From a Festival Trailer to Two Ohio Landmarks: The Dashell Tout Story
From Festivals to Frontiers: How Entrepreneur, Dashell Tout, Built a Western Empire in Rural Ohio
What does it take to turn a mobile trailer of boots and belt buckles into a two-county retail and hospitality empire? For Dashell Tout, the answer is equal parts grit, family, and an unshakable belief that western wear deserved a bolder stage in rural Ohio.
Today, Tout owns and operates Western & Whimsy Outfitters, with storefronts in both West Alexandria and Greenville, Ohio, as well as The Tipsy Cowboy Bar & Grill — a country-themed restaurant and bar that has quickly become a weekend destination. But her path there didn't start with a storefront at all. It started on the road.
Built on the Road, One Festival at a Time
Long before she had a lease or a storefront sign, Tout was hauling her inventory from event to event, setting up shop wherever the western lifestyle crowd gathered — horse shows, country music festivals, regional fairs. It was a grueling but formative way to build a business: no fixed address, no guaranteed foot traffic, just a trailer, a product she believed in, and the willingness to show up again and again.
That mobile hustle did more than pay the bills. It taught Tout exactly who her customer was. Festival-goers and horse show regulars wanted apparel that felt "wild, western, and bold" — not costume-like, not generic, but a genuine reflection of individuality. That philosophy would go on to define every square foot of retail space she'd eventually build.
A Storefront of Her Own
In November 2024, that philosophy found a permanent home. Tout opened her first brick-and-mortar location at 7 S. Main St. in West Alexandria, Ohio — a milestone significant enough to draw a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local and state officials, including Preble County Chamber of Commerce Chair Zach Shafer.
"This is more than just a new store," Shafer said at the opening. "It's a symbol of growth, creativity and community spirit."
Inside, customers found exactly the kind of curated western goods Tout had spent years refining on the road: boots from Ariat, Corral, and Hyer, felt and straw hats, children's apparel, and sterling silver and turquoise jewelry. It wasn't just a shop — it was a statement that rural Ohio could support a boutique built entirely around western individuality.
At the grand opening, Tout didn't hesitate to share the credit. "I appreciate my customers," she said. "I wouldn't be able to do this without my husband. And then my family, my kids and my mom. So, I am super blessed."
Doubling Down in Greenville
If West Alexandria proved the concept, Greenville was where Tout decided to go bigger. In June 2026, she expanded Western & Whimsy Outfitters into downtown Greenville at 406 S. Broadway — but this time, with a twist. The Greenville property is a dual-concept space, pairing a second Western & Whimsy retail showroom with an entirely new venture: The Tipsy Cowboy Bar & Grill.
The idea is as practical as it is fun: shop for your next concert or rodeo outfit on one side of the building, then walk straight into a full-service bar and restaurant on the other. The Tipsy Cowboy brings what Tout describes as a "Nashville vibe" to Darke County, complete with live music on weekends, hearty comfort food, and a Bloody Mary that's quickly built a reputation of its own among regulars.
It's a model that few small-town entrepreneurs attempt — merging retail and hospitality under one roof — but for Tout, it's a natural extension of the lifestyle she's always sold. Western & Whimsy was never just about clothing; it was about an experience. The Tipsy Cowboy simply gives that experience a bar stool and a stage.
A Family Affair, A Community Fixture
Ask Tout about her success, and the conversation always circles back to the people around her. Her husband, her children, and her mother are woven into nearly every chapter of the Western & Whimsy story — from loading the festival trailer in the early days to celebrating ribbon cuttings years later.
That family-first, community-rooted approach hasn't gone unnoticed. Local officials and chamber leaders have shown up not once, but twice, to mark her milestones — a sign that Tout's growth is being felt well beyond her own bottom line.
What's Next for Western & Whimsy
From a single trailer at regional festivals to two thriving locations spanning Preble and Darke counties, Dashell Tout's journey is a reminder that rural Ohio has plenty of room for bold retail concepts — if someone is willing to build them one event, one storefront, one expansion at a time.
For those who haven't yet experienced it, the invitation is simple: visit Western & Whimsy Outfitters in West Alexandria or Greenville for boots, hats, and jewelry that don't shy away from individuality — then head next door to The Tipsy Cowboy Bar & Grill for a Bloody Mary, live music, and a little bit of that Nashville spirit, right here in Ohio.
