Building communities with the unique Caruso character
The 2022 LFRA Overseas Study Tour group explored three iconic Caruso developments in Los Angeles, namely The Americana at Brand, The Commons at Calabasas, and The Grove.
Caruso is a privately owned, industry-renowned company that blends best-in-class real estate with five-star hospitality to create a timeless collection of luxury destinations.
The Caruso website states, “At the heart of every Caruso creation is an appreciation for beautiful architecture and design, close attention to detail, unwavering dedication to the greater community, and a relentless focus on guest and tenant satisfaction.”
Caruso was started more than thirty years ago by Chief Executive Officer Rick Caruso and continues to redefine the shopping and lifestyle experience.
Visiting the three luxury retail centres and meeting with Caruso management at The Grove provided members the opportunity to observe and analyse Caruso’s development and design.
Caruso offers shoppers an experience like no other. Here are five key retail design elements that are distinctly Caruso:
- Fountains and water features
All three Caruso sites on the LFRA Overseas Study Tour had a fountain or water feature that was an attraction itself.
The iconic fountain at The Americana at Brand sits at the centre of The Green, a shared small park inside the retail destination where shoppers can sit, eat, and rest.
The fountain at The Grove is similarly placed near the middle of the centre and is surrounded by retail and dining.
Both fountains were built by WET Design, the same company who built the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
The fountains are a source of entertainment with water shows as the fountain dances to music throughout the day, and festive songs during the holidays.
Although The Commons at Calabasas does not have a fountain, it does have a turtle pond where visitors can admire the hundreds of turtles that live in the shopping precinct.
- Electric trolleys
Locals and tourists can hop on board an electric trolley at The Americana at Brand and The Grove for a free tour within the property.
The trolley at The Americana at Brand is a popular attraction with cherry-wood ceilings, floors and seats, and beautiful stained-glass windowpanes.
The Grove has a green double-decker trolley that was built on an historic undercarriage from a 1950s Boston streetcar.
Caruso’s attention to detail is seen everywhere, including the trolley number at The Grove being his birthday (No. 1759 – 7 January 2959).
- Guest services concierge
Some Caruso retail developments have a concierge service, like the ones you see at a hotel.
Customers and visitors can ask the concierge for assistance such as:
- Premium gift wrapping
- Bellman service/hands-free shopping
- Dining reservation assistance
- Events and concert ticket booking service
- Foreign language and tourism assistance
- Wheelchair, phone chargers and umbrella hire
The guest services concierge is another industry innovation that blurs the lines of retail and hospitality. It is a unique offering and extra service for shoppers to help enhance their experience.
The concierge at The Grove has been rated the best concierge in the country by The Wall Street Journal.
- Statues of Caruso’s kids
Another way Rick Caruso personalises his retail destinations is with handcrafted statues of his children when they were younger.
Caruso and his wife, Tina, have four adult children: Alex, Gregory, Justin, and Gianna who have all attended his alma mater of the University of Southern California.
The bronze statutes found at The Commons at Calabasas and The Grove were made by the same sculpturer.
These pieces are a great way to add a personal touch, and a bit of art and culture to the centre.
- Lavish landscaping and bronze bins
Outdoor rubbish bins with polished bronze lids were seen throughout all three Caruso retail destinations on the LFRA Study Tour.
These lavish rubbish bins encouraged people to dispose their rubbish thoughtfully and complemented the upscale retail and dining offered at each centre.
Small details such as bins and immaculately maintained hedges contribute do not go unnoticed and tremendously contribute to a memorable customer experience.
This article is a part of a 10-segment series covering the 2022 LFRA Overseas Study Tour.
