A Long Beach business owner is hoping the city will implement new safety measures after multiple vehicles have crashed into her store.
Emily Yep owns Magnolia & Willow, an antique store in Long Beach, where three vehicles have crashed into her store over the past eight months.
“It made a catastrophe inside,” Yep said to KTLA 5’s Jennifer McGgraw. “It’s almost all glass and pottery that was broken this time.”
Yep says the City of Long Beach needs to do more to help protect her business. She fears for the safety of her employees and feels like it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt at her store.
“The stress and anxiety that this has given me and my family is just unexplainable,” Yep said.
The city has put temporary barriers outside her store, but that didn’t prevent the latest vehicle from damaging her business.
“From her standpoint, the improvements need to happen now, and I agree,” said City of Long Beach employee Eric Lopez. “We’ve applied for a $20 million grant from the federal government, we just haven’t gotten the money yet.”
Yep says it’s too alarming that her store has been damaged several times. She’s frustrated with the lack of action from the city.
“It’s insane that the city expects us to live like this,” Yep said. “How am I supposed to be doing business in an environment like this?”
Employees are also concerned for their safety.
“In each spot that we’ve gotten crashed into, it’s such a close call for us,” said Mariah Perez. “We could’ve been standing there.”
Video obtained by KTLA shows a July 4 incident where a vehicle plowed through the front of the store. Yep says she is also scared an innocent bystander could be injured, or worse, if the city doesn’t do more to deter drivers from speeding through the intersection.
“How are they supposed to feel safe walking their baby in a stroller?” Yep said. “Am I supposed to feel safe having my four-year-old son here?”
-
The city of Long Beach implemented temporary barriers to protect the store, but owner Emily Yep says it isn’t enough. She spoke with KTLA on May 3, 2024. (KTLA) -
Emily Yep’s antique store Magnolia and Willow was damaged after a vehicle drove into the Long Beach business for a third time in eight months. Emily Yep spoke with KTLA on May 3, 2024. (KTLA) -
Store owner Emily Yep has a message for speeding drivers after a vehicle drove into her business for the third time in eight months. She spoke with KTLA on May 3, 2024. (KTLA)
City council members acknowledge that the temporary barriers are insufficient to keep the business and its employees safe. Officials say they will make the safety of the intersection a priority moving forward.