On that fateful night in January when the flames swept through Pacific Palisades, Rick Caruso stood not only as a civic leader, but as a father and neighbor. The devastation was personal—his own children lost homes, cherished places were reduced to ash and the community that he had poured so much of himself into was left broken. “Like everyone, it’s been a very challenging, difficult time,” Caruso says. “It’s especially frustrating now that we know the fire could have been prevented. Tens of thousands of people lost homes and jobs. People died. But I’m optimistic. We’re going to keep working hard, along with a lot of other good people, to rebuild.” Even in those dark days, he says, the thought of shared traditions—holidays, celebrations, the simple rituals that bring people together—reminded him of why the work of rebuilding mattered so deeply.
For Caruso, a longtime resident of Brentwood, the loss struck at the very heart of what has always defined westside life: community. More than three decades ago, he and his wife, Tina, chose Brentwood to raise their four children because of its low-key, unpretentious spirit. “It just felt right,” he recalls. “It was local, neighborly, comfortable. Clean and safe—at least then, but we are going to fix that—with a family vibe. It turned out to be a great place to raise a family.” That belief in the power of neighborhood ties guided his decision to invest in the Palisades years later, transforming a then run-down corner of Sunset and Swarthmore into Palisades Village—a walkable, open-air shopping and dining destination that opened in 2018 would become the heart of the town.
“When I first bought the property, it didn’t reflect the quality of the community,” Caruso recalls. “I knew there was an opportunity to build something special—a true gathering place. That’s exactly what it became. Kids met there after school, parents gathered and it turned into the community center we had hoped for.”
The Palisades Fire only deepened his conviction. Rather than retreat, Caruso leaned into his instinct for service, drawing on a lifetime of civic commitment. The grandson of Italian immigrants, Caruso grew up in Los Angeles watching his father build Dollar Rent A Car, learning resilience and enterprise. After attending undergrad at USC and law school at Pepperdine, Caruso rose quickly in public service, becoming the youngest Commissioner in the history of Los Angeles at the Department of Water and Power. Later, as President of the Los Angeles Police Commission, he helped bring crime to a fifty-year low. Alongside Tina, he has long invested in philanthropy through the Caruso Family Foundation, supporting children’s health and education. For Caruso, giving back has never been a sideline—it’s been a throughline of his life, shaping both his business and his personal mission.
Immediately in the wake of the fire, Caruso and his wife made a $5 million lead gift to launch a campaign that raised $20 million in a single week to support the Los Angeles Fire Department.
From that effort grew Steadfast LA, the nonprofit Caruso founded to accelerate recovery. “It was clear that the disaster was too big for the government alone. We needed public-private partnerships,” he explains. “So I started Steadfast, bringing together some of the most talented people in town to donate their time and skills. Our goal is to partner with the city, county and state to get people back in their communities as quickly and safely as possible.”
Already, Steadfast LA has provided small business grants of up to $50,000 in the Palisades and Altadena, is working to deliver modular homes to displaced families and launched an AI plan check tool to cut permitting times from months to weeks. In partnership with Lakers coach JJ Redick and his organization, LA Strong Sports Foundation, Caruso is leading the redesign of the Palisades Recreation Center, recently hosting a packed community meeting that drew more than 400 neighbors. “It was full of hope and excitement,” Caruso recalls. “The goal is to start construction early next year and reopen within about a year.”
Looking ahead, the highly anticipated reopening of Palisades Village is scheduled for August 2026, a moment Caruso views as both practical and deeply symbolic. Anchoring the relaunch will be the flagship Elyse Walker store, a homecoming for one of the community’s most beloved retailers, who lost her longtime boutique in the fire. “Elyse is one of the best people I know—just an incredibly good person,” Caruso says. “She raised her kids in the Palisades, and her roots run deep there. She’s also one of the best retail merchants in the country. When we thought about how to make Palisades Village even better, she was the first person who came to mind.”
Yet for Caruso, rebuilding isn’t only about bricks and mortar—it’s also about spirit. Even as businesses remain shuttered, he has insisted that holiday traditions go on. On December 6th, the iconic Christmas tree in Palisades Village will once again sparkle to life during a beautiful community ceremony, followed by a Hanukkah celebration and nightly menorah lightings beginning on December 14th. “Even this year, we’ll celebrate our Christmas tree lighting like always, even though nothing will be open,” Caruso says. “We’ll also do our menorah lighting. The sooner we can get back to normalcy, the better. These traditions are important. I don’t want kids missing out. Most of all, we need to give people hope.” In a year of profound loss, these moments promise something more lasting than commerce: the reassurance that community endures.
That devotion to joy and connection extends beyond the Palisades. At Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, Caruso has prepared another season of dazzling décor, with jaw-dropping adornments and a beautiful Christmas tree greeting guests in the lobby. New Chanel and Jacquemus boutiques join the resort’s beloved holiday festivities, which Caruso sees as essential expressions of gratitude. The same spirit carries to The Grove, where its legendary tree, music and snowfall have become part of the city’s holiday tradition, drawing families from across Los Angeles, and the world. “I love celebrating life,” Caruso says. “Having a grateful heart and celebrating faith and family is important to me. Decorating is a way of sharing joy with the community.”
Back in Brentwood, where the Caruso family home glows with festive lights each December, neighbors still stop by with their children to admire the display. Caruso often thinks back to the simple pleasures of raising his own family here: Redi-Chick, Amici and Joan’s Candy Store—local touchstones that defined his kids' childhoods and anchored his love for the neighborhood. For him, Brentwood and the Palisades are more than just places. They are part of the fabric of his life.
As speculation swirls about future political aspirations, Caruso says he hasn’t ruled anything out. “I love public service, and I want to give back to my community and my state,” he says. "I will make a decision soon." However, for now he remains focused on the immediate work ahead: helping his neighbors heal and ensuring that the Palisades rises from the ashes stronger than before. “Los Angeles is a great city going through a tough time, but it will come back,” he says. “The Palisades is a beautiful community, and it will be restored. Let’s all work together and stay hopeful.”
"It's been a very difficult time. But I'm optimistic. We're going to keep working hard, along with a lot of other good people, to rebuild."
"Most of all, we need to give people hope."