Selling 'Fun' In Brookfield

If you’ve frequented the Sendik’s Towne Center on Brookfield and Capitol in the past year, you’ve probably met with owner Ken Wick and his unique staff at “Monkey Business.”

Monkey Business is a party supply store that does everything from sell balloons and streamers to hosting parties in its in-house party room. Wick has two very distinct "workers" who help draw in customers to at least look around.

Dobson is a candy-carting butler whose station is outside the shop; he acts as the store's initial attention grabber. He teams up with Pappy “The Candy Captain,” who stays inside the store. The two together help set the general mood for a company whose main goal is to sell fun.

“They make for a memorable and fun experience for people who are shopping,” Wick said.

Monkey Business will celebrate its one-year anniversary on March 25, which is just in time for its most busy time of the year, Wick said.

“Early spring and summer are our best times of the year with graduation parties and more foot traffic,” Wick says.

Wick said on average they are hosting two parties a weekend but that number should pick up once the snow starts to melt.

This means that Dobson and Pappy may have to prepare to put in more hours in the upcoming months.