Bee & Co., a skincare store located in the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, California, has closed following allegations of high-pressure sales tactics. These allegations stem from reports that customers were coerced into spending significant amounts on beauty products. The storefront is now covered, and a lockbox was placed on the door on September 24, leaving only a faint outline of the store's name visible.
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Investigative reports from CBS California revealed that employees at Bee & Co. allegedly targeted vulnerable shoppers to pressure them into making expensive purchases. Victor Chisholm and Gabe Cota, two individuals with intellectual disabilities, shared their experiences, stating they were approached in the mall with samples and compliments before being encouraged to enter the store. After a skin treatment in a back room, they were pressured to buy products, accumulating over $60,000 in purchases between them. Cota recalled a salesperson saying, "she won't take no for an answer," while Chisholm noted he was unaware of the total costs, having not intended to spend over $50,000.
The CBS California Investigates team confirmed the abandonment of the Bee & Co. storefront. The parent company, Mazal Group, which operates other stores under different names, is based in Chatsworth and has faced similar allegations across its locations.
The closure has caught the attention of Sherman Oaks Representative Brad Sherman, who expressed concern over the allegations and indicated plans to inform California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The Los Angeles Police Department is currently investigating Chisholm's interactions with the company's employees.
Uncertainty surrounds whether Westfield removed Bee & Co. from the mall. The company stated that it is "actively addressing this matter," while neighboring store employees reported that Bee & Co.'s windows were covered, and the staff vacated abruptly.
Chisholm's attorney, Fred Voigtmann, stated that the closure will not halt ongoing legal efforts regarding the allegations, which he described as severe and indicative of fraud. Voigtmann noted that many victims have reached out to him, recounting traumatic experiences, with some in tears while sharing their stories.
In rebuttal to the claims, Bee & Co.'s attorney, Neville Johnson, issued a letter suggesting that CBS California's reporting was biased and omitted key details about Chisholm's other purchases at the mall, asserting that he had a history of making large transactions. Johnson also claimed that Chisholm allegedly harassed company employees.
Voigtmann dismissed these allegations as unfounded, describing them as attempts to divert attention from the alleged misconduct. Additionally, Chisholm reported being pressured to send over $10,000 in tips through electronic payment platforms, with Bee & Co.'s attorney attributing these transactions to a former employee acting outside company policy.