Bed, Bath & Beyond Leaves California, Ditches State
Marcus Lemonis is no stranger to controversy, but his latest salvo might be one of the boldest yet. The executive chairman of Bed, Bath & Beyond—yes, that Bed, Bath & Beyond, the once-bankrupt retailer that is attempting a phoenix-like return—has announced that his company will not be opening any stores in California. And he didn’t stop there. Lemonis also took a direct swipe at Governor Gavin Newsom, saying he wants him out of office.
A Public Feud Turns Personal—and Political
The comments ignited a public war of words between the two figures, with Newsom’s office firing back with biting sarcasm. “After their bankruptcy and closure of every store, like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail. On X, Newsom himself joined in with a dismissive jab: “The company that already went bankrupt and closed every store across the country two years ago? Ok.”
Behind the snark lies a deeper battle: California’s evolving business climate. Lemonis, who also helms Camping World, has become increasingly vocal about what he sees as regulatory overreach. A recent flashpoint was a new California law requiring large corporations to report their greenhouse gas emissions—a move Lemonis dubbed “crazy.” He’s also been in hot water over a 130-foot American flagpole installed without permits, only to defiantly raise the flag again after local officials ordered it removed.
The Regulatory Storm Clouding California’s Business Future
Lemonis’ critique goes beyond red tape. He has lambasted California’s rising minimum wage, highlighting the strain it places on businesses. The state now mandates a minimum wage of $25/hour for healthcare workers and $20/hour for fast food employees. Critics argue that these increases have accelerated automation trends and squeezed profit margins, particularly for smaller operators.
Yet Lemonis insists his decision is pragmatic, not political. “California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America,” he said.
A Revival in the East, a Boycott in the West
Still, the optics tell a different story. From Newsmax interviews to scathing remarks about Hollywood’s disillusioned elite, Lemonis has painted California as a cautionary tale. Meanwhile, Bed Bath & Beyond’s new brick-and-mortar chapter is unfolding elsewhere—starting in Nashville, not Los Angeles or San Francisco.
However, California remains an economic titan—now the world’s fourth-largest economy, even surpassing Japan. Despite its regulatory quirks and political tensions, it remains a heavyweight in global commerce.
So the question looms: is Bed Bath & Beyond’s absence in California a bold business maneuver—or a miscalculation in a market too big to ignore?
Only time will tell whether Lemonis’ gamble pays off—or if California’s consumer power proves impossible to resist.
