Bed Bath & Beyond is apparently no longer selling jack-o-lanterns painted black after a law office in Nyack, New York, received complaints from locals, who claimed the pumpkins appeared to be in “blackface.”
“We understand that someone complained about them and so once we got word of that we immediately took them down,” Mary Marzolla, a partner at the law firm, said in the report.
The pumpkins had the name of each partner on them, she said.
“We represent people of all colors and faiths, and we would never do anything to exclude anyone from any community,” Marzolla told the station.
When contacted about the product, Bed Bath & Beyond said that it “immediately removed” the pumpkins. It’s not clear if the pumpkins were removed from Bed Bath & Beyond locations around the United States, or just the local Nyack store. “This is a sensitive area and, though unintentional, we apologize for any offense caused,” the spokeswoman said, according to the New York Post.
Her associate, Alak Shah, issued a similar statement to the New York Post.
“It’s just nothing I take offense to personally, but since it did offend someone we took proactive steps to take it down,” said Shah.
Stores Closing
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. recently said that it is increasing the number of stores it expects to shutter in the coming fiscal year.Interim CEO Mary Winston said during a call that the retailer, which operates Buybuy Baby, Harmon Face Values, and World Market, that some 60 stores will be shuttered. Earlier this year, the company said it would close 40 of its stores.
Winston said that 40 of the closures will encompass Bed Bath & Beyond stores and 20 stores from its other brands.
“With this action we are increasing the profitability of our remaining portfolio and believe that our remaining fleet will benefit from our renewed focus on driving traffic and operating efficiency,” Winston said.
Winston also said during the call that there are plans to renegotiate all leases, adding that “$350 million of inventory at retail will be removed from stores before the 2019 holiday season.”