A TikTok user is going viral after documenting the number of high-end retail stores and restaurants that have fled crime-ridden California.
The former Escada store (pictured) on Wilshire Boulevard is vacant after the company filed for bankruptcy last year.
Dozens more retailers have fled California for red states, including Florida, Texas and Georgia.
TikTok videos show Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Cosa Mesa are becoming ghost towns. Beverly Hills was once the destination of the rich and famous. High-end stores catered to their every whim.
@cody90210 I will always love you, South Coast Plaza ? #california #costamesa #orangecounty #southcoast #southcoastplaza #retail #forlease #nostalgia #nostalgic #nostalgiacore #westcoast #southerncalifornia #recessioncore #recession2023 #15minutecity #15minutecities #republicans #republican #democrat #democrats #politicstiktok #smashandgrab #looting #vandalism #highrent #apocalypse #endofanera #currentevents #ugg #dior #missoni #valentino #gucci #scotchandsoda #cornerbakery #cartier #berluti #sears #andotherstories #wolford #todds #armaniexchange #bananrepublic #torneau #freepeople #stevemadden ? I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Many of the closures are due to so-called “smash-and-grab” or “flash mob” robberies. Many once-thriving stores and restaurants filed for bankruptcy after losing half of their merchandise to thieves.
@cody90210
The shuttered businesses in Beverly Hills include Barneys New York, Chanel, Brooks Brothers, Vidal Sassoon, Escada, All Saints, Verizon, Chipotle, U.S. Bank, Nike Town, Starbucks and CVS.
Law enforcement agencies created a task force to focus on the robberies.
The NY Post reports that police made at least 9 arrests last week following a flash mob robbery at an East LA Nike store.
But it may be too little, too late.
