Three generations find success in family business

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

It’s all in the family for three generations of owners at two Woodland Hills clothing stores.

Though sometimes challenging, the Cohen family has successfully navigated the business waters at a la popcorn and L.A. Babes for nearly 30 years.

At the helm is Betty Cohen, her daughter Alissa Cohen, and Alissa’s daughter Sheri Bergman. The Cohens live in Encino; Bergman lives in Calabasas.

The women occasionally have differences of opinion, Betty admitted, but they have persevered.

"Obviously we make up," she said. "In 29 years we’ve never walked out yet."

Their oldest venture is a la popcorn, a store targeting girls from 7 to 16. The store carries special occasion fashions and trendy active wear.

L.A. Babes features trendy sportswear and special occasion designs, including tuxedos, for newborns to children’s size seven. Its co-owner, Ruthie Krivis, is a Cohen family friend.

The stores are a family business in yet another way.

The Cohens said many of their current customers are second-generation shoppers. Even sales clerks are former customers now grown up.

"In all these years, although the clothing styles have changed, the girls really haven’t," Betty said. "They’re still into fashion and music."

She remembers when a la popcorn first opened in 1976, Alissa priced jeans at $14.

"At the time I aked, ‘How could you sell things that expensive,’ but they just flew out," Betty said.

One way the trio makes their partnership work is that each has her own responsibilities.

Betty oversees the day-to-day operation, working directly with customers.

The stores are open seven days a week and Betty is always there.

"If she has surgery, she’s back after lunch," Alissa said.

Alissa does the merchandise buying, and travels to New York and Las Vegas several times a year to attend seasonal clothing shows.

"It’s exciting to see what they’re showing before it’s out in the market, to hear about trends that are happening, and to be with people in the industry," Alissa said. She said her art degree from San Francisco State University sparked her interest in design. Bergman takes care of business paperwork and accounting.

The stores’ special occasion niche means that young customers often have several family members along to help choose the right outfit for a bat-mitzvah, confirmation, party or other event.

"When we sell a dress, five people have to like it, the father, the grandmother, and whoever else comes in with the child," Betty said. "I tell them that first she has to like it and that’s the truth."

"We enjoy the challenge of doing business and doing it together," Betty said.