Highlights from the Day
Watching the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Via de la Paz come back to life meant everything to our family. Once a Shell station lost in the Palisades Fire, it is now our Rebuild Support Yard — a local source for the construction and building supplies our neighbors need to rebuild.
A certificate from the City. Los Angeles City Councilwoman Traci Park presented us with a certificate of recognition and called the opening an essential step forward for Pacific Palisades. Her office helped clear the regulatory path — using temporary long-term zoning exceptions to bring a critical supply hub to the heart of the rebuild — and she pledged her continued support throughout the recovery ahead.
Welcomed by the community. Captain Tommy Kitahata of LAFD Station 69 welcomed us to the neighborhood and thanked Ace for its long-standing support of the fire department. Maryam Zar, CEO of the PaliBu Chamber of Commerce, and Allison Holdorff Polhill, incoming president of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, welcomed us too.
Built on family and resilience. I shared our family’s story that day. My father, Ben Zakarya, was in escrow on the original Ace Building Materials in Van Nuys when the 1994 Northridge earthquake struck — and he closed the deal and poured everything he had into helping the San Fernando Valley rebuild. That same spirit, carried on by me and my brothers Josh and Jason, is what brings us to the Palisades today. The true magic of recovery happens when the city, residents, and local businesses work as one team.
Thank you. None of this happens without our neighbors. Thank you for trusting us, for showing up, and for rebuilding right alongside us — we could not be more grateful to be part of this community.
