Long Beach Business Owner Demands Action After Repeated Car Crashes into Store [Long Beach, CA]

LONG BEACH, CA (May 4, 2024) — Emily Yep, owner of the antique store Magnolia & Willow in Long Beach, is urging the city to take stronger safety measures after her business was struck by vehicles three times in the last eight months. 

Each incident has caused significant damage and raised concerns about the safety of her employees and customers.

“The stress and anxiety that this has given me and my family is just unexplainable,” Yep reportedly told KTLA 5. 

The store, which features many fragile items, suffered extensive damage to its glass and pottery inventory. Despite temporary barriers installed by the city, another vehicle recently crashed into the store, underscoring the ongoing risk.

City of Long Beach employee Eric Lopez acknowledges the need for immediate improvements. “We’ve applied for a $20 million grant from the federal government; we just haven’t gotten the money yet,” he reportedly explained. Meanwhile, Yep and her employees remain anxious about their safety. 

Footage from a July 4 incident vividly shows a vehicle plowing through the front of the store, escalating fears that someone outside or near the store could be seriously injured. 

City council members have admitted that the temporary barriers are inadequate and have committed to making the safety of the intersection a priority. As the community waits for tangible actions from the repeated Long Beach car crash incidents, the situation at Magnolia & Willow remains a stark reminder of the need for effective urban planning and safety measures.