Globally, Beverly Hills is recognized as a shopping destination. On any given day, locals and tourists can be seen lined up outside luxury retail hot spots. During the June 8 Small Business Assistance Task Force Committee Special Meeting with City Council liaisons, retailers relayed challenges in attracting new customers, safety concerns, and reported a rise in sales. Council liaisons Lili Bosse and Lester Friedman, members of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce (BHCC), city staff, and prominent business owners were all in attendance. According to Todd Johnson, President and CEO of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, “I think people are ready to spend money.”
However, retailers throughout the city are increasingly worried about security. “I would say the one thing that I have noticed a little bit more than before COVID is just a little bit of a safety and security issue,” Sabaa Kamal, owner of Kamal Beverly Hills boutique on Bedford Drive, said during the meeting. “I’ve noticed a lot more homeless people kind of wandering into the store I have gotten more calls from the sales associate on the floor worried about homeless people coming in and picking up some rings off the shelf and walking out with them. This was not as big of an issue before.”
