What Palisades mall reopening means to me: We are coming back, baby!

Over 18 months have passed since the Palisades fire destroyed our town.Twelve of our neighbors died.

Over half of residents lost everything they owned –– nearly 6,000 homes burned to the ground.Others remain standing, but sustained major damage.Approximately 2,600 small businesses were engulfed in flames.

In a close-knit community like the Pacific Palisades, everyone has been profoundly impacted.We’re in collective grief, compounded by maddening challenges to rebuilding and restoring some of what was lost.Along the way, there have been rays of light.

Hope stirs as we pass another house being framed.The annual Fourth of July parade was different this year but at least we were HOME.One by one, schools, businesses and places of worship are reopening.

The road to recovery remains long but there’s a feeling of “the Palisades is coming back, baby!” The reopening of Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village is cause for celebration.Not merely because we’ll have more dining and retail options (though they’re desperately needed), but because the light at the end of the tunnel seems much brighter.

We feel momentum building, and the cloud that’s been hovering over us for the past 583 days is beginning to lift. Palisades Village first opened in 2018.It survived the fire because it was newer and had private firefighters.

The shopping center nevertheless sustained smoke damage, requiring extensive remediation.Many of the original tenants are returning, along with beloved local small businesses like K-Bakery and Loomey’s Toy Store.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story Having met with Caruso, I’m impressed by his motivation to help bring our town back.I believe in showing up and finding ways to be of service, however big or small.

We all hav...