Special Guests Attend Pacific Palisades Vons VIP Wine Event

While the wine was flowing generously, generous donations were flowing in to the YMCA during the Pacific Palisades Vons grand reopening celebration Wednesday night.

Culminating a two-month construction process, invited guests arrived to partake in a special VIP wine tasting reception with proceeds benefiting the Palisades-Malibu YMCA.  As the first public visitors to see the new changes, everyone seemed to give the new Vons a thumbs up.

 “I think it looks fabulous,” said local resident Pat Boren, who grew up in the Palisades and lives close by.  “This store has always been sort of a beach store and now it’s classy. I like the lighting and I think the layout makes so much more sense.  It’s more intuitive for some reason. It’s easier to find things.”

 “I remember the store the way it was before and this is a big difference,” said Peter Dills, host of the Sunday afternoon program Dining with Dills on 790 KABC radio.  “It’s a great event, and I’m glad to be here.”

The store was completely remodeled from the inside out, according to Carlos Illingworth, manager of public affairs for Vons. While the footprint of the building stayed the same, the sales-floor size was increased to 24,542 square feet.

“The new store will offer customers an expanded deli, wine, meat and seafood selection, as well as a new Starbucks with an ocean-view patio,” he said. 

 “The Starbucks patio is a huge addition to our community, because we don’t have many ocean view spots,” said Carol Pfannkuche, executive director of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA. 

 During a brief ceremony, Pfannkuche thanked Vons for their support.

 “This is a great benefit for the YMCA and we’re very honored to have been selected for this opportunity,” she said to the crowd.

“Pacific Palisades has been anxiously awaiting the reopening of Vons and we’re so excited to be here with you celebrating. Doesn’t it look beautiful?”

Two representatives from Vons also gave speeches at the event.

 “In terms of re-introducing ourselves to the community, we thought what better way than to host an event to support the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, an organization that we all know and love,” said spokesperson Daymond Rice.

 “Talking with some of you, as of last night, you didn’t think we were going to make it, but voila, we are going to be ready to open for business,” Rice added. After a ribbon-cutting event Thursday, the store officially opened for business on Friday.

“Daymond mentioned some concern whether the project would be done, and I was here four hours ago and I was concerned,” joked Andy Barker, vice-president of retail operations. “It’s always been a good store but I think we all agree it was a little outdated and it didn’t really didn’t provide customers the shopping experience they deserve.”

In addition to the interior changes, Vons also moved the driveway facing Sunset to align with the Castellemmare stoplight. For several years the Pacific Palisades Community Council has been working with Vons and Councilman Bill Rosendahl to achieve the realignment.

  “We’re very excited about the fact that it’s going to be safer now that they’ve moved the driveway,” said Janet Turner, chair of the PPCC. “It’s something we’ve wanted for years and years. And every resident in the Palisades knows it’s like taking your life into your hands getting into this parking lot. Now that will all be changed and we’re pleased.”

The VIP event included a martini bar, two wine bars, Starbucks coffee, lush desserts, soups, sushi, croissant sandwiches, and other delicacies available in Vons stores.  An impressive list of labels were served including Caymus, Pierre- Jouet, Mums, Stags Leap, Whitehall Lane and a Penfolds Shiraz priced at roughly $130 (all available in the new Vons wine section).

“Vons is one of the more competitive grocery chains out there,” said Lisa Brooks, of Southern Wine and Spirits. “It will be the exact same price or close to what you’d find at Costco.”

Among those catering to the needs of the guests during the event were some of the 40 or so new employees who will join the store.

“I go to Pali Temescal Academy and this is my first job,” said David Kudla. “I’m kind of excited. I’ll be working in the bakery as a runner and it should be a lot of fun.”

 Later in the evening, a raffle was held to benefit the YMCA, with prizes that included expensive wines, gift certificates, and flower arrangements.

 “We had an absolutely fantastic turnout,” said Anne Ullstrom, who works with the YMCA. “Everybody had a wonderful time, and we raised a lot of money.”