” It was our favorite shop in town. So we were like,‘ Let’ s just buy it. Let’ s go for it.’”
— Dave Stout
The couple added some upgrades, including new items and lines and got to work. Customers kept telling them they like the Male Instinct store’ s duality and fun vibe but lamented that no Female Instinct counterpart existed.
“ They were like,‘ You got a man cave. We need a babe cave,’” Stacey Stout said.
The couple agreed and, a few weeks ago, began leasing the property at 145 S. Van Buren, which formerly housed the Sweetwater Gallery for decades but had been sitting empty Sasquatch and the affirmation,“ Believe in yourself even when no one for a while. Just before Memorial else does.” Or a sign that reads,“ Don’ t worry, our staff is accustomed
Day weekend, the couple softly to dumb questions.” opened Female Instinct, which, like The owners said seeing the customers have a good time, whether its counterpart, features classy retail repeat customers from Nashville or first-time visitors from far away, goods such as jackets, purses and hats, makes their jobs enjoyable— and a sharp contrast to their prior and sassy ones such as humorous careers.
T-shirts, a ball cap that reads,“ It’ s not The Stouts had corporate jobs and lived in Fishers, but Dave Stout me. It’ s you,” and a coaster with the said the town grew very quickly— too much for their liking— so a words,“ My wife and I decided we don’ t little over three years ago they decided to move to Nashville, where want children. We’ ll be telling them his parents lived. tonight at dinner.”
Dave Stout said he was ready to semi-retire, but the couple also The customer experience— and wanted to be part of the community. They started looking around the banter with smiling employees— and found Male Instinct, at 75 S. Van Buren St., around the time that matters to the business as well as to then-owner Joanne Rozzi was looking for a successor. the owners and staff. And customer“ We just kept coming back to this shop,” Stout said.“ We loved it. It feedback plays an important role in was our favorite shop in town. So we were like,‘ Let’ s just buy it. Let’ s product decisions. go for it.’” Continued on 28
July / August 2026 Our Brown County 27