- Mary Jane Denzer and White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach at the opening of Denzer”™s new store, near The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester. Photo by John Rizzo
The ribbon for the ribbon-cutting was blue tulle instead of the traditional red satin. But then again, the ceremony marked the opening of Mary Jane Denzer”™s 5,000-square-foot couture store near The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester.
After remarks by Ritz General Manager Jeff Dziak ”” who jokingly referred to himself as the mayor of Renaissance Square, home of the Ritz and the new store ”” it was time for the real mayor, White Plains”™ Thomas M. Roach, and Denzer to do the honors. Guests ”” who included designer Neil Bieff and Janis Morris, director of constituent services for State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins ”” then stepped inside the elegant white and silver gray space for light beverages, hors d”™oeuvres and a trunk show preview of gowns and cocktail dresses by Rubin Singer (cover subject of September WAG, the Business Journal”™s sister publication).
Singer was once a protégé of Oscar de la Renta, a staple of MJD. Among the other designers the store carries are Valentino, Elie Saab, Roland Mouret, Antonio Berardi and Zuhair Murad.
At MJD, these sartorial gems get the setting they deserve ”” silvery mannequins, niches filled with buttery snakeskin handbags and clutches from Bali, cubbyholes containing coiling belts, and well-lit vitrines that enable necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings to command attention.
- Mary Jane Denzer
It”™s the handiwork of Steve Lochte, president of Brand+Allen Architects Inc., who did the Valentino store in San Francisco and the Céline store in Las Vegas. He also did Denzer”™s previous store ”” a 20-year beacon on the corner of Maple and Mamaroneck avenues ”” as well as her White Plains apartment.
“He”™s terrifically talented and also an interior designer as well,” she said.
Mary Jane Denzer has long been a fixture in White Plains. For 15 years, the store was on East Post Road before it moved to Maple and Mamaroneck avenues.
As a resident and retailer, Mary Jane Denzer watched The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester rise. And something else: She had her eye on that street-level space of the neighboring Second Tower of Renaissance Square.
“It sat there waiting for me,” Denzer said. “It”™s a dream come true, just kind of meant to be. ”¦ We”™re a luxury store and we needed a luxury location.”
And now she has it.
Mary Jane Denzer is at 7 Renaissance Square in White Plains. For hours and more, call 914-328-0330 or visit mjdenzer.com. And for more on Denzer, visit wagmag.com.
