Swarthmore Stores Throw Open Doors

By ERIKA MARTIN | Reporter

The survivors of Swarthmore are girding themselves up to keep welcoming their favorite customers even as the Rick Caruso development starts to swirl around them.

Although nine businesses in the Palisades Village project area have temporarily shuttered or relocated to make way for construction, four shops on Swarthmore Avenue remain outside the construction area and open for business.

These are P2, Solis Salon, Get Dressed and Carly K, which is in the process of relocating into the four-store block near Sunset Boulevard.

The businesses within the 1011 Swarthmore Offices will similarly remain open.

City National Bank is within the development’s domain but, contrary to previous reports, expects to stay at that location for a few months as it looks for a new location in the Village.

Sources suggested that banking regulations and federal approvals have slowed that bank’s move. “Relocating a vault filled with dollars insured by the government is not as simple as moving a store,” said an informed observer.

A representative for the bank said it hopes the situation will be resolved later this year.

When Swarthmore closes to vehicle traffic—a representative for Caruso said a date has not yet been set—it will be closed 100 feet north from the alley behind U.S. Bank to allow foot traffic to access the stores at 1013-1021 Swarthmore Ave.

The sidewalk in this area will also remain open and parking will be allowed along the curb.

Until Aug.1, however, weekday parking on the street is prohibited from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parking is also prohibited on the south side of Monument Street until July 29.

P2 owner Erica Simpson said she is “scared” about the future of her store.

“We want to stay, and we want to be able to make it, and we want to be able to be there for the community while there are fewer stores,” she said. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen to be perfectly honest. Right now we’re here.”

Simpson said despite the allowances for access to the stores the construction creates the illusion the entire street is shut down. Moreover, she said, foot traffic has been steadily declining since Caruso Affiliated moved in and erected advertisements for the new development.

“People look really sad when they come to the street now,” Simpson said. “It’s challenging.”

However Erica Paige, general manager at Get Dressed, said she didn’t expect construction to impact sales much.

“This street was already dead,” she noted. “We’re kind of a destination spot. A lot of our customers come specifically for us. We’re not really worried about it.”