THE BROWNSTONE PRINCESS Princess Jenkins There seems to be an intrinsic knack for some to excel in whatever they set their mind to accomplish. Princess Jenkins unmistakably possesses that faculty, yet there is something else that we finally identified while working with her on this project. She actually values the individual worth of people. Every single person who walked through the shiny glass doors of her boutique was tended to with the highest esteem. Whether the DHL guy was making a delivery or a frequent shopper stopped in for a piece to wear to a special event, Princess and her staff treated them as royals in her palace. Her revolutionary force of personality ultimately evolved to the sphere of life she experiences now as the sole proprietor of The Brownstone at 24 East 125th Street, in addition to mothering an extraordinarily gifted daughter, nurturing her marriage and attending school with a dynamic commitment to a variety of community organizations. We witnessed, firsthand, Princess moving about her impeccable boutique, performing an assortment of tasks – none beneath her or beyond her ability. She may go from sweeping the floors, to paying invoices, to assisting her customers, all within minutes. She tells Harlem Torch Magazine, “I have been in this business for a long time, now, and I understand the psychology of a shopper. You don’t touch a person by what you know; you touch them with your compassion. I don’t try to sell people, I have conversations with people.” At age 16, Princess landed an internship with award winning, sportswear and fashion designer, Vera Maxwell. The late Maxwell was a trendsetter as an American designer, the first to use ultra-suede in her clothing. Just like many other successful people, Princess knew exactly what she wanted early on. In fact, the internship with Vera Maxwell that set her on the path of her dream came about at Princess’s insistence with her high school guidance counselor. There were no fashion designers on the list of the executive internship program guide, but she urged them to explore it. She excelled in the showroom and learned everything she could about the business. At present, Princess shops in those same types of showrooms, stocking only the finest for her uptown boutique. The Brownstone, which originally opened in 1998 on Fifth Avenue, between 126th and 127th Streets became a Harlem destination. It evolved from Princess’s first business, “Jazz It Up,” in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn by a continuous mode of perfecting. The four-story brownstone had a nail salon, day spa, menswear, a natural and conventional hair salon, couture, evening wear, café and bridal wear. It received an incredible amount of media coverage, including ‘O’ Magazine, Essence, Black Elegance, New York Magazine and New York Times. The new Brownstone location is more intimate, but allows Princess the ability to develop her vision as a national brand. In the face of the move, the Brownstone hasn’t lost its sensationalism. Inside the boutique on 125th Street, one finds a crystal chandelier, perfectly polished oak-wood floors and hand-painted textured walls. The key now is to find the right mix of people who embrace the same vision and finish some of the other tasks at hand – like completing study for a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Princess rationalizes her success, “I just have this attitude of - what’s stopping me from doing anything? And then I try to do my best with everything that I am doing. Whatever I am doing, it’s 100%. If I am parenting, it is 100% - my marriage, 100% and my business 100%. I am not just in school – I am an “A” student.” She says if she can’t do something 100%, then she is out. Recently the New York Social Diary referred to Princess as Harlem’s shopping ambassadress, which suits her well. No matter what she is doing, she reflects a positive image not always seen in our neighborhoods. Living well, giving back to community and empowering others is a lifestyle for Princess Jenkins that she hopes to pass on to her daughter and others she touches. |
