Home Blog Page 2497

Dodgers Tie Tigers in Nine Innings

By
dev
-

PALISADES PONY BASEBALL ASSOCIATION

Dodger Harrison Wollman makes a play at third base in Saturdayýs Mustang Division interleague showdown against the Tigers at Palisades Recreation Centerýs Field of Dreams.
Dodger Harrison Wollman makes a play at third base in Saturdayýs Mustang Division interleague showdown against the Tigers at Palisades Recreation Centerýs Field of Dreams.
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer

In one of the longest and most exciting games so far this season, the Dodgers and Tigers traded leads for two and a half hours before settling for an 11-11 tie Saturday in a battle between first-place teams in the Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s Mustang Division. Bob Jeffers’ National League-leading Dodgers (7-2-1) were ahead 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning when the Tigers plated three runs to even the score. The American League- leading Tigers (8-1-1), coached by Brian Sullivan, took the lead in the top of the seventh, but the Dodgers answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Neither team scored in the eighth inning. The Tigers again took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning, but the Dodgers rallied to score two of their own as the game reached its two-and-a-half hour time limit. ‘It was the best game I’ve ever seen played on these fields,’ Jeffers said. ‘Neither side gave an inch, so it was fitting that there was no losing team that day. It was magical in that you had the two league leaders going at it, and the momentum seemed to change every inning. As the home team, the pressure was on us to match whatever they did.’ Saturday’s draw was a rematch of last Wednesday’s series opener, which the Tigers won 11-10 in another seesaw duel. After two games and 15 hard fought innings, only one run separated the two teams and each remained atop its league. Stand outs in the two-game series included Michael Sullivan, Austin Kammel, and Brandon Newman for the Tigers and Charlie Jeffers, Harrison Wollman and Jeremy Cohen for the Dodgers. In other interleague games in Mustang (ages 10-11), the Red Sox and Phillies traded victories, as did the Cardinals and Indians and the Orioles and Braves. The Red Sox (5-5) won 13-10 and lost 3-0 to the Phillies (2-8), remaining three-and-a-half games behind the first-place Tigers in the American League. The Cardinals (5-5) won 4-3 and lost 8-4 to the Indians (3-7) to stay two-and-a-half games behind the Dodgers in the National League while the Braves (5-5) lost 13-1 and won 6-5 against the Orioles (4-6) to stay tied for second place with the Cardinals. Games continue Saturday at Palisades Recreation Center’s Field of Dreams complex. PINTO (ages 7-9) As in the Mustang Division, the Dodgers and Tigers remained in first place atop their respective leagues by splitting a pair of head-to-head meetings in interleague play last week at the Rec Center diamonds. The National League-leading Dodgers (7-3) edged the Tigers, 7-6, in the first game but the American League-leading Tigers (7-3) won the second game 11-7. The Cardinals (5-5) and Indians (6-4) split their two meetings to remain in second place in their divisions. The Cardinals won the first game 12-10 and the Indians rebounded 8-7 in the second. In a matchup between third-place teams, the Red Sox (5-5) swept the Phillies 15-8 and 9-5 to move two games behind the first-place Tigers in the American League. The Orioles (4-6) beat the Braves (2-8) in the first game, 14-10, while the Braves took Saturday’s game 18-5. Games continue Saturday at the Field of Dreams complex. BRONCO (ages 11-13) The Indians remained the only undefeated team in PPBA, improving to 10-0 last week with 6-4 and 1-0 interleague victories last week over the Cardinals. The Red Sox (7-2-1) remained two-and-a-half games back in the American League with 8-6 and 6-2 wins over the Phillies (1-9) and the Dodgers (7-2-1) remained atop the National League with 13-6 and 20-8 triumphs over the Tigers (3-7). In the other series, the Braves (4-5-1) stayed in third in the National League, beating the Orioles (0-9-1) by a 5-2 score in one game. The Orioles played one of their best games of the season in the other meeting, earning a 10-10 tie against their interleague opponent. Games continue this afternoon and Saturday at the Field of Dreams complex.

Lacrosse in Full Swing this Spring

By
dev
-

By RHOS B. DYKE Special to the Palisadian-Post One of the fastest growing sports across the nation, lacrosse is becoming a popular sport among youth in Southern California. Though not yet an interscholastic sport, lacrosse has been played in the Palisades for some time by local kids attending Los Angeles-area private schools. This spring, however, the game arrived at Palisades High and could be here to stay. What began with a blank piece of paper at the end of last summer is now the Palisades Lacrosse Club of the Pacific Coast Lacrosse Association (PCLA). The league includes 13 high school varsity level teams, 15 junior varsity squads (including Palisades) and nine middle school clubs, including the Westside Warriors who play at Paul Revere. Palisades’ franchise is off to a 6-2-1 start in it’s inaugural campaign’impressive seeing as only a few of the 20 kids on the team had ever picked up a stick before the season started. Managed by Andrea Dyke and Lori Mendez-Packer and coached by Jeff Hirshberg and Scott Hylen, Palisades upset previously undefeated Malibu, 12-8, Saturday at Stadium by the Sea. The Pali JV club team is led by sophomore attacker Nick Sherman, who scored 33 goals and passed for 11 assists’a total of 44 points’in the team’s first eight games. Sherman, who lives in Mandeville Canyon, leads the league in scoring. Junior midfielder Joe Luckett had 17 goals going into the Malibu game while freshman midfielders Josh Packer and Sutherland Dyke added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Freshman goalie Nico Roe recorded 85 saves in his first six games. Rounding out the squad are midfielders Andre Harris, Colin Vining, Ramsay Potts and Nick Kappeyne; attackers Peter Foster, Max Gross, Max Rosenzweig, Eugene Karachun, Yoni Shoshani and Travis De Zarn; and defenders Josh Sharp, Simon Lewis, Nick Savas, Paul Rago and Rob Seaward. Because lacrosse is not yet a sanctioned CIF sport, kids from any school that doesn’t have a team may play for any club they like, meaning this year’s Pali squad consists mostly of Palisadian boys from St. Monica, Encino Crespi, L.A. Hamilton and Palisades Highs. Pali’s first season began with a 5-3 victory over Beverly Hills on March 3. After nine games, the team’s only losses have come at the hands of league-leading Palos Verdes and an experienced varsity squad from Brentwood School. A 12-4 victory over Harvard-Westlake and Saturday’s win over Malibu have been the standout performances for Pali, which plays its final three games of the season on the road at Chaminade of West Hills, San Gabriel and finally a rematch with Brentwood. Pali hopes to field both a varsity and a junior varsity team in 2005. High school boys interested in playing on the club should contact Andrea Dyke at 230-3298 or Lori Mendez-Packer at 454-0361. For more information, visit the PCLA Web site: www.pacificcoastlacrosse.com.

Erina Digby Reaches Quarterfinals at Ojai

By
dev
-

Palisadian Erina Digby advanced to the quarterfinals of the girls’ 18s singles division at the 104th annual Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament last weekend. Digby, a junior at Marlborough, received a first-round bye, then outlasted Keba Baird of Templeton, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, in the second round. She ousted Maria Malec of Laguna Beach, 6-4, 0-6, 6-0, in the round of 16 before falling to Irvine’s Ashley Williams, 6-3, 7-5, in the quarterfinals. Last fall, Digby led the Mustangs to their third consecutive Sunshine League title and was the league’s undefeated singles champion. In the same division, Palisadian Ashley Alpert got a first-round bye but lost her round of 32 match to Cheyenne Inglis of Encinitas, 6-0, 6-1. The largest and one of the most prestigious amateur tennis events in the United States, Ojai attracts most of the top junior players from Southern California and this year was no exception. In the boys’ 16s singles division, Ariel Oleynik had the misfortune of playing Palisades High teammate Stephen Surjue in the first round and Surjue won, 7-5, 6-1. Surjue lost his second round match to Hunter Lee of Bermuda Dunes, 6-0, 6-1. Two other Palisades High players were in the 64-player draw. Daniel Burge lost his first-round match to Neil Gehlawat of Bakersfield, 6-0, 6-0, while Sepehr Safii, who received a first-round bye, was defeated by Silvio Chiba of Brea, 6-2, 7-6 (8), in the round of 32. After winning the boys’ 16s division last year, PaliHi’s Chris Ko had hopes of doing the same in the boys’ CIF singles division, but the Dolphins’ No. 1 player lost in the first round, 6-2, 7-5, to Sean Tan of Lakewood. Sam Querry of Thousand Oaks won the division with a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5) victory over Kaes Van’t Hof. In the boys’ CIF doubles division, PaliHi’s duo of Darya Bakhtiar and Taylor Robinson played top-seeded Eric Riley and Steven Forman of Torrey Pines in Thursday’s opening round and lost, 6-4, 6-1. PaliHi last won a share of the team title in 2000. In the girls’ 16s, Kelly Stewart, who lives in Malibu but sometimes trains at Palisades Tennis Center, reached the finals, losing to Kristen Flower of Ojai in a tough three-setter, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Brittany O’Neil was the lone PaliHi competitor, but she had to default her first-round match. Ex-Palisadian and longtime Ojai participant Sean Brawley vyed for the men’s Open championship, but another player with ties to the Palisades, Michael Joyce, took home the $10,000 winner’s check with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Travis Rettenmeir in the finals. Joyce trained at Palisades Tennis Center while he was on the pro circuit and participated in a Prince clinic at PTC in 1998. The Ojai was founded in 1896 by NCAA doubles champion William L. Thacher to promote amateur tennis in California. In addition to boys’ and girls’ junior and CIF, the event includes men’s and women’s community college divisions and PAC-10 men’s and women’s championships.

Strassner is Unsung Hero of Pitching Staff

By
dev
-

PALISADES HIGH SPORTS ROUNDUP

Before the season started, Andrew Strassner was fighting for a spot on the varsity roster. Two and four victories later, he has become one of the most dependable pitchers in the Dolphins’ rotation. ‘I started off the spring playing short stop and I was just going all out to fight for a position on the team,’ said Strassner, a senior who played junior varsity last year. ‘I started putting on size over the summer and I’ve been working out ever since.’ Strassner’s hard work has payed off on the mound and in the clubhouse. ‘I knew our pitching would be good, but I did not think it would be as good as it’s been so far,’ Pali co-coach Tom Seyler said. ‘I knew Geoff [Schwartz] would prove himself as the best in our league. David [Bromberg] and Turhan [Folse] have been great and out of nowhere is Andrew… he’s been phenomenal.’ Heading into Tuesday’s game against Westchester, Strassner had the most wins’four’of all the PaliHi starters. He has allowed the fewest walks of any pitcher on the Dolphins’ staff and his four and two-thirds innings against Venice last week kept Pali in the game until the offense got on track. ‘I’d say the curve ball is my best pitch because I can hit my spots with it,’ Strassner said. ‘After that, I’d say my fast ball.’ So far, Strassner has had the benefit of pitching behind Schwartz, meaning he has already seen opposing batters by the time he faces them’not on the mound, but from the dugout. ‘I’ll make mental notes of who their strong hitters are and what they tend to do. It’s like being able to use Cliffs notes on a test.’ Strassner has done his homework thus far this season, one of the reasons the Dolphins are off to their fast league start. A portent of things to come was his two-hit shutout against Brentwood early in the season, when he faced 23 batters in seven innings’only two over the minimum. At the plate, short stop Dylan Cohen has flourished since joining the lineup, batting a team-high .476. Right behind are designated hitter Alex Thompson, third baseman Manny Perez and right fielder Kevin Seto (all at .429) and second baseman Matt Skolnik at .405. Pali’s other head coach, Kelly Loftus, said hard work and chemistry have been the keys to the team’s success thus far: ‘When you practice hard you get good results and these guys come out and work hard for three hours every day. This team has a lot of harmony. These guys like each other and want each other to succeed.’ Swimming In their final Marine League dual meet of the season, the Dolphins came away with three out of four victories against Venice. Pali’s frosh/soph boys and girls teams and the boys varsity team all won, but the varsity girls suffered their first defeat. Still, Cara Davidoff continued to dominate her events, clocking 1:00.64 to beat defending City champion Nicole O’Keefe in the 100 Butterfly. Freshman Patrice Dodd won both the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke and sophomore Ted Tomlinson won the 500 Freestyle in a personal-best 5:41. Pali coach Maggie Nance moved four swimmers up top varsity from the frosh/soph squad for yesterday’s league championships’Ashley Baele, Alex Ehrgott, Jody Herman and Julie Wynn. Track & Field Several runners gave notable performances at last Saturday’s Rotary Meet at Birmingham High. Freshman Angela Perry Spahn was fourth in her division of the two-mile in 12:34’a personal record by 42 seconds. Riza Lim won her heat in the 800 meters in a personal-best 2:34, Unique Shanklin ran the event in 2:39 and Elaine Roepke finished in 2:42.9. Tamara Adams ran season-bests in the 100 hurdles (18.4) and 300 hurdles (53.8). For the boys, Jeff Fujimoto ran 18:03 in the 110 high hurdles and Eric Milne ran the two-mile in a personal-best 12:10. In Friday’s dual meet against University, Pali’s frosh/soph girls won 77-27, the frosh/soph boys won 59-45, the varsity girls won 68-50 and the varsity boys lost 80-30. Kristabel Doebel-Hickok remained undefeated in dual meets this season in the 800 meters, winning in 2:42. Boys Volleyball For two games, it looked like Palisades’ hope of sharing the Western League title might be realized. But in the end host University was again too much, defeating the Dolphins 21-25, 20-25, 25-11, 25-16, 15-12 to clinch the league championship. Nash Petrovic had 11 kills for Palisades (8-4, 6-3), which traveled to Venice for its league finale Monday. Boys Tennis Palisades completed a season of domination in the Western League with a 7-0 victory at Venice. Even without No. 1 player Chris Ko in the lineup, the Dolphins won easily over the second-place Gondos. Ben Tom won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles and Sepehr Safii won by the same score at No. 4 singles. Taylor Robinson and Stephen Surjue won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles for Pali. The Dolphins won all 70 matches and all 140 total sets they played in league this season and virtually assured themselves a top three seed in the City playoffs.

Bernice Park, 95; a Generous Palisades Cultural Arts Patron

By
dev
-

Bernice Park, a longtime Palisadian, philanthropist and cultural arts guardian angel, died peacefully in her sleep on April 24. She was 95. ‘Throughout her long and fruitful life, Bernice gave graciously and with love without request for recognition and most often without restrictions on use,’ said Eva Holberg, her close friend and neighbor. Park was born on May 24, 1908 in Heppner, Oregon. Very early in life she showed a talent and love for piano performance, and eventually received a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Oregon, which she called ‘a family school.’ Her parents both taught there. While she never became a professional pianist, she shared her talents with many organizations to which she belonged. In 1928, she married Donald K. Park, who later was the coach of the swim team at UCLA. Their son, Donald K. Park II, is a retired university professor who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 1958, Park’s married life came to an abrupt end when she was widowed at the age of 50. A strong advocate of education, Park served as associate director of continuing education in engineering and mathematics at UCLA for 26 years. She was also past president of the Westwood Women’s Bruin Club and one of the founders and past president of the Plato Society at UCLA. After retiring from UCLA in the mid-1970s, Park turned to Pacific Palisades community affairs. She became a member of the Historical Society, where she served as president for two years, including the year when the society published ‘Pacific Palisades: From the Mountains to the Sea,’ written by her longtime friends Betty Lou Young and Randy Young. With her generous contributions she supported the ambitious mural on Temescal Canyon Road, the Palisades Library Fund and the Swarthmore Walk of Pride with a tree donation. Her great love of cats led her to contribute to groups supporting their well being and rescue. She also believed in supporting less fortunate people in need of funds for education, to establish a business or other urgent needs. One beneficiary of her largesse was the brother of an employee at Emerson-LaMay Cleaners who couldn’t afford the fees at UCLA. Bernice paid for his education, and after he graduated he found a good job in finance, and never forgot her kindness, taking her to lunch whenever he was in town. He said that when he ‘gets ahead,’ he will set up a scholarship in her name. One of Park’s most significant contributions to the community was her generosity to the establishing of Theatre Palisades. She was a member of the early fundraising planning committee and was successful in cajoling major contributions from local organizations. In addition to raising money to help build Pierson Playhouse, she also had the foresight to help establish an endowment fund for theatre operations. She was honored by Theatre Palisades in 1997 with the Lelah T. Pierson Award. In 1999, Park was honored by the Palisades Chamber of Commerce for her long and meritorious service to the community. A year later, she received the Community Service Award from the Palisades Community Council, given to individuals who demonstrate long-term and continuing service in one of more areas of the community. Park’s first love was and continued to be music. She played the piano as long as she was physically able. She supported the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Palisades Symphony until the end of her life, and was very interested in the local symphony’s programs and Young Artist Award competitions. Palisades Symphony will dedicate the performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis on Sunday, May 2 to her memory. A familiar figure in the Village with her snow-white hair and perky walk until just a few months ago, Park said in a 1992 interview with the Palisadian-Post that she felt grateful for what life had given her. ‘I have never been hungry or cold, I have had superior opportunities and I can be active in all the things I enjoy. I hope others will follow my lead in supporting our local performing arts.’ Contributions in Bernice Park’s memory may be sent to Palisades Symphony, P.O. Box 214, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford, on Friday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Rose Huff, 89; Ran Palisades Drug Store with Her Husband

By
dev
-

Rose Estelle Huff, who with her husband ran Pacific Palisades Drug Store in the heart of the Village from the late 1940s into the early 1970s, died on April 19 at Santa Monica-UCLA Hospital. She was 89. Born on December 19, 1914, in Buffalo, New York, Rose moved to California with her family in 1925. They came ‘overland’ in a touring car and settled in what is now West Hollywood. Growing up in Hollywood’s ‘Golden Years,’ Rose remembered working at Bell & Howell when Lucy and Desi would come in ranting and dramatically carrying on. Or the time Ronald Reagan gently educated her on the logistics of the switchboard when she was an operator and had disconnected a few of his calls. As a student at Belmont High, Rose knew she would live in the Palisades someday. She said she had a premonition in the 1920s when she had a photo taken at the beach with her boyfriend, showing the upper Bel-Air Bay Club in the background. Twenty years later, she and her husband Bob Huff (whom she married in 1936), built a home above the club on Arno Way, where she lived for 60 years. At their popular drug store (where Starbucks and Littlebits are now located), the Huffs maintained a family-oriented business that drew merchants and residents alike for gifts, cosmetic or pharmacy items, or merely to have lunch at the counter. Rose instigated the store’s ‘Fondue Day,’ when customers shopping on Friday were offered free fondue and wine. Active in the Assistance League of Southern California for 40 years, Rose was also a member of the Riviera Country Club since the 1950s. Known for her ‘joie de vivre,’ Rose wore a charm around her neck that read, ‘Live, Love and Laugh.’ She was always available for those who needed her, and her funny stories and antics will be remembered by the many who entered her large circle of friends and acquaintances, either to stay at her home when they needed a place to stay or to simply ‘hang out’ and party with her. Rose’s focus was her family and friends, many of whom called her ‘Gramma Rose’ or just ‘G-Rose.’ The grandaughter of her best friend, Ernie McKimson, used to refer to Rose and Ernie as Ethel and Lucy, the crazy, laughing pair. She had recently told her daughter, Georgeann, ‘Please don’t be sad or carry on when I’m gone. I’ve had a wonderful life, dear. I wouldn’t have changed a thing!’ Rose was predeceased by her husband in 1991. She is survived by her daughter, Georgeann Erskine of Topanga; granddaughter Nami Gabbard (husband Josh) of Topanga; great-grandson Ozzie Maddox Gabbard; sister Betty Abendschein (husband Irving) of Palm Desert; and nieces Janice Boe Perry and Ann Edwards. Services will be held today at 10:30 a.m. at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine on Sunset, followed by an informal gathering at Mrs. Huff’s home in the Palisades.

Services May 1 for Frank Atha III, 77

By
dev
-

Frank Perry Atha III, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1951, died on April 21 in Santa Monica. He was 77. Born in 1926 in Kansas City, Missouri, Frank attended Missouri Military Academy. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1948; a few days after graduation, he moved to Southern California, where he went to work at McDonnell-Douglas as a design engineer in aerospace. For several years, Frank was chief engineer at Transco. He worked at MicroMetals until he retired in 1982 at age 55. A member of the Santa Monica Yacht Club, Frank enjoyed sailing, and his favorite yachting experience was the long cruise he made from Florida through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. He was also a member of the Los Angeles Computer Society. Frank is survived by his wife, Roberta Atha; sons Thomas and Randall; brothers Warren and David; grandchildren Steven, Frank and Jessica; nephew Keith Auck and nieces Lianne Auck and Susan Balazhi. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. in The Little Chapel of the Dawn at Gates, Kingsley, Gates in Santa Monica. Interment will be private.

Bianca Gola, 83; Active Resident

By
dev
-

Bianca Angela Gola, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, died peacefully in her sleep on April 20. She was 83. Bianca, whose family was originally from Milan, Italy, was born in Shan-hai-quan (Shanhaiguan) in northeast China on March 31, 1921. The family moved to Tientsin (Tianjin) when her father became the Italian consul for that province. Bianca attended the British School, where she made many lifelong friends. She met her husband, Aristide (Silvio) Gola, at the Italian Club in Tientsin when he was visiting from Peking (Beijing), where he was an Italian naval officer assigned to the consulate. During World War II, when the Japanese occupied China, Bianca, Silvio and her family were detained and unable to leave the country. After the war was over, Bianca and Silvio were married in Tientsin. They moved to the United States with their baby son, Adrian, in 1949. The Golas moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 1960. Silvio went to work for Systems Development Corporation, a branch of The Rand Corporation, while Bianca began a long career as an administrative assistant at UCLA in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. She retired from UCLA after more than 30 years of service. Bianca (known to friends and family as ‘B’) was active in the Palisades community as a member of the Corpus Christi Christian Service Committee for many years and as an usher at the church until weeks before her death. She was a member of the CROP Hunger Walk Committee for over 20 years. In addition to her husband of 54 years, Bianca is survived by her son, Adrian of Los Angeles; sister Yolanda Martinella; several cousins and an aunt in Milan, Italy. A funeral mass was held on April 26 at Corpus Christi Church. There will be a private interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Donations can be made in Bianca Gola’s name to benefit the Palisades Hunger Walk at: Church World Service, 2235 N. Lake Ave., Suite 211, Altadena, Ca, 91001.

Ann Blumberg, 77; A 50-Year Palisadian

By
dev
-

Longtime Pacific Palisades resident Ann Blumberg passed away at her home April 10 after a series of illnesses, including heart disease. She was 77. Born June 25, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Blumberg moved to L.A. with her parents, Louis and Goldie Berman, in her late teens. She received a B.A. in education from UCLA. She met her husband Meyer on a blind date, and in the early 1950s they moved to the Palisades, where they raised their two sons, Mark and Robert. The family belonged to Kehillat Israel, then known as The Jewish Community of Pacific Palisades, where both boys made their bar mitzvah. During the years her sons attended Marquez Elementary, Paul Revere and Palisades High, Blumberg worked for LAUSD as a substitute teacher and gave piano lessons in her home. She was an avid tennis player and a docent at LACMA. Her husband, who died in 1990, owned Palisades Yardage on Via de la Paz, as well as an electronics retail store in Culver City. Blumberg is survived by her two sons. Mark graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 1971 and is a writer who lives in Scotts Valley, California, with his wife Masako. Robert received a master’s degree in engineering from UCLA and is a consultant in the computer industry. He lives in Santa Cruz with his wife Vanessa and their 16-year-old son, Asher. Funeral services were held on April 14 at Hillside Cemetery, where Blumberg is interred.

Anatomy of a Deal: Misto Cafe & Lucia’s

By
dev
-

One of the best-kept secrets in the Pacific Palisades is how businesses change hands in our five commercial districts’the Highlands, PCH and Sunset, Marquez Avenue, Santa Monica Canyon and the Village. How, for example, did current Chamber of Commerce president David Williams come to sell his Misto Cafe in the Highlands Plaza to Lucia’s Italian Kitchen? The deal closes May 2, and after a quick paint job and the installation of new signage, Lucia’s will open about two weeks later. ‘It is the perfect match,’ said John Halter, who bought the 12-year-old business from Williams after searching for over a year. Halter and his brother Michael own three other Italian restaurants, including Pizzetta in West Hollywood. ‘We were looking for a family-style location on the Westside,’ Halter said. ‘The size of Misto, the atmosphere and pricing are very similar to our other operations. We also feel the location is right for us.’ What Halter is actually buying is Williams’s lease (there are three years left, with a five-year option to renew), his beverage license and ‘his goodwill, which is really worth something to us. We count on his many satisfied customers to continue walking through the door.’ Halter, who actually found out about Misto from his sister, a commercial broker who saw it listed on the Internet (at loopnet.com), said it took him less than 48 hours to make up his mind. ‘I heard that the restaurant was available on a Monday, looked at it Tuesday and knew as soon as I walked in how great it could be for us. While we will be serving the same type of food, we also plan on offering more pizzas and home delivery.’ Halter learned the restaurant business from his mother, Katerina, who was born and raised in Italy and who trained with Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans. Lucia is the name of one of Halter’s aunts. Of Williams, whom he only met recently, he said: ‘We have similar styles.’ Greg Eckhardt, vice president of Par Commercial, which leases the storefronts in the strip mall just north of Sunset where both of David Williams’s restaurants are located (besides Misto, he owns Mogan’s Cafe), describes the chef’s style as ‘very hands-on. Nothing escapes David, from the design to the food. It was after he opened Mogan’s last July that I told him if he was ever interested in selling Misto to let me know. He said he might be, but only to the right party.’ Eckhardt said that in the last few months he has been inundated with inquiries from operators wanting to open eateries, ‘from Papa John’s, to Chinese, to rotisserie chicken, to sushi. I think Lucia’s was the best fit, for both parties. For one thing the clientele for Italian food is already well-established at this location and it will not compete with David’s plans for Mogan’s.’ Starting in July, Williams plans to add dinner to Mogan’s menu, which currently serves only breakfast and lunch. ‘At dinnertime we will offer American-style food, like pot pies and fish of the day,’ said Williams, who graduated from the Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1989. ‘And we plan on making better use of all the space, both indoors and out. With heaters, people will be able to dine comfortably out on our large patio. ‘We’re also looking into extending our Internet service for customers. Right now, we only have two hook-ups, which we offer for free. With wireless we could offer unlimited access. I think having people come here to work on their laptops while enjoying a cup of coffee or two would be a good way to fill up the cafe in the off-hours, between breakfast and lunch, let’s say. I want to open up this place even more to the community. That will be good for everyone, including Lucia’s.’ Williams lives in the Marquez area with his wife Dominique and their four children: daughters Sarah,12, and Hannah, 9, and twins Eli and Nate, both 11. A lifelong Palisadian, he has been the head soccer coach at Palisades High for 10 seasons. Asked what kind of restaurant he thinks is needed in the Palisades, Williams quickly said: ‘A place like the Hot Dog Show, where I used to go as a kid after my baseball games. I think it would be great fun.

1...2,4962,4972,498...2,522Page 2,497 of 2,522
© Pacific Palisades Post, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272