This is the green at the center of the Caruso complex.
Anyone who has ever argued with a spouse about what to name a child—or even a pet — knows there is no easy compromise.
That’s why when my daughter was named Shelby, it wasn’t clear how that happened because my husband and I used ranked-choice voting.
I’m pretty sure my third choice was Shelby behind Taylor and Alexandria—but… Anyway that brings us to Carusoville versus Palisades Village as a name for the development that is north of Sunset and contains numerous restaurants and high-end clothing stores. It is generally a pleasant place to walk, people watch—and now has the best public bathrooms in the town (sorry Gelson’s).
After I was reprimanded for using Carusoville in a Musing, I put it out to readers, who I have to say are some of the sharpest, nicest people you might meet, if there could be a compromise for the “mall.”
First, I apologize to Midwest readers, who routinely refer to shopping areas as a mall. A reader wrote: “At the risk of making your head explode, please don’t refer to it as a ‘mall’ either. That is frequently also used as a pejorative.”
Who knew that the word mall had negative connotations?
The Bay Theater has reopened through Netflix.
Okay, so now we know we can’t call that area a mall – even though if you Google “mall,” The Grove, The Americana at Brand, the Glendale Galleria and even Palisades Village pop up on the list.
One reader wrote: “How about ‘Palisades Village Mall?’ I know Caruso doesn’t build malls, but this keeps it simple. Carusoville disrespectful? Time for a reality check — that there’s even a debate about what to call a private enterprise that has co-opted the name of the main business district while disrespecting the community and our long-time local businesses, makes any name fair game.”
One person explained the historical aspect of the Village name. “For decades, we Palisadians have called our central business area The Village.
“Too bad we never trademarked the name. Caruso apparently checked to see if we had. Nope, we hayseeds probably never thought of doing so or that it was necessary.
“Rick Caruso has officially trademarked the name Palisades Village. A little too close to the name The Village?” The reader concluded.
Another reader wrote: “We should certainly have objected to the registration and use of the term Palisades Village for what is Carusoville, because we did indeed already have a village in the Palisades — a quaint and wonderful one that predated Caruso.”
One wrote: “Take the name Palisades Village. Caruso did. There’s so much more. But I try not to dwell on it these days, except when asked to detail the Caruso Saga.”
Yet another reader wrote: “I like that you use the term, Carusoville. I agree with the writer the other day that reminded us that the ‘Village’ is the greater Palisades downtown area, and the Caruso property has attempted to take this historic term as its own.”
Another said: “The bottom line is that Carusoville is a fine name. It is a good description of that part of the Village area. It’s not derogatory. That’s only in the minds of some people. What’s derogatory? Depends how it’s used – ‘I love the new Carusoville and its restaurants’ – or ‘Carusoville is ruining the neighborhood vibe.’”
There were those that preferred that it be called Palisades Village:
One wrote: “Palisades shopping should all be called Palisades Village. Only the unhappy angry people call it Carusoville!”
A long-time resident wrote: “I consider everything from Gelson’s to Ralphs, north and south of Sunset, as the Village. I make no real distinction between Caruso’s project and other commercial establishments. Swarthmore, north and south, has traditionally been referred to as the Village, so nothing has really changed.”
Entirely different name suggestions included: The Caruso Center, Neo-ville, Caruso Plaza, North Village, North Palisades and Upper Sunset.
Maybe in the future, to keep peace in Pacific Palisades, Circling the News will adapt the Harry Potter books and just call it “The area that shall not be named.”
The Draycott is a popular eatery in the complex north of Sunset.
Carusoville is perfect, The space and businesses it refers to are clear, without ambiguity. That’s exactly how language evolves, to communicates what it needs to convey clearly and efficiently.
How about The Upper Village?
The correct trademarked name is the palisades village where the stars meet the sea. It’s on the website. This is because palisades village tm is taken by a community in another state and is unavailable. It’s easy enough to look up. I’m sure Caruso is waiting for it once/if it’s up for renewal. I was one of the earliest users if not the original user who coined Carusoville well before is was finished. I appreciate that people embraced it and see it as a good fit. It tells much of the story.
I like Carusoville as well. Refer to it as the ‘Ville for short.
I totally agree with the below description and believe anyone wanting to call it something different like Carusoville is being silly and disrespectful.
A long-time resident wrote: “I consider everything from Gelson’s to Ralphs, north and south of Sunset, as the Village. I make no real distinction between Caruso’s project and other commercial establishments. Swarthmore, north and south, has traditionally been referred to as the Village, so nothing has really changed.”
Stores in the entire village come and go, we didn’t change to Anawaltville when they took over Norris Hardware.