The Short Rest
The Short Rest, a fantasy-themed bar and restaurant in Missouri, offers a welcoming space for all ages to enjoy food, drinks, games, and themed events like Fae Fridays and Dungeons & Dragons nights. Opened by Jordan Watkins, a veteran and world traveler, the tavern fosters a strong sense of community, with patrons contributing to its decor and atmosphere. With events like foam sword fight clubs and discounts for fantasy attire, The Short Rest is a unique gathering place for fans of mystical realms and family-friendly fun.
Fantasy-themed, all-ages bar and restaurant is a gathering space for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, fae folk and other mystical realms
By Heather Reynolds
Fight club nights are a popular event at the tavern, with a lot of families coming in for fight club. People use foam swords, and the fights are overseen by professional reenactment fighters or others who have experience with martial arts.
Words to describe The Short Rest are hard to find because the business does not fit into the typical bar or restaurant category. “Community,” “third space” or “public house” might best describe what this business has come to be for the customers who frequent this establishment.
The words tavern or pub are rarely used in this time and part of the world. In many places and common in history, a tavern or pub, short for public house, would be a gathering place, a space where people can have a drink, a warm meal, enjoy entertainment and meet a friend. This is exactly what the owner of the fantasy-themed bar and restaurant was going for when he opened The Short Rest earlier this year. The tavern offers a variety of attractions to its customers and patrons, with drinks, food, games, books, movie nights, themed nights like fae raves, and tabletop game learning sessions.
The owner of The Short Rest, Jordan Watkins, and a friend came up with the plan to open the wonderland one morning while they were having breakfast. After discussing plans for the tavern-like space, Jordan decided to move forward with the business idea. Jordan, called a renaissance man by some of the patrons who feel a deep connection to the business, is a veteran and former world traveler. After spending time abroad, he came back to Missouri to be closer to friends and family. After planning and preparing to open the business for over a year, the tavern had its soft opening on Halloween night of last year. While it was only open as a bar at first, Jordan launched the grand opening March 21 of this year, with a full kitchen and menu, and the ability to open up to people of all ages.
Patrons of The Short Rest are more than just patrons; they are a community. Many of the people who come to the pub have come to know one another and built relationships outside of their time at the establishment.
“Jordan gave the community a home; we all love it here” says Brad, one of the frequent visitors to The Short Rest. “This is one of the safest, most comfortable, welcoming places I have ever been. I have daughters and I have no problem bringing them here.”
The space has a much stronger family-centered atmosphere than your typical bar so kids and people of all ages can feel welcomed and able to participate in the same activities as the other patrons. Patrons have also contributed to the decor throughout the tavern, with many of them leaving things or donating items they may not have room for or items they made specifically for The Short Rest. Such items include a large shield displayed on the bar and a gigantic knitted opossum.
Although Jordan is the sole owner, there is a sense of ownership amongst those who frequent The Short Rest. Each person feels as though they have a say in what happens there, and any of the patrons would not hesitate to give Jordan a helping hand when it comes to marketing or design ideas. Patrons feel a sense of ownership, a deep connection they wouldn’t find at a typical business.
Jordan felt a connection to the Silver Sage Renaissance Fair, which had its debut this Memorial Day weekend. The fair had a large turnout and Jordan and the leaders of the fair hope to collaborate in the future.
The Short Rest is not a bar themed after any specific game or fantasy book but rather a conglomerate of many different fantasy works of fiction. Although fantasy garb is not required to enter, anyone who comes to the tavern with any kind of fantasy gear can receive a discount on purchases. Any kind of clothing is welcome, whether you want to dress in a t-shirt and jeans or in full historically accurate noblemen garb. Everyone has a place at The Short Rest.
“I backpacked a lot, and comfortable clothing was important. When I come in here, I’m not dressing up. This kind of clothing is what I normally wear,” says Jordan.
Business hours are from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Every first and third weekend, the business stays open past 11 p.m. as an age 18-plus establishment for more of a bar hour atmosphere.
The Short Rest features many different events throughout the week that cater to the wants of the patrons. These events include themed nights like Fae Fridays, Fight Club Saturdays, and Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D, game nights on Sundays. On Fae Fridays, participants are encouraged to dress up and join in on events such as a fae rave.
Fight club nights are a popular event at the tavern, with a lot of families coming in for fight club. People use foam swords, and the fights are overseen by professional reenactment fighters or others who have experience with martial arts.
On Sunday nights, tavern goers can participate in a number of different D&D game sessions and even take part if they have never played before. There are tables for the novice player as well as the veteran player.
Traveler, your journey has been long. Come on down to The Short Rest, take off your cap, enjoy a drink, meet a friend or make a new one, and revive yourself.
