Meet Mary Benizri and Susan Cherkas of Denny’s Children’s Wear
by Linda Herman

This month I had the opportunity to meet Mary Benizri and Susan Cherkas, the busy co-managers of Denny's Children’s Wear located in The Marketplace of Huntingdon Valley on County Line Road. Exuberant and filled with excitement for the job they do, I was salivating at the array of children's clothes surrounding us.

Denny's is a megastore of clothing for children as young as newborn on up through their teens. Started by New Yorker and Merrick native, Marilyn Klein, it's been true to its roots of dressing kids with the help of her husband, Ron Klein, and their sons, Jeff and Spencer. The Denny's chain continues to be privately owned with 13 stores up and down the east coast, as far south as Boca Raton, Florida, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. The store in Huntingdon Valley opened in 1995, and has been leading the way for the area's best dressed kids ever since.

Mary has been working with this store for over ten years and enjoys the product, the market and above all the company she works for. Susan, while having come from the world of high fashion retail for women, couldn't agree more that working with children's fashion is a win-win situation. They've worked hard to create a warm and welcoming environment for both parent and child to shop. "We operate like one big happy family and we treat our customers as though they were family. Whether it's in the store or out, customer care is our aim. Our customers come from as far away as Maryland because of our service, our product and prices," said Mary. Susan chimed in, "We do layettes, layaways, personal shopping... we ship to our customers even before they come to the store to make their selections. We know our customers and provide the convenience of a personal shopper. In the end, we've become a part of many families, watching children grow up into their teens and beyond!"

They took me to the back of Denny's 10,000 square foot facility to what they call "The Happiest Department." It is! This is the department that holds all the newborn clothes and pieces for the most elaborate of layette necessities... and maybe some pieces that aren't so necessary! "Our newborn department initiates the infant into the world of being well dressed. Blankets, outfits for the different religious occasions marking the baby's birth, bibs, onesies, all the 'stuff' a new mother (and father!) needs for their new addition. Parents can make their selections in anticipation of their arrival, make changes as desired, and when the wonderful day has arrived, we pull out their layette and all is ready and waiting for their baby. And our selection is comparable, if not better, than the finest department stores. Certainly our service is better!"

For boys and girls, up to the largest junior size for girls, and boys up to size 20, you can find the clothes that make both child and parent happy. According to Mary, "We carry all of the most requested names in children's clothing. Mish Mish, Ed Hardy, Flowers by Zoe, Sugar Lips, Lucy and Bottlecaps are just a few of the popular manufacturers hanging on our walls. Inventory runs the gamut of high end to a bit more economical. After all, kids don't always have to be dressed to the nines. Play requires one kind of clothing and dress-up another. At Denny's we carry it all, including accessories. And who doesn't like one-stop shopping?"

I noticed the merry go-round located conspicuously in the middle of toddler-wear. "We try to help occupy the kids while Mom or Dad shops. Believe it or not, it's a fun distraction for everyone," said Susan. A comfortable, fun place to shop for all concerned. That's what Denny's aims to be.

So what do these co-managers do when their not checking in inventory, sending thank you notes to customers or filling phone requests for their myriad of out-of-town clients? Well, Mary is married to Gil and they have two girls Emily, 11, and Crystal, 17. "My husband is teaching me tennis. He's a great teacher and it's definitely helping to relieve whatever stress I'm feeling
that day. I've also started scrapbooking with my daughters. Certainly, whatever time I do have, I'm busy mothering..."

Susan is married to Alex and they have an active 3 year old, Ben. Susan confessed smiling, "I'm a big proponent of Retail Therapy. I love to shop. And I love doing things for my house and family. I also like to read. Right now I'm reading Jodi Piccoult's Vanishing Acts. And I fish with my husband... I catch and release. He's the one that might catch a really big fish, get it cleaned and readied for our freezer... not me!"

So yes, I did have fun meeting with the gals that run the Marketplace's Denny's Children's Wear. Thank you both! And yes, I was salivating, because I long for the opportunity to once again shop in just such a children's store. As our son is far too young to change that condition any time soon, I guess I'll have to be satisfied to just visit and perhaps window shop. Who knows, maybe that merry-go-round is the perfect distraction for grandmothers-in-longtime-waiting just like me!