Rogersville business anticipates interchange opening

ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — The new interchange at U.S. 60 and Route 125 in Rogersville is set to open Thursday afternoon, and for one local business, it can not come soon enough.

The Habit Coffee Company says their business has struggled for months during the construction and they have been patiently waiting for the interchange to open.

“It’s been pretty rough on us, it’s been pretty slow, not a lot of business,” said barista Liv Strong. “A lot of food wasted because we’re just not selling it, so hopefully we won’t be having that problem anymore.”

Liv Strong has worked with her mom Jayma Strong, one of the co-owners, for the almost seven years the shop has been open.

Jayma Strong said they have had to make changes to how the shop operates since construction began. She cut down hours so she could afford to pay her staff and moved their semi-permanent trailer so that cars could still drive through on their property after the easement. Still, customers have struggled to navigate the construction leading to a major decrease in business.

Jayma Strong says these are just some of the struggles that have put them almost $20,000 in debt, even though they had been debt-free for the last seven years.

Jayma Strong said she knows the interchange will be an improvement and she has faith that they will make their money back now that the interchange will be opening up. She said she has big dreams for the future and hopes to reestablish the habit of people visiting their shop.

The Habit Coffee Company is currently open every day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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