BOCA owner Denise Mangimelli greeted customers on September 12.
“I grew up on Monument. I went to Palisades Elementary, this is my town,” BOCA owner Denise Mangimelli, about being the first clothing store to reopen after the Palisades Fire on September 12. “Even though the town is a ‘wreck’ it still feels like home.”
The store was busy as many loyal customers stopped by and said “I have nothing to wear.” And in the case of Palisadians who lost their homes and their wardrobes in the Palisades Fire, it was true.
If one has to start over with finding the right outfits, Denise is the person to see. She has an eye about what works on what person – she knows how to dress people, which is a talent. If you go in and say you need something special, she’ll help you find it – and quite often it is something you may have never considered, but once you try it on, you know Denise was right.
An old friend Kelly Pack came in on Friday to help Denise with customers and said that it had “busy all day.” Typical was long-time customer Wendy, who has shopped at BOCA for 31 years. “I just love these guys, and I had to come on their opening day,” she said. “This is my safe space. It’s just happy days to come here and see people I know.”
Nancy, whose extended family, lost four homes in the fire, has been a customer for 31 years. “I’ve known her since she worked at Whispers,” she said and explained that “this is a unique town, no one understands that.”
Anne Sacks, who also lost a house in the fire said, “I’m here to shop—I don’t know what I need.” But she like so many need a complete wardrobe replacement.
“I’m so grateful to be back for the 31st birthday of my store on September 15,” Denise said.
She said she was thrilled when Anawalt opened after the fire and went just to buy something “and have a normal experience” (her home, that she shared with husband Mike, also burned in the fire).
“I realize how important it is to have familiar faces and to be able to go to familiar places,” Denise said.
Denise originally opened a clothing store on Antioch Street in 1994 and relocated to Swarthmore in 2004, until Palisades Village construction razed the store fronts. According to a 2015 Palisades News story, “Caruso Updates Swarthmore Progress,” Caruso Company VP of Development Michael Gazzano said “All the existing businesses (including Benton’s, Maison Giraud, Michelle International, BOCA, Puzzle Zoo, First National Bank and Carly K) will have to relocate, retire or make other arrangements until November 2017—the projected opening date for Caruso’s project.
Once they left Swarthmore, Denise and Mike Mangimelli moved their store to Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, with the idea they’d always return to the Palisades.
In an October 2016 story, writer Laurie Rosenthal described their business on Montana. “The clothing in BOCA as casual-chic” and “BOCA is well suited for those who loathe shopping in big department stores or malls, as Denise and her staff do the editing for customers, carefully choosing select pieces from myriad brands.”
The store returned to Pacific Palisades in 2018 in the 970 Monument Building (in the 1,400-sq.-ft. space formerly occupied by Palisades Hi-Tech) in Pacific Palisades.
Stop by and say “hi” Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call (310) 459-7259.
After thoroughly cleaning the store space, including a new HVAC system, BOCA is open for customers, with great clothing choices.
My husband and I are moving back to our standing house next month, and I’ve been somewhat worried and depressed about what we would be returning to. But now I am BEYOND THRILLED to learn that BOCA is back, it makes me feel more optimistic that I am returning “home”! I hope more of our beloved, independent, stores and restaurants will follow – shout out to Pearl Dragon, please come back too!!!
Looking forward to visiting the store. The Palisades wouldn’t be the same with BOCA. It’s the local family businesses that make the Plsds so unique and special. Thank you Denise for reopening the store.