'Arrivederci' to the Palisades
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Palisadian-Post Serving the Community Since 1928 20 Pages Thursday, March 7, 2019 ◆ Pacific Palisades, California $1.50 Chautauqua Repaving Future of Vintage Grocers Uncertain Slated for April As the Post Went to Print Tuesday, Rumors Swirled About an Erewhon Takeover New City Official Promises to Work With PPCC By SARAH SHMERLING By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA Representative Reza Akef, who and CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA Reporter claimed those companies were not held to the same standards ust five-and-a-half months after its grand he repaving of Chautauqua as everyone else and hiring sub- opening, Vintage Grocers employees are was addressed yet again by contractors that improperly fill Junder the impression that the store will be Tthe Pacific Palisades Communi- potholes. taken over by Erewhon Market. ty Council on Thursday, Febru- Hagekhalil also touched on On Tuesday afternoon, a statement from ary 28, when Adel Hagekhalil, efforts to incorporate a new ma- Erewhon and Vintage Grocers regarding the the executive director and gen- terial to replace asphalt in the takeover was reportedly being finalized. eral manager of the Bureau of future that is “10 times stronger Rumors of a takeover began circulating in Street Services, gave an update than asphalt, cheaper, and more the store last week, according to multiple em- on city initiatives for road im- environmentally safe.” ployees who were unsure what was to come provements. On the topic of street furni- of their future. “My commitment to the may- ture, Treasurer Richard Cohen A meeting for employees on the subject or and to you all is that we want drew a firm line in the sand and was expected to take place on Wednesday to transform our streets to world- reminded the new official of the where some expect to be told if their employ- class streets,” said Hagekhalil, Palisades’ fight—and victory—in ment will be transferred over, or if they will who mentioned that Coun- the past to keep city-issued street be terminated completely. cilmember Mike Bonin reached furniture out of the Palisades. Erewhon currently operates four locations out to him directly to “take care “We do not want commercial across Southern California: Santa Monica, of Chautauqua.” signs, we don’t want movie post- Calabasas, Venice and Beverly Boulevard in Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer The executive director men- ers that are illuminated on public Los Angeles. tioned his team’s focus on spend- right of way in the center of our “We strive to sell only the purest, ethically The Erewhon website lists store depart- Boulevard. ing money on street rehabilitation beautiful little community,” Co- and sustainably produced foods, wellness and ments, including a Tonic and Juice Bar, Su- The Palisades iteration marked the third instead of injury claim payouts, hen said. beauty products, and household items,” the perfoods, Wellness and Beauty, Kosher, Mac- Vintage Grocers location, following Malibu in which amounted to about $55 “We urge you, all of you Erewhon website states. robiotics and Café. 2014 and Westlake Village in 2016 at Caruso’s million in the last year. who might be involved in this, “Our mission is to make healthy, pure, “You can enjoy breakfast, lunch and din- The Promenade at Westlake. Hagekhalil also brought to check back with us before you nutrient-rich foods and products available to ner at one of our café tables or take it home As the Post went to print Tuesday night, along his team of city employ- go ahead and start to make plans all and to inspire people to eat better, eat less for a truly special meal,” the website says. it was unclear if the alleged takeover would ees from different departments on any of this because otherwise and live longer.” If confirmed, this would be the first Ere- affect the other Vintage locations. who oversee projects related to we’re going to be fighting,” he Founded in 1968, Erewhon was purchased whon Market to open in a Caruso develop- Representatives from Caruso did not re- infrastructure to introduce them- said, assuring them that the Pali- by Tony and Josephine Antoci in 2011. Ac- ment. spond to requests for comment, and Erewhon selves to PPCC and answer any sades community would be hap- cording to the website, the stores offer brands Vintage Grocers, owned by Walmart heir- neither confirmed nor denied the takeover at questions, and in some cases, py to work with the city. and items that are free of artificial preserva- ess Paige Laurie, was one of the first tenants press time. complaints. In response to Chautauqua’s tives, synthetic pesticides, ripening agents, confirmed to open in Palisades Village, secur- For an updated version of this story, visit “I would like to see the util- planned repaving from Sun- growth hormones and other additives. ing a 12,000-square-foot space facing Sunset palipost.com. ity companies get fined for ru- set to PCH on April 27 and 28, ining our streets,” said Area 8 Hagekhalil said, “I’ll get it done.” Pino Says ‘Arrivederci’ Highlands Farmers to the Palisades Market Officially Opens By SARAH SHMERLING Editor-in-Chief fter 15 years of serving Palisa- dians Italian dishes, Giuseppe A“Pino” Barravecchia is closing Pi- nocchio in Cucina. “I put my soul into this place,” Barravecchia told the Palisadi- an-Post on Monday, March 4. “I have to say, the reason I was able to last and make it [is because] there is a soul in that place.” Hailing from the Sicilian town of Piazza Armerina, Barravecchia shared that he learned his work eth- ic from his parents, waking up as early as 4 or 5 in the morning to put 15 hours in at the restaurant. Giuseppe “Pino” Barravecchia Photos by Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer “That’s how they ran their busi- ness,” he said, “seven days a week.” When Pinocchio’s first painful thing for me to do … opened, Barravecchia had part- don’t renew my lease, finish my Vallee Westland of Kaliko Farms Photo by Christian Monterrosa ners, but for the past several term,” Barravecchia said. “Let’s years, it has been just him, includ- see what life brings me after, what By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA four days old, so they’re collected tory of live spot prawns and su- ing through a remodel. is next.” Reporter from the hens, hand washed and shi-grade fish. Since revealing that he would Those who want to say fare- packaged to come to the farmers “Rain or shine, we’re at the be leaving the Palisades, Barra- well to Barravecchia will have et to a backdrop of fog-covered markets,” Westland explained. market.” vecchia said the response from an opportunity between now and mountains, The Highlands On a larger scale, businesses Significantly smaller than customers has been unbelievable, mid-March, when the store is ex- SFarmers Market officially opened like the Dry Dock Fish Co. was the beloved 80-vendor Pali High adding that he has watched some pected to shutter for two to three to the public on Sunday, March 3. selling “fresh never frozen” fish. market, the new location has been customers literally grow up— weeks before reopening with a The new produce option for The family-owned operation can deemed a “very small, boutique from when they used to come in new name under the ownership of residents at the top of Palisades be found at close to 30 different market” and will be open every with their parents to bringing a Palisadian Gianbattista Vinzoni. Drive makes the second farmers farmers markets each week, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at significant other in for date night. “I’m not leaving rich,” Barra- market operated by Raw Inspira- will now be a regular at The High- 1515 Palisades Drive. “I’ve been feeling love,” Bar- vecchia shared, “I’m leaving full tion in Pacific Palisades, joining lands market. The market currently oper- ravecchia said. “People come in of love … thank you so much, the market at Palisades Charter “We get a lot of local options ating at Pali High continues to and cry—you don’t see that any- everybody, for the support that High School. when it’s in season, but when it’s search for a location big enough where else.” Pinocchio’s has been receiving.” Close to 20 vendors set up not, we’ll get halibut from Alaska to house its return to The Village Barravecchia shared that the Barravecchia added that he is shop at the Casa Nostra parking or New Zealand or wherever it’s area of the Palisades, with Swarth- cost of operating Pinocchio’s and looking for his next opportunity, lot, selling everything from fresh best in season,” said Tori Bieder- more Avenue deemed no longer an the competition have gotten high- and anyone interested in contact- avocados to homemade bread and mann, who showed off her inven- option. er and higher over the past few ing him for work or to say good- fresh coffee from vendors like Ace years. But he understands that bye may do so at 323-369-2116 or Farms, Topanga Grain Company, people need new things. [email protected]. Vision Sprouts and Me Gusta “When you have 28,000 peo- Mexican Food Specialties. ple and 15 restaurants, [and then] Vallee Westland, who was the same amount of people and raised in the Palisades, stood new places, it doesn’t take much at the new market selling fresh to figure out, some of the business eggs from Kaliko Farms. The will go to other businesses,” Bar- farm, which has been recovering ravecchia explained.