Super Bowl Blast!
Want to party with Michael Phelps, James Brolin and Common? Here’s your VIP ticket inside one of Super Bowl 51’s best bashes, the CityBook-sponsored Big Game Big Give blowout!
Feb. 6, 2017
HOW DID THIS duo come about? We’re a husband-and-wife team in a family business. We met in 5th grade at Kolter Elementary School and became lifelong friends. For the record, we didn’t start dating until a few years later — and we just celebrated our 40th anniversary!
What’s unique about your team and how does the relationship benefit the business? Our team is part of our family; many of us have worked together since we were in our twenties, so we’ve literally grown up together.
Throughout the year we have many events where our brand representatives come to the store. Without exception, they tell us that our team is the best they’ve seen. This sentiment is validated often by customers who send notes of appreciation (and occasional bottles of tequila) for an experience that exceeded their expectations.
We are very proud of these accolades and credit our staff for their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. They love to share their interests beyond the fashion world, too; so, if you want to know anything about biking or scuba diving, great vacation spots, or dining recommendations, just ask. On top of that, they’re just a lot of fun to be around.
Tell us about your business. What’s special about what you do and how you do it? In a nutshell, we help men live their best lives in style.
We are unique in Houston by offering a curated collection of both established and artisan luxury brands, along with best of class casual offerings, all together, under one roof. We have been experts in the custom business for over 40 years and offer made-to-measure services from the most sought-after brands in the world, including Zegna, Kiton, Isaia, Brunello Cucinelli, Santarelli, Sartorio, and more. We have what many consider to be the best tailor shop in town, and we offer complimentary alterations, closet consultation, private appointments, style advising, and local delivery.
The M Penner Team: Judy Penner, Jeremy Penner, Cody Sever, Karen Penner, Belinda Hillhouse, Jesus Alfaro, Joel Choney, Andrea Irizzary, Whitney Wiggins, Murry Penner (not pictured – Javier Aceves)
What would you be willing to share with others about the secret of success as a duo? We are often asked how we can be married, work together, and not kill each other — how that works. The easy answer is we trust each other. We share great satisfaction in seeing the business and our employees grow and prosper. On occasions where there is conflict, the answer is simple. The buck stops with Murry … at the store. At home, it’s a … well, another interview!
And what makes for an effective team in retail? Everyone on the team works together, so a culture of mutual respect and trust is fundamental. We’re fortunate to have great synergy here that enhances the experiences of both our team and our customers.
Our team works hard, and they are really talented. To keep things fun, we like to have contests that involve games like winning poker hands and “stealing the $20.” We also set team goals, and it’s wonderful to see how the team always pulls together and encourages each other so everyone wins.
What’s up next? What can you share about your plans for 2023? After 17 years at this location, it’s time for a refresh and we’re embarking on a renovation early next year. We’re also planning something special next year to celebrate 50 years in business. Stay tuned!
FAVE FOODIE DESTINATION Central Market is renewing its commitment to customers Sept. 11-24, promising a journey of taste and discovery in honor of its milestone 30th anniversary. Join Houston’s one and only location for the delicious series Let’s Renew Our Wows featuring in-store events, foodie strolls, cooking classes and more.
Festivities kick off this Wednesday, Sept. 11 starting at 6:30 pm with the Central Market 30th Anniversary: A Taste of Houston. At the sip and stroll, guests will sample creations from beloved local chefs including Victoria Elizondo of Cochinita & Co., Erik Cruz with Artisans, Chase Reid from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Masaru Fukuda of Pasha Nikkei, David Cordua with The Lynbar, Jason Kohler of Central Market, and more.
Stroll around the upstairs mezzanine and cooking school complemented by music and chef tables or enjoy the outdoor patio, also with music. Included are samples of wine, Saint Arnold’s beers and an array of desserts. For more details and to RSVP, click here.
Central Market locations will host a Foodie Stroll for guests on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 2-5pm. This immersive culinary experience will celebrate three decades of memories with food displays, interactive events and general sampling for all to enjoy! Elevate your foodie experience for $10 and receive exclusive swag that includes an anniversary wine glass and a $10 coupon. Don’t forget to stop by the Customer Interactive Wall and enter your dream dinner party drawing for a chance to win a $50 Central Market gift card.
Kids are invited to take a bite of the excitement at the Future Foodie Stroll on Sept. 21 from 10am-1pm. This free event is designed just for young foodies, offering a variety of engaging activities. Each child will receive a free chef hat and a passport to be stamped at each station along the stroll.
“IN A LOT of Nigerian cultures, there is this idea that nighttime is the time when spirits come out and are alive,” says first-generation Nigerian-American illustrator Briana Mukodiri Uchendu. “The nighttime is when crazy things happen.”
The nighttime is the setting for The Night Market, a new picture book for readers ages 4-8, written by Seina Wedlick and beautifully illustrated by Uchendu. The book follows the adventures of a young girl as she discovers the sights, smells, and sounds of a traditional, pre-colonial Nigerian night market “full of wares and treasures, old things and new things, marvelous objects and strange relics.”
Uchendu, 25, was born and raised in Houston and is the daughter of a Nigerian father and a white mother. Each summer, Uchendu’s family traveled to Nigeria and stayed with her father’s sisters and “aunties,” who would help look after the children. One summer evening, an auntie took Uchendu to a night market for the first time to get her hair braided and some clothes fitted for an upcoming wedding.
“I remember sitting there for hours getting my hair done and food flying all over the place,” says Uchendu who, like the little girl in The Night Market, was around eight years old at the time. “That’s the first time I had abacha, and I was thinking, this is really good!” (Abacha is a salad recipe that originated with the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria.)
At one point, the young girl in The Night Market encounters a joyful, communal celebration, depicted across four full pages of artwork inspired by the drumming and dancing that distinguish traditional Igbo weddings (Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa are the three major tribes in Nigeria). “At weddings, they’re constantly playing live music,” says Uchendu, who was also inspired by the modern sounds of Nigerian musical icon Fela Kuti while illustrating this scene. “I’m just imagining non-stop drumming and horns coming in and out.”
Throughout The Night Market, Uchendu’s illustrations are informed by her childhood memories of Nigeria and a wide range of West African cultural influences, including Yoruba textiles and architecture. The nighttime skies at the beginning and conclusion of the book are filled with constellations in the shape of spirals, fish, and birds. “I wanted to place this story in a time and place where there is magic,” says Uchendu.“The symbols in the sky are there to express the consciousness of the people in that time.”
Uchendu’s previous projects include her picture book debut The Talk, by Newbery Honor-winner Alicia D. Williams, a powerful age-appropriate book about a young boy’s growing awareness of race relations and police brutality; and We Could Fly, a dream-like celebration of African folklore and resilience inspired by the song, “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell. The Night Market goes on sale Sept. 10, and will be available locally at Brazos Bookstore and Kindred Stories.