www.palisadesnews.com
March 25 - April 28, 2022 Volume 32, Issue 58
Longtime Palisades Toy Store Puzzle Zoo Faces Eviction Store in the process of trying to find a new location in the Pacific Palisades B y D olores Q uintana
Puzzle Zoo, a toy store that is an institution in the Pacific Palisades after 21 years of being in business, was served in early March with a 30 day eviction notice as reported by the Palisadian Post. The Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades served the notice as the owners of the property. Puzzle Zoo owner Jay Demircift was shocked by the move and doesn’t know what the future will bring for his store. The original location of Puzzle Zoo was founded in Santa Monica by a 20 year old Demircift, an immigrant from Istanbul, Turkey, who came to the United States at the age of 15. Demircift opened the first Palisades location of the store on
Swarthmore Avenue in 2000 and the store moved sixteen years later to its current location. The Palisadian Post quotes Demircift about the eviction and he says, “I thought they were trying to get my attention since I owed them back rent from the pandemic. I thought if I catch up with the rent they would let me stay,” he said. “I don’t know what to think. I have never in almost 30 years in business had a landlord give me a 30-[day] notice to leave because if you own a retail building and you manage it you know what is involved in building it.” Demircift responded to the eviction notice by placing signs in the store’s windows that said, as quoted by the Palisadian Post, “Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades has decided to kick us out … We don’t know how to convey our disappointment and sadness. Building a business and community takes a long time and the United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades is destroying 21 years of hard work with a 30-day notice.” He also made an emotional plea to the Board of Trustees to the Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church asking what he could do to remain on the property, but a final
Puzzle Zoo, see page 7
Puzzle Zoo in Pacific Palisades.
Photo: Sam Catanzaro
Slower Speed Limits Approved for Pacific Palisades Garcetti signs ordinance to lower speed limits on city streets B y S am C atanzaro
Slower speed limits are officially coming to streets in Pacific Palisades. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti March 7 held a signing ceremony for an ordinance that will lower speed limits on 177 miles of streets across Los Angeles. The ordinance, which was drafted by the City Attorney and approved by the City Council, was a direct result of the passage of AB-43, a State bill led by Assemblymember Laura Friedman that grants greater authority to cities to
Speed Limits, see page 4
Palisades Drive near Sunset Boulevard.
Photo: Sam Catanzaro