Bed, Bath & Beyond CEO Raises Eyebrows After Rejecting California Expansion
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Bed, Bath & Beyond CEO Marcus Lemonis is facing backlash and being mocked, along with garnering praise from some conservatives, after announcing Wednesday that the company will not open retail stores in California.
Lemonis' statement said, in part, "This decision isn't about politics — it's about reality. California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America. It's a system that makes it harder to employ people, harder to keep doors open, and harder to deliver value to customers."
The statement continued, "The result? Higher taxes, higher fees, higher wages that many businesses simply cannot sustain, and endless regulations that strangle growth. Even when the state announces a budget surplus, it's built on the backs of ordinary citizens who are paying too much and businesses who are squeezed until they break."
Bed Bath & Beyond, once a dominant home goods retailer, filed for bankruptcy in April 2023 after years of declining sales and mounting debt. Its brand was later acquired by Overstock.com, which has since rebranded itself under the Bed Bath & Beyond name as an online-only retailer.
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's office posted on X, "After their bankruptcy and closure of every store, like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed. We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again as they try to open a 2nd store."
Political scientist Norman Ornstein said on X, "Is this the same Bed Bath & Beyond that drove itself into bankruptcy?"
California Republican Rep. Jack Kimble wrote on X, "And this is why California must change its labor laws. They drove Bed Bath and Beyond to close all their stores nationwide in 2023. I know, you're my state but do better, California."
The conservative LibsofTikTok account posted on X, "Marcus Lemonis, the Executive Chairman for Bed Bath & Beyond, just announced that his company will NO LONGER OPERATE in California: Welcome to Gavin Newsom's California."
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
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