Shenanigans' owners make store a family affair in Cooper-Young By Joshua L. Bolden/MicroMemphis Reporter
Move over Sly and the Family Stone, it is a "Family Affair" in Cooper-Young and this one is full of Shenanigans.
Shenanigans is brand-new home decor store owned by real-estate brokers and husband and wife Kim Burks and Deewayne Lewis.
Burks said, after keeping loads of decor in a storage room as a side business, the store was bound to happen.
"My husband and I we had already had a lot of these materials," said Burks. "We had two trailers full of things."
Before opening Shenanigans in Cooper-Young the couple would go to individuals' homes to get a feel for their style and bring back art and decor that the customers might like.
It came to the point where folks would ask Burks and Lewis, "do you guys have a store?"
The trailers became so full that items began getting damaged.
"We had a lot of things that basically got damaged just sitting in a trailer getting stepped on," said Burks. "We have a clearance area for those things."
In addition to the items on clearance, there are new items Shenanigans receives from its distributor.
Burks said she also felt they were overlooking items and decided to open the store in Cooper-Young.
"We had to open a store in order to sell our product," said Burks.
The family came up with the name of the store after sitting on the couch and brainstorming. They realized they as a family used the word "shenanigans" a great deal and thus the store's name was born.
As to why here in Cooper Young, Burks said, "where else could Shenanigans go?"
Burks said after watching the area for more than a year, the name and the theme of the business scream Cooper-Young.
"We couldn't go to East Memphis, we couldn't go to Whitehaven," said Burks, "Cooper-Young area is a growing area and we feel like we can grow with them."
Burks also feels because the neighborhood is a walking neighborhood that the business will receive a lot of walk-in traffic.
"Cooper Young was the spot for Shenanigans," said Burks.
Burks said the prices are what set Shenanigans apart from other stores. Customers receive designer decor at warehouse prices.
The employees work pro bono because it's a family business.
Of the couple's four children, Raven, Roy'vre, Christian and Kayla, the teenagers said they are thrilled to help there parents on there newest venture.
"It's nice to have a job and a great experience to help them out," said Raven.
Her brother Roy'vre said he's excited to be part of the founding of a business that will be in the family for years to come. "I just feel like it's an opportunity to open up a lot of doors for the upcoming generations in our family," said Roy'vre
The store opened on Oct. 6 and its grand opening is set for Nov. 1.