Gov. Gavin Newsom put out a press release praising the return of Bed Bath and Beyond to California, after his office previously mocked the company for closing stores.
In the announcement on Thursday from the governor’s office, Newsom welcomed the retail store back to the state following the news that the store would be once again operating a dozen stores in the Golden State, after previously announcing it was leaving.
“There’s a lot of profit to be made in California — and we’re thrilled that Bed, Bath & Beyond is opening stores in the Golden State and taking advantage of the benefits of the world’s fastest-growing economy. Welcome to California!” Newsom said in the release.
Newsom put out a press release praising the return of Bed Bath and Beyond, after previously mocking it. APIt is quite the reversal after Newsom mocked the company when it announced last year it wouldn’t operate in the state, citing California’s “risky” business environment, high taxes, and abundance of regulations.
“After their bankruptcy and closure of every store, like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed,” Newsom’s press office posted on X in 2025.
“We wish them well in their efforts to become relevant again as they try to open a 2nd store.”
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.’s CEO and Executive Chairman Marcus Lemonis responded to Newsom’s message with a snark-heavy comment on social media.
“Thank you for the massive incentives you @CAgovernor provided our company to be able to purchase the @ContainerStore. And we are happy to add @BedBathBeyond to our lineup so we can generate the revenue needed to hurdle the higher than normal operating cost,” he wrote.
“Your entrepreneurial spirit to provide what you did made the difference. If you have read this far you know it’s not true,” Lemonis stated.
In August of 2025, Lemonis said the company was leaving California.
In the statement posted on X, Lemonis wrote “California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America.”
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.’s CEO and Executive Chairman Marcus Lemonis previously said the company was leaving California. Christopher Sadowski“It’s a system that makes it harder to employ people, harder to keep doors open, and harder to deliver value to customers.
He added, “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.”
According to a press release from the company on Thursday, The Container Store and Bed, Bath and Beyond combined stores will have locations throughout the state in both Northern and Southern California.
Lemonis wrote that “California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments..”
X/@GovPressOfficeDespite the news from the home retail store, businesses have continued to leave the state over high taxes and insane regulations.
Some of the more notable names include Oracle, Tesla, Space X and X. Not to mention, oil giant Chevron, KB Home, and Charles Schwab.
The California Post reached out to Newsom’s office for comment on the Governor’s change in tone on the company.
“The company’s decision to do business in California – as so many other already do – makes good economic sense and is worth celebrating,” Tara Gallegos, Chief Deputy Director of Communications for Newsom’s office told The Post.
“It’s as simple as that.”
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