Palisadian-Post Serving the Community Since 1928 18 Pages Thursday, March 21, 2019 ◆ Pacific Palisades, California $1.50 Vintage Grocers Employees Opening Day Shed Light on Final Days Erewhon Market Slated to Open at Palisades Village this Summer By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA Reporter t was business as usual for the employees of Vintage Grocers Ijust three weeks before most em- ployees at the Palisades and West- lake Village locations were laid off without notice. On Friday, March 15, the new- est Palisadian grocery store, as well as the Westlake Village store that had been in operation since Octo- ber 2016 at Caruso’s The Prome- nade at Westlake, officially closed Erewhon signs go up at Palisades Village Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer their doors. Signs and decals at the Palisades store were immedi- they will receive severance pay. location.” ately stripped from the walls and A spokesperson for Vintage Walkthroughs during business replaced with Erewhon signs by Grocers confirmed the severance hours by Erewhon executives fur- Yankees Coach Donald Moore congratulates Oliver Houghton on an RBI hit during last Saturday’s Tuesday, March 19. packages and possibility of work ther fueled the rumors, as people Pinto Division game against the Tigers. The Yankees won on Opening Day of the Pacific Palisades “Vintage Grocers will perma- at the new Erewhon stores. saw who they believed to be Tony Baseball Association season Saturday at the Field of Dreams. For more coverage, see Page 7. nently cease operations at this fa- “Vintage Grocers has also Antoci, CEO of Erewhon, walking Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer cility, and the layoff from Vintage transferred as many of its team through one of the stores. Grocers will be permanent,” said members as feasible to its Malibu On Thursday, March 14, one a document obtained by the Pal- market, and remains committed to day prior to the closure, employees isadian-Post that was sent to all supporting its employees past and said a locksmith waited outside to employees. present in any way possible,” said change the locks as they left for PPCC Opposes Video The Malibu-based trio of the statement, which did not con- the day, still without notice that the stores, founded by Walmart heiress firm how many employees were store would be closing. Paige Laurie, has “joined forces” laid off or transferred to the sole Jonae Walker, an assistant with Erewhon Market—“partner- remaining location in Malibu. manager at the Palisades location, ing to rebrand Vintage Grocers’ But an overnight notice and closed the door on the last day of Ads on Vehicles Palisades Village location, which a final check was not enough for operation and found out on her will reopen this summer as Ere- some employees who moved for drive home that she had done so By CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA whon’s fifth location,” according their jobs or who invested several for the last time. Reporter to a spokesperson for Vintage. years of their lives to help Vintage When asked if she would “Given Vintage Grocers’ and Grocers succeed. re-apply to work at the new Ere- he Pacific Palisades Com- Erewhon Market’s shared values, “I’ve never seen a grocery whon store, Walker said, “Abso- munity Council voted unan- this is a natural next step for our store handle it like this with zero lutely not. They laid me off and Timously to support a motion that companies,” Laurie said in a state- notice, change the locks, and that’s didn’t tell me.” opposes the legalization of video ment. “Together we can ensure we it,” said a former employee who Having spent the last two advertising on top of vehicles at are providing Malibu and Los An- spoke on the condition of anonym- years with the company, Walker its meeting on Thursday, March geles communities with the highest ity. had a front-row seat to the strug- 14. qualities of products, service and According to the employee, gles of unemployment that her The motion, originally draft- grocery shopping experience.” rumors started when delivery driv- close friends now faced. ed by Councilmember Bob Blu- Workers were told that “Ere- ers who service both Erewhon and “That’s how people paid their menfield, cites safety concerns whon has expressed interest in Vintage Grocers overheard Ere- mortgage and paid for their kids brought forward by the California interviewing all Vintage Grocers whon staff members talking about and their food,” she said. “And Highway Patrol who believe the team members,” and informed that transferring to the new “Palisades they just decided to cut us all off.” large screens only serve to distract drivers. “The devices may detract Buck Mason Joins Palisades Village from legal lighting requirements such as clearance lighting and Faherty Opens Doors, Rachel Zoe Residency Ending Soon hazard lights, and reduce the ef- fectiveness of emergency vehicle By SARAH SHMERLING tion for Faherty and the second lighting,” the motion says. A sample of video advertising by Firefly Photo courtesy of Instagram Editor-in-Chief brick-and-mortar storefront in After approving the advertis- the Los Angeles area—following ing program from startup compa- sequences, but how many dis- ing and even illegal under the Cal- part from the Erewhon Market the first West Coast store, which ny “Firefly” on buses operated by tractions are enough to create an ifornia Vehicle Code.” takeover of Vintage Grocers, opened in Malibu in 2016. the Antelope Valley Transit Au- environment potentially too risky After a short discussion on the Athe latest tenant to sign on to open “Interior designers Ryan Law- thority, the city of Santa Monica and dangerous for people travel- issue and informing everyone that at Caruso’s Palisades Village is son and Ninie Norris (founders and the University of California ing from one place to another,” the illuminated signs can already menswear store Buck Mason. Mike and Alex Faherty’s mom) are Irvine, the state legislature has the state said. be seen on rideshare services With best sellers like a Brushed teaming up once more to furnish found negative impacts that the Ban Billboard Blight, an throughout the Palisades, PPCC Loopback Hooded Sweatshirt and a Faherty’s new 1,336-square-foot program has had. organization set out to protect voted to support the opposition. Bruiser Moto Jacket, the brand was Buck Mason founders Palisades outpost,” a press release “The question is not whether neighborhoods from obtrusive City officials are expected to founded by Venice neighbors Sasha Photo courtesy of Buck Mason reported ahead of the opening. these advertisements cause ac- billboards and signage, called the hold a hearing on the controver- Koehn and Erik Allen in 2013. The six-month Rachel Zoe cidents and other negative con- signs “dangerous, ugly, distract- sial technology in the near future. “Initially, they set up shop in a residency, which was slated to end 350 square foot garage off Abbot in spring 2019, will wrap up this THIS WEEK iN Kinney Boulevard,” the Buck Ma- month, with the store closing this son website explains. “Sasha built Sunday, March 24. Zoe revealed the website and Erik created the her intent to open at Palisades Vil- Calling All Talented Teens pali life brand’s first collection of jeans and lage last July, calling the opportu- tees. Obsessed with quality, they nity “a total dream come true.” PALISADES VILLAGE worked closely with a local family According to a representative WELCOMES THE factory to create small batch pro- from Caruso, remaining tenants VERONICAS: Meet the duction runs, crafting each piece Brunello Cucinelli and Veron- Sister-in-Law Duo Behind using old school manufacturing ica Beard are slated to open this Veronica Beard techniques combined with modern spring, with Brandy Melville and (Page 13) technology.” City National Bank eyeing summer Buck Mason will occupy the openings. space formerly filled by lingerie shop Fleur du Mal, which opened on September 22 and recently end- ed its Palisades Village residency. The store is slated to open some- 2018 winners Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer time this spring, according to a A long-standing tradition in Pacific Palisades, the Teen representative from Caruso. Talent Contest is returning on Friday, April 12, for another ex- This will be the brand’s sixth citing showcase of talent from local teenagers. brick-and-mortar store, joining FOOD REVIEW: And this year, for the first time ever, the contest has been previous Los Angeles locations North Italia extended to include eighth-graders. in Venice Beach, Silver Lake and (Page 14) This year’s competition, which will take place at Mercer Hancock Park, and New York Hall at Palisades Charter High School, will feature students in stores in Nolita and West Village. eighth through 12th grade, with two winning participants se- The most recent tenant to open lected to represent the Palisades for one year. The two winners its Palisades Village doors is Fa- will also receive a cash scholarship, free food from Palisades herty, which hosted a ribbon-cut- Garden Cafe and a feature in the Palisadian-Post. ting ceremony with the Pacific For a complete list of rules and eligibility, visit palipost. Palisades Chamber of Commerce com/2019-palisades-teen-talent-contest. earlier this month. This is the eighth retail loca- Photo courtesy of Bob Benton Page 2 Palisadian-Post March 21, 2019 WEB TALK This week’s hottest topics on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram Palisadian-Post Vintage Grocers has abruptly closed its Palisades Village store. Earlier today, workers were seen removing all signage above the OUT OF THE PAST now-shuttered six-month-old store along Sunset Boulevard. The space will re-open as Erewhon’s fifth location in summer 2019, a April 10, 1975 representative from Vintage told the Palisadian-Post.