Gelson’s to Rebuild Store, Open Small-Format Market

Gelson’s Markets (Encino, Calif.) has unveiled plans to replace its grocery store in Pacific Palisades, Calif., that was destroyed by a wildfire in January 2025. Although a construction timeline and reopening date have not been confirmed, the company said in a news release that it is moving forward with the rebuilding process and intends to return to its longstanding location at 15424 Sunset Boulevard.

“Our Pacific Palisades store has long been a part of the fabric of this community,” said Ryan Adams, President and CEO of Gelson’s, which operates 27 premium markets, all in Southern California. “Its loss was deeply felt across our organization. Since our first store opened in Burbank in 1951, our commitment has always been to provide exceptional service and establish a genuine connection with the communities we call home. We will return in a way that reflects the resilience of the Palisades and our long-term investment there.”

(The fires also destroyed a nearby Ralphs grocery story, which parent company Kroger Co. is expected to rebuild, according to published reports. However, that move has not yet been formally announced or confirmed.)

In the same release as the Pacific Palisades announcement, Gelson’s disclosed that it had recently opened a smaller-format market as part of a mixed-use development in Toluca Lake. That neighborhood-focused concept features a curated grocery assortment and chef-crafted prepared foods tailored to the tastes of the local community. It could not be immediately determined how many such stores the grocer has opened thus far or plans to roll out.

Another recent addition to the grocer’s lineup are two ReCharge by Gelson’s locales; those combination c-stores/electric-vehicle recharging sites are in Costa Mesa and Santa Anna.