Leadership in Action: Clothiers Murry and Karen Penner Celebrate Family Business’ 50-Year Anny
Al Torres
Oct. 8, 2024
Murry & Karen Penner, Owners, M PENNER
How did you get where you are today? We’ve stayed true to the vision of the store’s founder, Morris Penner, who relentlessly sought out unique product, with exceptional quality being a key element. Morris always used to say, “The fastest way to lose a customer is to bore him” and we agree. A percentage of every season’s budget is allocated to something new and unique. While product is key, it’s not enough. Having an excellent staff and discipline in business practices is also critical.
Whom do you credit? MP: I guess I could say that retail is in my blood. My grandfathers on both sides owned men’s clothing stores and my dad opened M PENNER in 1974, so a great deal of credit goes to them. Dad had incredible vision and created a unique niche in Houston’s menswear landscape in the mid 1970’s by focusing on European fashion brands and styles. He quickly became known as a maverick in the industry, bucking the predominantly “American brand trend” of the time. A great deal of credit also goes to the people who work with us, from the sales team to the tailor shop. I also credit Karen and my son, Jeremy, whose dedication keeps us grounded and focused.
What is it like running a family-owned business? Chaos. But seriously, through ups and downs, for us, it’s the best of the best. We get to set the tone and define the culture of the business. Our employees are our family and we treat our clients like family, too. There is a noticeable warmth that permeates the atmosphere at M PENNER and we love that. When you run a family owned business, the bottom line is clear - the buck stops with us.
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? While running a family business certainly can be chaotic, the truth is that it is also very gratifying. And that’s because we have learned a few important lessons. Have clearly defined roles and be clear about who makes the final decision. Find your niche in the market and stay in your lane. Clarify your goals and refer to them repeatedly to stay on track. Hire great people; trust them and let them shine. Stash the cash - in our 50-year history, there have been great years and there have been tough years. Keep enough money in the bank to help get through the tough years. Pay attention to the details. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
What is your biggest accomplishment? MP: It goes backwards and it goes forwards - being in business for 50 years and carrying on the legacy of my dad’s vision and now working with my son in the store. Being known in the men’s specialty store industry as one of the best stores in the country is extremely gratifying. We can’t wait to celebrate our 50th in December!
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Brasserie 19
THE RODEO OFFICIALLY opens on March 4, but Houston restaurants have already started saddling up with specials! So boot-scoot on over to one of these restaurants to savor the Texas tradition.
Bayou Heights Bier Garten
To celebrate its two-year anniversary, Bayou Heights Bier Garten is throwing a good ol’ country hoe down on February 22! The party begins at 5pm and festivities include a raffle for Rodeo tickets, a custom cowboy hat pop-up, line dancing and two-stepping lessons, a live performance by Good Time Muffin, and a mechanical bull.
The Pit Room
On Go Texan Day, next Friday, Feb. 28, both the Montrose and the Memorial locations of the Michelin-recognized smokehouse will have live music, petting zoos, a crawfish boil and, for a little taste of the Rodeo carnival, cotton candy!
Eunice
This Upper Kirby Cajun haunt isserving a hearty Cowboy Ribeye for Go Texan Day. It’s topped with crawfish butter, wild mushrooms and potatoes that blends both Texas and Louisiana flavors.
Plume
Want to keep the party going after Go Texan Day? Kick off Rodeo season with a high-energy brunch at the hip Heights cocktail lounge! On March 2, Plume hosts a Western brunch with a DJ and brand new brunch offerings.
Brasserie 19
The always scene-y happy hour at Brasserie 19 is going western for Rodeo! From March 4-23, find new offerings like smoked-turkey-leg croquettes, and venison sloppy Joe sliders. Plus, sip on seasonal offerings like the Gold Rush, Rodeo Mule and Aqua de Vaquer. It’s a perfect spot to pre-game the Rodeo because Brasserie 19 has partnered with Alto to offer 15 percent off rides to and from B19 — just use code BRASSERIE19.
Relish Restaurant & Bar
Enjoy carnival food without trekking to NRG! The River Oaks and Town & Country locations are offering new menu items like mini corn dogs, pulled park sandwich and the rodeo burger with house-ground beef, cheddar, shoestring onions and Relish BBQ sauce. Take a long lunch and enjoy the new beverages like Space City Cowboy with bourbon, blackberry, mint, lemon and maple; or the Rodeo Rita with Mezcal, tequila, lime, blood orange and bitters. These specials are available daily, 11am-5:30pm, from March 4-23.
Pier 6
During Rodeo season, there’s more than seafood at this coastal kitchen! In honor of HLSR, Executive Chef Joe Cervantez is serving up 16-ounce Prime bone-in ribeye with blue crab au gratin potatoes, grilled asparagus salad and bearnaise sauce.
Emma Jane
The normally proper tea house is getting a month-long country makeover. Every Thursday from Feb. 27-March 23, Emma Jane is hosting a special menu for tea service with fried chicken and caviar. Who could resist?
Kolache Shoppe
Need more brisket? Kolache Shoppe is stuffing its pastry confections with the smoked meat from Pinkerton’s and Killen’s BBQ. The result is the brisket-egg-cheddar-jalapeño kolache, available all of March!
Molina’s Cantina
March 2-23, all locations are firing up Jalapeño Chicken Fried Steak for the rodeo! Think top round steak, flavored with taco seasoning, that’s fried until extra crispy and covered with spicy gravy. Yee-haw!
Kazzan Ramen & Bar
Yes, even ramen is getting in the cowboy spirit! The Heights-area ramen shop is offering 10 percent off March 4 through March 23 to guests who arrive in Western attire.
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Kendall and Susan Plank, Noel Wise, Anna Osborn, Michelle Koskie
MORE THAN 140 lovely ladies showed up at Tootsies to shop, sip and celebrate Dec My Room, the local nonprofit responsible for personalizing and decorating hospital rooms for pediatric and young-adult patients.
Dec My Room founders, mother-daughter duo Susan and Kendall Plank, and event chairs Jennifer Cope and Marie Flanigan mingled with the "galentines" two days before V-Day. After early-morning browsing of pop-ups and trunk shows at Tootsies, the well-heeled crowd strutted over to PostScript HTX, awash in pink, as always.
Here, the ladies sat down for a beautiful luncheon. At each seat, guests found a butterfly, which was raised during the "paddles-up" portion of the day. Together with an exciting raffle, the event raised nearly $120,000 for Dec My Room.
Ally Shell and Nora Jarrard
Carson Sherman, Rebecca Thomas, Lauren Gray
Tori Kuykendall, Stacey Lindseth
Charlotte Martingano, Anna Osborne
Michelle Froehlich, Diane Nolen, Denise Tinkham, Fenche Shen
Cherie Lindley, Abby Vanegas
Melissa Sugulas, Estella Cockrell, Rebecca Thomas, Melissa Juneau , Traci Young
Donae Chramosta and Donna Lewis
Marie Flanigan and Jennifer Cope
Elizabeth Abraham , Sydney Goss, Laura Thompson
Kelli Tumey, Noel Wise
Elysa Nelson, Claire Jackson, Sylvie Kampshoff
Christina Green, Whitney Kuhn Lawson
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