![]() ![]() Computer tech support is a regular need, such as connecting to a wedding ceremony via Zoom. One new resident needed a corkscrew late in the evening so she could open a bottle of wine to toast her new home. It could be guiding a resident who keeps kosher to find dining options. Now, Nissenbaum is still helping people, but in a slightly different way. Nissenbaum even became the regular flight announcer, aided by his deep baritone voice. He loved the people-pleasing part of the job, and he was a natural at assisting VIP travelers. Working in retail led him to his airport concierge role, working in the Admiral’s Club for TWA, which eventually became part of American Airlines. Nissenbaum also sold men’s clothes at Nordstrom and Dillard’s. “Then my family opened two clothing stores in the ’70s, called Jeans and Things.” “I worked at Northwest Plaza in its heyday,” he said. After earning a degree in education, he was hired by Famous-Barr in the department store’s executive training program.Ĭonnect with your community every morning. Nissenbaum grew up in Ladue and attended United Hebrew Congregation on Skinker Boulevard when he was a teenager. He even tries to learn the names of pets, and he often connects residents with vetted, professional dog walkers and plant waterers. The facility is pet-friendly, Nissenbaum said. I make it a point to recognize them and get to know the relatives of the residents. Some are coming here from a big house, and they wonder, ‘Did I make the right decision?’ It’s rewarding for me to see a smile on their faces when I make them feel comfortable, especially if they have any kind of anxiety. “The people here are intelligent and affluent,” Nissenbaum said. Harlan Nissenbaum and Meredith Evangelista In June, Clarendale Clayton began offering Shabbat services on Friday evenings, conducted by Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation. They also do whatever it takes to satisfy a demanding clientele. ![]() Nissenbaum and Meredith Evangelista, Clarendale’s director of sales and marketing, are Jewish so they have a built-in bond with Jewish residents. Nissenbaum - who when asked about his age said he was 47 - keeps up to speed on shows, hot restaurants and resources in the Jewish community for residents who request assistance or information. Those amenities include a concierge with an encyclopedic knowledge of what’s going on in St. ![]() The amenities, including a theater, art studio and a chef whose last kitchen assignment was down the street at the Ritz-Carlton, make it seem more like a boutique hotel than a typical senior living community. Everybody loves him.”Ĭlarendale Clayton is a $121 million complex with apartments starting at $3,495 per month for independent living and $5,950 per month for assisted living. He’s very welcoming, he knows no strangers, and he knows a little bit about everything. I don’t know everything, but I do know pretty much.”Įmma Harrison is one of the newer Clarendale residents. They may want to learn where the closest bank and restaurant are. “When they’re moving in, I help make them feel comfortable,” said Nissenbaum. ![]() One of the first people new residents meet is Nissenbaum. The 13-story senior residence at Clayton and Hanley roads opened last fall and is quickly filling up with about a dozen people moving in every month. He’s still a concierge, but instead of assisting travelers, he’s now the answer man at Clarendale Clayton. After 35 years assisting celebrities such as Jon Hamm, Bette Midler, Marlo Thomas, Joe Buck and Nelly, Nissenbaum has traded in his Admiral’s Club wings. Louis Lambert International Airport as an American Airlines concierge. BY BILL MOTCHAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHTĪ few years ago, Harlan Nissenbaum catered to the needs of VIPs at St. ![]()
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