Fran Rouse's French-Inspired Store Has a Runway

The owner of the famed Stonehouse Market located at the Town Square Wheaton, Fran Rouse, is opening a second store in downtown Wheaton. It exhibits French-inspired goods and a friendly vibe, the store merges retail with the experiences that make customers feel at home.

The original store of Stonehouse Market holds a careful selection of household items such as cookbooks, Andrée Jardin soaps, L'Épicurien salted butter caramel spreads, and the art collection Rouse made in Paris. Rouse's philosophy motivates the customers to “romanticize your life” by surrounding themselves with beautiful and significant things instead of merely functional stuff.

Curated Products With Stories

The shop features products that are made with a lot of thought and tell their stories. Artisans from the area are included, too. Just to give an example, cutting boards are crafted by an ex-Wheaton dentist and woodworker—Dr. Martin Dettmer. The store smells good from the hand-poured candles of Dickens Candles of Elmhurst which have scents like freshly ground coffee beans or white birch.

Rouse has said that the products provided in the store are not just “tchotchkes” but rather intentional items for the people who want to beautify their homes and gift selections. The shop’s emphasis on quality and narrative makes it different from other retail stores.

Downtown Location and Community Experience

Next month, the new store will be established at the address 126 N. Hale Street, which is also the location of the seasonal Hale Street outdoor dining tents—these being the most sought-after attraction in downtown Wheaton during hot months. The tents are a part of the Downtown Wheaton Association’s initiatives to provide community space and promote walking, thus attracting both locals and tourists to the area.

With the new space, the store will be able to organize more events and workshops for customers to participate in. Some of the classes have been watercolor painting, charcuterie design, and floral arranging. Rouse states that these occasions serve to unite people for the sake of creativity, laughter, and community, thereby transforming the store into something a little more than just a shopping place.

A Store With Heart and Personal Touch

Rouse has been a resident of Wheaton for more than 30 years and was the former owner of a Stonehouse Market that was located in a historic stone building in Oswego — this situation was the reason why the shop got its name. The relocation to Town Square and now the city center has not only helped her to realize her vision but also to remain connected to the community.

People like Tina Mentz, one of the staff members who joined the company just because she liked the store, say that the shop is like home. Mentz points to the soothing effect of the environment and the friendly nature of the people in the shop, saying it “just quieted me down” — this is something that many of the loyal customers also agree with.

What Shoppers Can Expect

Downtown will have lots of the most popular goods of the past store, such as warm furniture, lamps, pillows, woolen throws, scripture cards, and coffee table books. The vintage items will be labeled so that the customers will see their history and beauty.

Rouse is going to take the opportunity of the extra space to enlarge the experiences and events, thus maintaining her idea that the shop is not only selling things, but also offering hospitality and building community.