Overview

Bed Bath & Beyond is making a return to California, less than a year after its chairman publicly stated that the company would not reopen in the state. The home goods retailer will re-emerge through the rebranding of 98 locations of The Container Store, with 12 of those stores situated in California.

The new stores will be named “The Container Store + Bed Bath & Beyond,” and will feature a combination of organizational products alongside home merchandise. The transition is set to begin shortly, with significant changes planned for the store formats.

Key details

  • Bed Bath & Beyond is returning to California after previously announcing it would not.
  • The return involves the rebranding of 98 The Container Store locations.
  • 12 of the rebranded stores will be located in California.
  • Five of these California locations are in Southern California.
  • Specific locations include stores in Los Angeles and El Segundo.
  • The new stores will be titled “The Container Store + Bed Bath & Beyond.”
  • The stores will offer both organizational products and home merchandise.
  • The transition will begin with a liquidation of 30% of The Container Store’s current categories and products.
  • Changes to the store formats are expected to start in May.
  • Bed Bath & Beyond previously operated 80 locations in California before closing all stores after filing for bankruptcy in 2023.
  • Marcus Lemonis, the retailer’s executive chairman, criticized California’s business environment in August.
  • Lemonis highlighted issues such as over-regulation, high costs, and a risky business climate as reasons for the previous closure.

Context

Bed Bath & Beyond's decision to return to California comes amid ongoing discussions about the challenges businesses face in the state, particularly concerning regulations and costs that many executives and entrepreneurs find burdensome.

What happens next

As the transition to the new store format begins, customers can expect to see changes in product offerings and store layouts starting in May, with a significant liquidation process already underway.

What we don't know yet

Details regarding the specific timeline for the rebranding process, the full list of locations, and any potential future plans for Bed Bath & Beyond in California remain unconfirmed.