Whistles were blowing and a tie basketball game on the line in the Palisades Recreation Center on Saturday, February 7. The town was alive with activity.
Business was good at BOCA, a woman’s clothing store. This was one of the first retail stores to return in August after the Palisades Fire closed everything. Located in the 970 Monument Building, owner Denise Mangimelli said it had been steady.
Outside the store window, workers were taking out the escalator. Mangimelli said it often didn’t work and the building owner planned to plant a tree.
The escalator was being removed outside of BOCA.
Brooke King, the aquatics director of the Maggie Gilbert Center at Palisades Charter High School was visiting with folks by the Palisades Garden Cafe. Plastering had been completed and both pools have been filled, but tests still have to be run. She promised an update as soon as the pools are ready for community swimmers.
People lined up to sign the petition for Traci Park.
In front of the Café, a petition to put Councilmember Traci Park on the ballot for the Council District 11 seat was thronged with residents. Park, the incumbent, is popular with residents for her advocacy after the fire.
If there are only two people running and one of them wins the primary on June 2, 2026, that becomes the actual election. (To check your voting status and make sure you’re still registered in Pacific Palisades : https://www.lavote.gov/vrstatus/
Council District 11 includes Brentwood, Del Rey, Ladera, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice, West Los Angeles/Sawtelle, Westchester and of course Pacific Palisades.
Councilmember Traci Park (right) speaks to a constituent on Saturday.
Photo ROSALIE HUNTINGTON
Also to be thanked is Palisades Garden Café landlord Eliot Zorensky, who made it possible for several of his tenants to reopen, including the Garden Café, after the Palisades Fire. When businesses opened, that started to bring life back to the community.
The Café has been essential as a gathering place and to provide food for workers and residents as they return to the community. The high school returned last week, and students have a place to go for food after school.
One wishes that all Palisades landlords could be so supportive of businesses returning.
Palisades Garden Cafe was packed after Palisades High School let out for the day.