New shop, Ozark Local, opens in Theodosia


Nichole Sherry stands in front of her shop, Ozark Local, located in a shopping center at 5566 Highway 160 suite A in Theodosia. The shop offers t-shirts, home decor, artwork and other items.

Ozark Local is a new shop in Theodosia offering up a variety of items, many focused on Ozark County. Shop owner Nichole Sherry says it is the hills and hollers of this beautiful place she calls home that inspired her business - and its name. 

“Being here in Ozark County sort of gets into your blood.  I love it here, and I wanted a way to share that way of life with people,” she told the Times. “The way of life in the Ozarks is unlike anything.  The people here are amazing, and this place forces your thinking into a ‘work to live, not live to work’ type of attitude. I want to share that.”

The shop offers custom clothing, gift items and more.

“I do a bit of everything...  custom t-shirts, hoodies, hats, sweats, aprons... you name it,” she said, explaining that she accepts large orders too, including orders of 50 to 200 shirts. “I also do cutting boards, coffee mugs and tumblers. I make jewelry... necklaces and earrings, as well as home decor.” 

Nichole says a lot of the home decor items in the shop are focused on one of Ozark County’s favorite assets, Bull Shoals Lake. 

“I also make live edge furniture, shelves and counter tops.  We can memorialize loved ones with custom ornament, shirt, mug or laser-cut photo.”

Nichole says she opened shop officially on Nov. 1, 2022, as a way to meld both her artistic side with her entrepreneurial side.

“I have always been very artistic. I change mediums a lot, from painting to sculpting to woodworking. This gives me the opportunity to continue to do something that I love and make a little money too. I absolutely love what I do!”

Nichole says she plans to expand Ozark Local in different ways in the future. 

“My hope for Ozark Local is to have a collective of local artisans and vendors that can share the space with me in the store and be able to have a store front to share what they produce from here in the Ozark mountains,” Nichole said. “I haven't perfected the idea yet... I am still thinking about how to share the space and what that will look like.  My goal is to have a farmers/artisans market of sorts where residents and visitors can come and get fruits, veggies, eggs and maybe their favorite locally-made soaps and candles, housewares, furniture and other things, all in one location.”

Nichole says those plans are likely some time away, and at the moment she’s focusing on the shop’s current wares. One of her more timely additions will be embroidered items, which she plans to offer this summer. 

The shop, located in a shopping center in Theodosia at 5566 Highway 160 suite A, is currently open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. On March 1, Nichole plans to also open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Arrangements for private appointments at other times by calling Nichole at 870-501-3333. 

“If you come by the store, and we are in there, please knock. We are open for appointments only on Mondays and Tuesdays, but if I’m there, I would be happy to have you come in and I can answer any of your questions,” she said. 

Find out more by following the “Ozark Local” Facebook page or by visiting www.ozark-local.com.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423