We Lose One, We Win One: Mobil Out, New Bank In

By ERIKA MARTIN | Reporter

After the businesses within Rick Caruso’s Palisades Village project close their doors on July 10, Swarthmore Avenue will never be the same.

While most storeowners plan to return to the new development, Mobil has become the first operation to say it’s closing permanently. City National Bank may also close for ever.

The new face on the block is Banc of California, which is moving into the space once occupied by Denton Jewelers. The location, owned by J. Paul Bowinkel, is an island surrounded by Caruso-owned property on either side. The Irvine-based Banc was founded in 2010 but already has $10bn in assets and more than 100 branches and lending locations across the West.

Unlike the rest of the shops, the gas station will remain open until Aug. 13.

Toy Zoo will permanently remain in its new location, the former Party Pizzazz at 15121 Sunset Blvd. The two stores are merging after Toy Zoo owner Jay Demircift bought Party Pizzazz.

Three businesses will relocate temporarily: Michele International to the former Wilshire & Okell’s Fireplace at 15335 Sunset Blvd., BOCA Clothing to 1034 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica and Carly K to 1013 Swarthmore Ave.

Bentons and BOCA Man will close their doors until, it is hoped, they move into the completed Palisades Village project when it opens in three years’ time.

There will be a special dinner at Maison Giraud to mark its departure today, but that is already booked. Palisadians have four more days to eat until kitchen utensils are downed this Sunday.

The fate of Lavender Blue is unknown; owner Catherine Giraud declined repeated requests to give hope to their dedicated fans they will return.

Caruso Affiliated has already begun work on storm drain relocation in the project area, and traffic control has been in place on Sunset Boulevard since July 5. Work on Swarthmore is expected to commence in September.

BOCA Clothing owner Denise Mangimelli said the store will reopen at its Montana Avenue location on Sept. 1. The store on Swarthmore, which she’s run for 12 years, is coincidentally the site of her first job at 15 years old at what was then La Femme.

Despite her deep ties to the existing structure, Mangimelli said she is looking forward to the changes.

“It’s such an exciting time with moving and changing, I really haven’t dwelled on it,” she said. “We’ve had such a positive response from customers. They say they’re already in that area of Montana all the time.”

But after the two years of construction, she said BOCA will return to the Village.

Maison Giraud owner and chef Alain Giraud said he is in negotiation on a few deals for a temporary location but has yet to lock anything down.

Although Mobil owner Saeed Kohanoff originally planned to move the business to the Shell station on the corner of Sunset and Via de la Paz, which he also owns, he is unable to change the brand as there are 10 years remaining on his contract with Shell.

Kohanoff has owned the Mobil since 1990 and said he never thought he would sell the station, as he prefers the layout of its pumps and convenience store to Shell’s.

He has submitted plans to the city for a reconfiguration of the Shell station but has met opposition from a neighboring condominium building.

Kohanoff, who is associated with 10 gas stations across LA, said Mobil’s five employees will be put in part-time positions at other locations until full-time jobs become available.

Mobil Manager Mohammed Rahman has worked at the location for more than 20 years, and most other employees have been there about 10 years. Though Kohanoff negotiated a severance deal with the staff, Rahman is devastated about the station’s shuttering.

He said he doesn’t have a new job yet.