Two Bee & Co. LA-Area Stores Close After CBS Probe of Alleged High-Pressure Sales

2.3 · 4d ago · US · FINANCE

The Facts

  • Bee & Co. skincare stores at Westfield Topanga (Canoga Park) and Del Amo Fashion Center (Torrance) have closed permanently since CBS California Investigates first aired its report in August. CBS News only
  • A Bee & Co. store at Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks closed and reopened under the name "LUME"; CBS observed the same employees and products as before. CBS News only
  • A Westfield Group spokesperson said in an email that Bee & Co. is no longer a tenant at Westfield Topanga and that Westfield is taking "similar appropriate steps" regarding the renamed operation at Fashion Square, without giving details. CBS News only
  • The investigation focuses on businesses tied to the Mazal Group, a Chatsworth-based distributor of products to Bee & Co. and other beauty stores and kiosks, and has identified hundreds of beauty retailers nationwide accused by consumers of aggressive sales tactics and deceptive refund policies. CBS News only
  • Linda Merrill, 77, of Orange County, says she spent $11,271.52 at a Lionesse Beauty Bar at the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes in Las Vegas in February 2025, was denied a refund, and received no response after her attorney sent a letter and she mailed back the unopened products. These are her allegations. CBS News only
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  • Former Bee & Co. receptionist True Tetrault, who worked eight months at the Mayfair Mall store in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, said employees pressured hesitant customers, often elderly ones, and that refunds were generally unavailable unless customers became confrontational or threatened legal action. CBS News only

Context

CBS California Investigates reports that at least two Bee & Co. stores in the Los Angeles area have closed since its August report on alleged high-pressure sales tactics and restrictive refund policies at beauty stores tied to the Mazal Group.

The allegations come from consumers and former employees, some anonymous. The article as provided does not include a response from Bee & Co. or the Mazal Group, and the closures' causes are not stated beyond the Westfield spokesperson's comments.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

3 News Editor The concrete events are two local store closures and a rename following a regional TV investigation, affecting limited consumers in the LA area, with allegations largely from individuals rather than broad impact.
2 Informed Citizen This reports two local store closures and a renamed store tied to an investigation of a niche retail chain, with impact limited to local shoppers and no broad consumer or policy consequence.
2 Business Analyst This is a local consumer-investigation story about two small mall store closures and unverified consumer allegations of high-pressure sales, with no major market or regulatory action and limited economic impact.

Source

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