CVS Pharmacy is the first major retailer to reopen in Pacific Palisades months after one of California’s worst wildfires on record tore through the area, destroying dozens of businesses.
The pharmacy celebrated the reopening of its location at 864 Swarthmore Ave. this week. It’s one of the first businesses to return since the wildfires destroyed nearly 5,500 single-family homes and dozens of apartment buildings, stores and offices.
The store required a full interior rebuild, after fire and smoke damage forced the removal of shelving, fixtures and flooring. The rebuild also included upgrades to the pharmacy counter and electrical systems, while delivery and pickup areas were expanded to handle higher demand for community recovery efforts that are ongoing.
CVS’ return represents a milestone in that recovery as Pacific Palisades property owners work to bring back retail, multifamily and civic spaces. The neighborhood’s upscale open-air shopping center Palisades Village is set to reopen next year, but most businesses, including charred supermarkets, shops and restaurants, remain closed without reopening timelines.
“After months of hard work, we’re thrilled to welcome back customers to our Swarthmore Avenue CVS Pharmacy store,” said a statement from Michael Ibrahim, CVS Pharmacy vice president of retail field operations. “With community rebuilding efforts underway, we’re focused on ensuring hardworking first responders, construction workers and community members have access to the products they need.”
Rebuilding commercial corridors
In addition to traditional pharmacy and health offerings, the reopened store carries grab-and-go foods and household essentials tailored to the construction teams now active in the area. CVS said the product assortment will evolve as residents return over the coming months and years.
“The return of CVS Pharmacy in the Palisades carries more than convenience,” said a statement from Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “It restores the small routines that hold us together — a neighbor picking up medicine, a parent grabbing essentials after school, a familiar face behind the counter.”
The 33,000-square-foot CVS, located near the heart of town, is among a small but growing list of commercial sites cleared to reopen in Pacific Palisades.
The city has approved rebuilding permits for two multifamily complexes and more than 20 additional commercial parcels, according to officials.
The neighborhood’s Gelson’s and Ralph’s supermarkets, torched by the flames that ripped through town in January, remain unopened with no reopening plans announced.
Palisades Village owner Rick Caruso has said the upscale, open-air retail center just around the corner will open in early 2026 after getting a $50 million renovation to remove damage from the fires.
Local and state governments as well as private groups have launched programs to help small businesses recover from the economic damage caused by the wildfires. Steadfast LA, the nonprofit headed by Rick Caruso, announced a $1 million grant program sponsored by Banc of California to help independent retailers and restaurants in Altadena, Malibu and Pacific Palisades rebuild.