Daytonians of the Week: The Downtown Browns

If one woman on a mission is mightier than the strongest bear, imagine how tough four can be.

The Downtown Browns are a collaboration between four downtown Dayton African-American female businesses owners that launched in 2015. Together, they are finding strength and support through the ups and downs of small business operations in downtown Dayton.

"We have a group of women you can call on and you can really talk about anything," said Jasmine Brown, the owner of De'Lish Cafe, 139 N Main St.

The friendship circle shares customers and information on downtown business trends. They serve as mentors who offer each other motherly and sisterly advice like "maybe you shouldn't post that response on Facebook."

We caught up with the downtown Browns: Lisa Scott of Beaute Box Lashes Dayton; Kate Rivers of Twist Cupcakery; Juanita Darden-Jones of Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar and Jasmine Brown.

It is someone to cry with, to joke with, to be completely myself with. No fronts... I don't think I chose to be a part of a group. It just happened. It was sort of organic.

JUANITA DARDEN-JONES, Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar, 46 W. Fifth St.

>> MORE: Downtown Dayton business wants to give you money and celebrate you as a 'Dreamer’

It is a group of mad hatters because we wear all of the hats... As woman of color, black women in America, we really have to support one another. We always get a bad wrap of being too sassy or too this or too that. We really support each other.

LISA SCOTT, Beaute Box Lashes, 116 W. Fifth St.