Gelson’s Market is planning to return to Pacific Palisades, more than a year after its longtime store was destroyed in the devastating Palisades Fire.

The Encino-based grocer announced on March 26 that it intends to rebuild at its former site on Sunset Boulevard, marking a significant step in the broader recovery of the Palisades, which saw nearly 6,800 structures lost to the fires. A construction timeline has not yet been finalized, but the company said it’s actively moving forward with the process.

“Our Pacific Palisade store has been a part of the fabric of the community,” said Ryan Adams, president and chief executive of Gelson’s Markets. “Its loss was deeply felt across our organization.”

The January 2025 wildfires, which ignited amid dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, swept through residential and commercial corridors in the Palisades and Altadena – becoming one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles County. Together, the blazes destroyed tens of thousands of acres, including more than 16,000 homes and commercial structures. More than 100,000 residents were displaced, and the fires officially claimed nearly three dozen lives – 12 of whom were in the Palisades.

Located at 15424 Sunset Blvd. near La Cruz Drive, Gelson’s noted that it had served Palisades residents for decades before the fire. While redevelopment plans are still in early stages, the rebuilt store is expected to feature a modernized design while maintaining its premium offerings. Additional amenities are under consideration.

“We will return in a way that reflects the resilience of the Palisades and our long-term investment there,” Adams said. 

The plan to rebuild its Palisades store also comes as Gaelson’s, which has 26 stores throughout Southern California, continues to expand its footprint. It recently opened a smaller-format market in Toluca Lake as part of a mixed-use development, tailoring its store format to neighborhood demographics and shopping patterns.

“We are focused on the long term,” Adams said. “The same commitment to thoughtful growth and genuine community connection that guides our expansion across Southern California will guide our return to Pacific Palisades.” –Monée Fields-White

Newton Golf Posts Record 2025 Sales

Newton Golf Co. posted record revenue growth in 2025, fueled by rising demand for its technology-driven golf shafts and an expanding direct-to-consumer business.

The Camarillo-based golf equipment company reported net sales of $8.1 million for the full year, a 136% increase from $3.4 million in 2024, marking the highest annual revenue in its history. The surge was bolstered by the adoption of the company’s Newton Motion shift platform, which has gained traction among both individual consumers and professional club fitters, said Akinobu Yorihiro, Newton Golf’s interim chief executive and chief technology officer, in a statement.

“We expanded our direct-to-consumer channel through our websites, supported by improvements in digital marketing efficiency, higher conversion rates, and increasing repeat customer purchases,” he said. “Our direct-to-consumer growth included record single-day sales on Black Friday, reflecting strong consumer demand across key product lines.”

Fourth-quarter sales rose 112% year over year to $2.3 million, reflecting continued momentum heading into 2026. Yorihiro attributed the gains to improved digital marketing, higher conversion rates, and a jump in repeat purchases through its direct-to-consumer platform. Repeat customers accounted for 26.7% of orders in 2025, more than a third higher than the share in the prior year.   

Newton has also expanded its footprint in the professional fitting market, growing its network to roughly 230 locations – an increase of about 130% from 2024. The company also touted that its shafts ranked as the top-selling option for drivers and fairway woods at Club Champion.

Yorihiro shared that the company has introduced several new product lines for professional golfers. That included several new shaft configurations during the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando – “the Fast Motion fairway wood shaft, dedicated hybrid shafts across our product offerings, and refined 2026 versions of our existing Fast Motion and Motion driver and fairway shafts,” he said.

The company is also pushing into international markets, launching a Japanese e-commerce platform and securing a distribution agreement in South Korea.

Yorihiro noted that the company’s push to expand its U.S. operations and international presence reflects the overall growth in golf participation. Citing the National Golf Foundation and The R&A, Yorihiro said the share of avid golfers remains “elevated relative to historical levels,” with more than 64 million golfers worldwide – 47 million in the U.S. alone.

“We believe Newton Golf remains in the early stages of scaling the Newton Motion shaft platform,” he said. “Continued adoption across professional club fitters, retail partners, and international distributors, together with expansion of our shaft configuration lineup, positions the company to pursue sustained revenue growth while leveraging our existing manufacturing infrastructure.” –Monée Fields-White

Panorama City Affordable Complex Opens

A 102-unit affordable housing development has landed in Panorama City.

The four-story Vista Terrace is Brentwood-based multifamily housing developer Thomas Safran & Associates’ first property in the high-density neighborhood.

Vista Terrace, financed in part with low-income housing tax credits and a construction-to-permanent loan from City Bank, celebrated its grand opening on April 9 after welcoming its first residents last fall.

“We’re proud to partner with the city to deliver high-quality, permanent housing – located close to public transportation, health facilities, restaurants and retail stores – that provides stability and opportunity for low-income residents,” said Jordan Pynes, president of Thomas Safran & Associates, in a news release. “We will provide on-site social services to ensure their long-term success.”

The property at 8134-8146 Van Nuys Blvd. includes a 55-car parking garage and houses a library, community room, fitness center, laundry facility and landscaped outdoor areas.

Rents range from $1,575 for studios to $2,733 for 3-bedroom apartments, with units reserved for residents earning 60% to 70% of the area median income. Twenty-five units are set aside for residents who were formerly homeless.

Vista Terrace, located near a future stop on the in-progress Metro East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit line, adds “much-needed affordable housing” to the San Fernando Valley, Pynes said. The development is among the largest affordable housing projects in its area, alongside the newly completed 180-unit Corazón del Valle complex at 14545 Lanark St.

Thomas Safran & Associates has built more than 6,500 luxury, affordable and mixed-use units in Southern California. City Councilmember Imelda Padilla, who represents the Sixth District, said she was “incredibly excited” when the developer first announced the Vista Terrace project.

Pointing to its green space and community feel, Padilla said the property is “a prime example of what affordable housing should be.” – Christina Chkarboul

Santa Clarita Gets New Community

Intracorp Homes is expanding its footprint in Los Angeles County with the launch of a new single-family housing community in Santa Clarita – making it the developer’s first project in the San Fernando Valley.

The company announced the grand opening of Pelona Hills at Sand Canyon, a 119-home development along the foothills of the Sierra Pelona Mountains. The project officially debuted on March 28 with the reveal of its first phase of homes.

Ranging from roughly 1,830 to 2,181 square feet, the houses are designed in the contemporary California ranch style and include up to four bedrooms. Prices were not disclosed. Local brokerage The Neal Weichel Group of RE/MAX has handled the sales.

The new community reflects continued demand for suburban housing options within commuting distance of Los Angeles, the company said in its release.

The site offers access to Interstate 14 and proximity to the Visita Canyon Transit Center, connecting residents to Downtown Los Angeles via Metrolink.

In the area, the community is adjacent to Sand Canyon Village, a recently developed retail center anchored by tenants such as Sprouts Farmers Market and Starbucks Corp.’s café. –Monée Fields-White