Billionaire Rick Caruso is no stranger to praise. Since he completed the Grove more than a decade ago, his swanky shopping center has been a hit, often declared among the best amenities in Los Angeles.

But today Caruso can put another feather in his cap: The Grove bathrooms are among the 10 finalists for Cintas Corp.’s annual America’s Best Restroom Contest.

As part of its 10th anniversary in 2012, the Grove, in L.A.’s Fairfax District, invested millions of dollars to revamp its restrooms. Upgrades include such lofty additions as original drawings by Pablo Picasso and comfortable furniture inside the women’s bathroom to give shoppers a place to escape the bustle of the crowded stores.

A family restroom – complete with a plasma TV, child-friendly toilets, a microwave, diaper-changing stations and private nursing rooms with rocking chairs – was also added.

While some might wonder if restrooms really warrant such a hefty investment, Matt Simon, the Grove’s senior general manager, said the company has no regrets.

“It’s worth it,” Simon said. “People are talking about our restrooms, so it’s worth it.”

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if shoppers come to the Grove for its restrooms or retail, he said, as long as they come.

The closest competitor – geographically – in the contest are the restrooms inside Plums Café in Costa Mesa. Luxury seekers can vote for the best biffys until Oct. 31 at BestRestroom.com. The top two restrooms will be honored in the Hall of Fame at Cintas, a $4 billion Cincinnati company that provides, among other things, restroom supplies to businesses.

– Cale Ottens