Calabasas : Gelson’s Makes Sweet Entrance Into Area

The love feast between Gelson’s Markets and residents of the Mulwood area of Calabasas continued Tuesday with an old-fashioned ice cream social paid for by the company.

The upscale supermarket chain, which will open a store soon off Mulholland Highway, treated about 150 people to ice cream and other sweets at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center.

“They really want the support of the community, and I think they have the support,” said Sara Greenberg, who brought her sons, 3 1/2-year-old Jacob and 8-year-old Aaron. “They are trying everything they can to be accommodating.”

“This is one of the easiest communities we’ve ever gotten into,” said Bill Thompson, who will be the store’s manager. “A lot of the communities seem to balk at it.”

Residents of the upscale neighborhood say they are glad to be rid of an old, run-down shopping center at the site. Gelson’s says the store will open in October.

The company worked with residents in developing a plan, said Richard Woolard, chairman of the Calabasas Planning Commission. “We were able to tell them what we want,” said Woolard, who is also on the board of directors of the Greater Mulwood Homeowners Assn.

The 70,000-square-foot project, on 6.5 acres, will resemble an old European village, according to the company. The 40,000-square-foot market will include a European-style Wolfgang Puck cafe. Plans also call for a bank, a pharmacy and an upscale coffee shop at the site.

The owner of the property, Arden Group Inc., initially ran into controversy when tenants of the old shopping center were evicted to make way for the new center.