LOS ANGELES – Bed Bath & Beyond announced that its comeback will not include locations in the largest state in the nation.
Marcus Lemonis, Bed Bath & Beyond Executive Chairman said in a statement issued Aug. 20 that the company will not open a brick-and-mortar location in California. Lemonis said that the state, home to over 39 million people, will be served solely through delivery.
“We’re taking a stand because it’s time for common sense,” the statement reads. “Businesses deserve the chance to succeed. Employees deserve jobs that last. And customers deserve fair prices. California’s system delivers the opposite.”
The company is attempting to make a comeback after filing for bankruptcy and closing all its stores in 2023. It reopened its first Bed Bath & Beyond Home near Nashville on Aug. 8.
“After their bankruptcy and closure of every store, like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office said in response to the announcement on X. “We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again as they try to open a 2nd store.”
Lemonis replied to a post from the governor’s personal X account proposing pro-business reforms for the state.
“We will target opening 300 small to midsize neighborhood stores thru our Kirklands investment,” Lemonsis wrote. “You are a smart man and I know the post below is out of frustration.”
California critic claims Bed Bath & Beyond decision ‘isn’t about politics’
In the statement, Lemonis claimed that the decision “isn’t about politics.” However, the statement repeatedly attacked regulatory policies passed in the state.
“California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America,” Lemonis wrote.
In a Feb. 5 appearance on Fox Business, Lemonis called a California law requiring corporations with revenues of more than $1 billion to report their greenhouse gas emissions a “crazy law.”
83387715007
Lemonis also fought San Joaquin County when Camping World, for whom Lemonis serves as CEO, installed an oversized flag pole to fly an American flag without proper permits – county officials told the Los Angeles Times in 2024.
“Camping World has a habit of installing flagpoles that are quite large in size, but they do it without pulling permits,” San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti told the Times. “This is a self-inflicted issue, but as a business owner and someone who understands marketing, it’s brilliant.”
The Times reported that the flag in front of the location in the Northern California town of French Camp had been taken down from the 130-foot flagpole during the permitting process for an undisclosed amount of time.
Lemonis told Sacramento Fox affiliate FOX40 that he ordered the store to fly the flag again in August 2024 saying, “If we felt like we were putting people in danger or causing any issues with air traffic, which would absolutely not be okay, then I wouldn’t do it.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California won’t have any Bed Bath & Beyond stores. Find out why.
