Display top level categories on "custom" page

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me out with this or point me in the right direction as I have done much searching and have yet to come up with a definitive answer on this.

I am currently constructing a test site for a client:
http://johngosselin.com/store/

Here is my issue: I want to show all my top level categories on a "custom"/blank/interior page (whatever you want to call it) within the site. I am trying to achieve this:
http://johngosselin.com/store/index.php?main_page=merchants

but without having to hard code all the top level categories into the page like I currently have so it is easier to add or turn off particular ones. I do like the jQuery list I have going on right now, but if I have to scrap that to get what I am looking to do, I don't care.

I am looking to pull the category image, title and description. I am NOT looking to do this on the home page or on any side bar or anything like that. Just on a custom page like I have. Is there any way I can achieve this? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated because I've been looking for this answer for quite some time.

I am using Zen Cart v1.3.8 if that helps at all.

Thanks very much in advance.

I am looking to pull the category image, title and description. I am NOT looking to do this on the home page or on any side bar or anything like that. Just on a custom page like I have. Is there any way I can achieve this? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated because I've been looking for this answer for quite some time.
With some investigative work you can pick the code pieces that assemble the main page if you enable these 2 items in the admin and use it in your special page

admin > config > layout settings > Categories - Always Show on Main Page > set to "1"
admin > config > layout settings > Main Page - Opens with Category > set to "0"