Nearly 19 months after the deadly Palisades Fire forever changed the Los Angeles community, residents reunited to celebrate a milestone in the town’s ongoing rebuilding efforts.
“The Palisades has been home to me for most of my life, but really all my life. I was brought home to [the Palisades] in 1979, and then I was pregnant with Ryder — my son — and I was able to buy back the house I grew up in and decided to raise my kids in the Palisades,” Kate Hudson shared at the grand reopening of Caruso’s Palisades Village on Saturday, August 15, attended by Us. “This community means everything to me, and this night is deeply personal.”
Before introducing her longtime friend and One Republic member Ryan Tedder to the stage for a special performance, Hudson, 47, shared a powerful message to her neighbors.
“We’ve been through so much. To lose so many places and landmarks that held our memories is devastating, and I think all of us still carry that tonight,” she said. “But we must celebrate. We must celebrate that we are rebuilding.”
In January 2025, the Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres across L.A. and its surrounding suburbs. According to CalFire, more than 6,500 structures were destroyed, 975 were damaged and at least 27 people lost their lives.
Billy Crystal was one of the many residents who lost a home. Although he couldn’t be in the Pacific Palisades over the weekend, the Oscar winner — a resident of the community since 1979 — joined his wife, Janice Crystal, in a special, pre-taped message.
“Everywhere you look, something great is happening,” he shared. “You can feel it. We’re on our way back folks, and for those of us who sadly lost everything in the fires, like I said in City Slickers, there’s one thing we’ll never lose.”
Janice replied, “Our love for the Palisades.”
The Palisades Village, which did not burn down in the fires, was home to some of the city’s best shopping, dining and entertainment offerings.
On Saturday, new and returning businesses — including Jennifer Meyer, Paige, Alphabet Bar & Grill and more — opened their doors for eager shoppers and diners willing and able to lift up the community by opening their pocket books.
“I have been waiting 19 months to say, ‘Welcome to Palisades Village!’” developer and Pacific Palisades fire victim Rick Caruso wrote via Instagram after the grand reopening. “Two days after the Palisades fires, the Caruso team got together, wiped our tears and started rebuilding the Palisades Village. 19 months later, carried by the love, resilience and strength of this community, we are proud to take this mega-step in the rebuilding of the Palisades.❤️”
When the stores closed for the day, the Caruso team held a celebratory concert for the community, featuring performances by the Hollywood Film Orchestra, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, American Idol alum Pia Toscano, members of the local high school and more.
Actor Anthony Hopkins also made a special appearance to welcome back Palisades residents.
“August 15th marks a major milestone in our Palisades comeback,” Caruso, 67, said via Instagram. “We didn’t come this far just to come this far ❤️.”
