Full Breakdown
Bee & Co. Store Closures Follow CBS Investigation into Aggressive Sales Practices
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event
Two Bee & Co. skincare locations in Los Angeles—Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park and Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance—shut permanently after a CBS California Investigates report documented alleged high-pressure sales tactics targeting vulnerable customers. A third site at Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks closed under the Bee & Co. name but reopened shortly thereafter as “LUME,” with the same staff and product displays.
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Video: Former Bee & Co. employee recalls high-pressure sales tactics amid California store closures
02
Background & Context
The investigation focused on retailers that source products from the Mazal Group, a Chatsworth-based distributor that supplies Bee & Co. and other beauty-store brands. Former employees described a sales culture that emphasized persuading hesitant shoppers—particularly seniors—to make large purchases, often by shaming or pressuring them. Mazal Group is managed in part by Eli and Daphna Weingarten, listed as corporate officers in public filings. Earlier legal actions have linked Mazal-distributed brands to alleged coercive practices, including a sealed class-action settlement in Hawaii and a 2024 lawsuit by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez against the Santa Fe Spa Center, a Mazal-affiliated retailer.
03
Timeline
- August (year unspecified) – CBS aired its first segment on aggressive sales tactics at Mazal-linked stores.
- Following the broadcast – Bee & Co. stores at Westfield Topanga and Del Amo closed permanently.
- Subsequent weeks – The Sherman Oaks location reopened as “LUME” with unchanged staff and merchandise.
- 2024 – New Mexico AG Torrez secured a $350,000 settlement with the Santa Fe Spa Center, requiring the retailer to cease high-pressure tactics.
- July (year unspecified) – Mazal Group reached a sealed settlement in Hawaii with more than 100 plaintiffs alleging similar misconduct.
- October 27 2026 – CBS LA updated the story, noting the ongoing closures and investigations.
04
Official Statements & Responses
- Westfield Group confirmed via email that Bee & Co. is no longer a tenant at Westfield Topanga and that the company is taking “appropriate steps” regarding the LUME operation at Westfield Fashion Square.
05
Criticism & Opposition
Former staff, speaking anonymously, recounted being instructed to reject refund requests and to shame customers who hesitated. True Tetrault, a former receptionist, said the pressure was directed especially at elderly shoppers. These accounts contrast with Mazal Group’s denial of involvement in store-level policies.
06
On-the-Ground Reports
Linda Merrill, who uses a mobility scooter and requires continuous oxygen, described being lured into a back-room sales area with a sample offer, only to discover after returning to her hotel that she had been charged $11,271.52. She staged a solo protest outside the Las Vegas store, stating, “Now I have nothing.”
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Mazal Group’s position: claims no oversight of retail sales tactics and attributes most complaints to unrelated brands.
- Employee testimonies: allege systematic pressure, shaming, and denial of refunds directed by store management.
- The Hawaii settlement details remain sealed, leaving specific terms undisclosed.
08
What’s Next
Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office is receiving information from New Mexico’s investigation, but no enforcement action has been announced in California. The pattern of stores rebranding while retaining the same staff and inventory raises questions about future regulatory scrutiny.