Madeo Sued by Palisades Village
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Palisadian-Post Serving the Community Since 1928 20 Pages Thursday, October 18, 2018 ◆ Pacific Palisades, California $1.50 The Vietinas’ countersuit further claims they learned that Madeo Sued by Palisades Village Caruso would “authorize and Caruso Files Lawsuit Against First Confirmed Restaurant in the Development lease to three ‘Italian’ restau- rants” in the project after their ex- By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA clusive promise had been made. Reporter One month prior to Caruso’s initial lawsuit, Porta Via—the ver the past year, announce- esteemed Italian restaurant now ments of new businesses open at the Village—was an- Ocoming to developer Rick Caru- nounced while Madeo was still so’s Palisades Village project being advertised, but it remains were the talk of the town. The unclear if Porta Via was one of first major culinary announce- the restaurants being referred to. ment went to restaurateurs Gianni The Vietinas state they were and Nicola Vietina who were cre- informed that such a patio would ating “FdeiM by Madeo,” an Ital- not be compliant with city code ian concept restaurant—a spinoff and therefore not possible. When from their famous Madeo restau- Caruso “orally promised” the two rant in Beverly Hills. co-owners that they would be When a June 7 press release able to walk away if they were announced the arrival of Hank’s unhappy with no longer having by Blue Ribbon Restaurants, the garden room, they took him Caruso suddenly referred to the up on the offer and left the proj- name as “Al Forte by Madeo” ect, according to the documents, without explanation, but an ob- only to be sued by Caruso shortly vious confirmation that the Viet- after. inas’ concept was still coming to Gianni Vietina and his at- the Palisades. torney, Joshua Kaplan, did not The Al Forte name would not respond to multiple requests for be mentioned or seen again until comment on this story. an investigation by the Palisadi- “While we are not able to an-Post uncovered a legal battle Palisades Village Photo by Christian Monterrosa comment on pending litigation, between Caruso’s Palisades Vil- we are disappointed that Madeo lage and the Vietinas’ compa- complaint filed by Caruso said. and reneged on an agreement will not be part of the project,” ny, Mare Mare LLC, with both “Madeo has fabricated ex- that the restaurant would have said a spokesperson for Caruso parties accusing each other of cuses for its refusal to honor its a street-level patio or fully en- when asked about the allegations. breaching their contract. commitments under the lease closed “winter garden room,” and “In keeping with our promise to Documents obtained by the agreement. There is no basis for instead was given a location “be- the community, we will continue Post suggest Caruso filed a le- Madeo’s attempt to rescind the low street grade and not flat ele- to bring exceptional offerings to gal suit against the Vietinas for lease agreement.” vation equal with the street.” Palisades Village.” Photo courtesy of Barbara Westlund breach of contract and breach of On Sept. 4, the Vietinas filed City planning documents and Other tenants announced by guaranty on June 22—just two a lawsuit of their own, with alle- a copy of the lease agreement be- Caruso that later disappeared The Palisadian-Post’s fifth annual Creep Your Crypt contest weeks after the final public men- gations of fraud and unfair busi- tween the two parties, obtained by from public advertisements in- continues to accept nominations and entries for a chance to win tion of Madeo. ness practice. the Post, confirm a written clause clude pet accessory store Max- hundreds of dollars in prizes from local businesses. Prizes will be “[Palisades Village] brings According to their cross-com- promising the exclusive rights to Bone, men’s suit shop Miller’s awarded in three categories: Creepiest Crypt, Best Theme and DIY/ this lawsuit because Madeo has plaint, Caruso had broken a being the sole Italian restaurant, Oath and Marysia, a swimsuit Originality. For more information or to enter, visit palipost.com/ attempted to repudiate and re- written promise that the Madeo as well as blueprints showing a retailer. creep-your-crypt-contest-2018. Check out next week’s cover of Pali fused to honor its obligations concept would be the exclusive planned outdoor patio with prime Permit records reviewed by Life to see this year’s entries! under the lease agreement,” the Italian restaurant of the project, placement on Sunset Boulevard. (Continued on Page 3) Located at the back of the not yet open in Palisades Vil- Serena & Lily, Vince Welcome First Customers store is the Serena & Lily design lage include the Bay Theatre shop, which allows Palisadians to by Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, Nine Remaining Tenants to Open Soon in Palisades Village customize their purchase—with Brunello Cucinelli, Bonjour Fête, a wall with over 300 swatches Alo Yoga, Cynthia Rowley, City By SARAH SHMERLING This is the fifth Vince retail Vince in its most authentic form,” available to look through. National Bank, Tocaya Organica, Editor-in-Chief store to open this year, but the first Creative Director Caroline Bel- Confirmed tenants that are Faherty and Tamara Mellon. Los Angeles-area store to “fully humeur said. “Juxtaposing natu- wo more stores have opened represent the brand’s California ral elements of wood, stone and in Palisades Village: Vince on roots in terms of design and pre- water against the rich fabrics and TSaturday, Oct. 6, followed by Ser- sentation,” according to a press textiles of the collection, we’re ena & Lily on Friday, Oct. 12. release. able to convey a sense of uncom- PPCC Area “Over the past several months The brand offers a line of plicated California luxury.” we have made excellent progress clothing for men and women, Serena & Lily—located up A look inside Vince Alternates Elected in advancing our direct-to-con- including shoes, sweaters, shirts the street from Vince on Swarth- Photo courtesy of Vince sumer channels by concentrating dresses, pants, jackets, outerwear more—opened its ninth brick- efforts on store openings in target and more. and-mortar shop on Friday, Oct. week delay in the store’s grand markets,” Vince Chief Executive The Palisades Village space 12. The California-style home opening. Officer Brendan Hoffman said in features a neutral color palette decor shop will feature items cu- Throughout the shop, custom- a statement. “Our Palisades Vil- and architectural details, which rated with the Palisadian home in ers will find items that range from lage store will allow us to further the brand included in hopes of mind. beds to tables to chairs and more. serve our existing Los Angeles inviting visitors to experience the Each of Serena & Lily’s shops “The walls will display a ro- customers in a uniquely Califor- “warmth and simplicity of the are unique to the area they serve. tating gallery of one-of-a-kind nia setting, offering them the op- California coastal lifestyle.” The Palisades Village iteration is works from an ever-evolving art portunity to interact and engage “Our goal in designing the designed to welcome in natural collection,” a brand representative with the brand in new and excit- Palisades Village store was to cre- light—with large windows that told the Palisadian-Post ahead of ing ways.” ate an environment that represents the installation of caused a one- the store opening. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA elected Alan Goldsmith. Card, Reporter who was also on the election committee, will now serve on he Pacific Palisades Commu- the bylaws committee with new nity Council appointed first guidelines expected to be imple- Tand second alternate represen- mented soon. tatives for each area in the Pali- Adding to her two-year term, sades on Thursday, Oct 11. Alter- Marilyn Wexler, also the presi- nates will serve in the absence of dent of the Santa Monica Canyon that area’s representative. Civic Association, will be second Notable community mem- alternate for Area 7, behind Steve bers include Palisadian Melanie Boyers and Cathy Russell. Bouer who will represent The First and second alternates Highlands, a neighborhood lead- for each area include: Doug Mc- ing the fight against improper Cormick and Kelly Comras (Area land use and at the forefront of 1), Melanie Bouer and Bruce the fight to stop an incoming el- Schwartz (Area 2), Danielle dercare facility. She is focused on Samulon and Howard Robinson issues like “large-scale develop- (Area 3), Steve Lantz and Jan Os- ment, increased crime and traf- tendorf (Area 4), Robin Meyers fic congestion, and protection of and Robert Glassman (Area 5), coastal resources and parks,” ac- David Peterson and Jason Sklar cording to her profile description. (Area 6), Cathy Russell and Mar- Moving from his post as ilyn Wexler (Area 7), Andrew American Legion Representa- Wolfberg and Niloo Kia (Area 8), tive, David Card will serve as and David Card and Mary Muel- Swatches on display in the Serena & Lily Palisades Village store Photo courtesy of Serena & Lily at-large alternate behind recently ler (At-Large). Page 2 Palisadian-Post October 18, 2018 WEB TALK This week’s hottest topics on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram Palisadian-Post Picking a good one! Photo by Rich Schmitt. #palipost #pacificpalisades OUT OF THE PAST July 16, 1970 2¢ Watering day finds members of Pacific Palisades Garden Club gathering on Via De La Paz at 2¢ Your Two Cents’ Worth 7:30 p.m. for a biweekly drink of water to new Palm trees along the Via and on Antioch and Got something to say? Call La Cruz Streets. Mrs. A.F (Pete) Ahrens, Mrs.