In the wake of a mounting crime wave, including a spree of smash-and-grab robberies, Beverly Hills—the famed haven for high-end retail shops in California—is starting to look like a ghost town.
A video posted by influencer “Nostalgic Angelino” on TikTok reveals a disconcerting reality: rows of vacant storefronts and restaurants that once buzzed with life.
According to the New York Post, some of these now-empty spots were once home to luxury brands such as Barneys New York and Escada, both of which have filed for bankruptcy in recent years. Other big names like Chanel, Rite Aid, Barnes and Noble, Niketown, and even eateries like Chipotle and Starbucks, have also left empty shells where thriving businesses once stood. In stark contrast, however, some stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Hermes, and Gucci have stuck around, managing to keep their doors open even in the face of increased crime.
But this isn’t a standalone issue isolated to Beverly Hills. Across the state, California has been embroiled in a rising crime epidemic. San Francisco, already burdened with a significant crime issue, recently lost its Nordstrom store after 35 years due to a sharp uptick in theft. Similarly, last month in Pasadena, masked criminals pilfered a staggering $500,000 worth of merchandise from a local jewelry store after incapacitating the owner, Sam Babikian, with pepper spray.
“As soon as I opened the door, I got pepper sprayed right in my eye, my throat, my mouth,” Babikian described the horrifying event. “I couldn’t see anything. Then (all) I could hear was smashing and grabbing.” He added, “Most of my merchandise is gone. Most of the showcases are empty. This one hurts. I’m very grateful they did not harm me, they did not fight. Thank God that nothing happened to me and I’m still alive.”
Following closely on the heels of that robbery, a Home Depot in Long Beach was targeted, with thieves making off with thousands of dollars in power tools.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged state intervention, saying the highway patrol will be committed to helping local authorities. “The state is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to crack down on organized crime and when our local partners need further assistance, we’re ready with a helping hand,” Newsom said.
While state-level intervention is a welcome step, for many residents and business owners, it comes as cold comfort. They’re left to wonder why the Golden State, with all its resources, finds itself grappling with a crime wave that’s forcing legacy businesses to pack up and leave.
For conservatives, the situation underscores the urgency of revisiting and revising soft-on-crime policies that have allowed criminals to act with seeming impunity. In a state known for its progressive approach to criminal justice, the consequences are becoming harder and harder to ignore.
