Gladstones seafood restaurant, a fixture in Pacific Palisades, is reopening its outdoor deck and auxiliary kitchen on July 4 after a six-month closure due to fire damage. The restaurant aims to offer the local community a space for comfort and normalcy following the devastating Palisades fire, which resulted in significant loss of life and property. Despite sustaining smoke damage and destruction to its furniture, Gladstones has a history of resilience as a beloved gathering spot along the Pacific Coast Highway, where community members rallied support for its staff after the fire.
"We just wanted to have something where the community could gather and have a place to visit while they're visiting their place of residence ... and feel a bit of normalcy after such a devastating event," said Jim Harris, the restaurant manager and chief executive of Gladstones Legacy Group.
Gladstones itself was saved in large part due to the heroic efforts of Engine 238, said Harris - though the back of the main building was burned, leaving toxic smoke damage throughout the main dining room and 'soccer ball-sized ashes' that damaged furniture on the deck.
A staple on PCH since 1981, community members mourned the temporary closing of the restaurant on social media and raised nearly $30,000 on GoFundMe to support staff in the aftermath of the blaze.
"Gladstones is as iconic as any restaurant in Los Angeles and definitely a place where people can relive the good old days," said Peniston, who said regulars constantly texted him wondering when the business was going to reopen.
Collection
[
|
...
]