The CEO of the retailer Bed Bath & Beyond issued a stinging rebuke of California and said he won’t be expanding to the Golden State thanks to Democrat-imposed regulatory burdens.

“We will not open or operate retail stores in California,” began a statement from Marcus Lemonis.

“This decision isn’t about politics — it’s about reality. California has created one of the most overregulated, expensive, and risky environments for businesses in America. It’s a system that makes it harder to employ people, harder to keep doors open, and harder to deliver value to customers,” Lemonis continued.

“The result? Higher taxes, higher fees, higher wages that many businesses simply cannot sustain, and endless regulations that strangle growth. Even when the state announces a budget surplus, it’s built on the backs of ordinary citizens who are paying too much and businesses who are squeezed until they break,” he said.