something and we’re just very happy to be a part of it.
Downriver, the owner of Cooper’s Landing announced the business would remain closed for the weekend due to flooding in the area.
Officials predicted last week that the Missouri River would flood as water moved in from other states. The water levels were expected to crest on Thursday, according to past KOMU 8 reporting. Officials said June 26 that the crest was expected to be a few feet above flood stage, but any additional rain could increase that level. Heavy rain fell earlier this week, leading to other river flooding across mid-Missouri.