Malibu’s small business community is on life support, and local leaders are urging immediate action before more beloved establishments vanish for good. The lingering effects of the Palisades Fire and prolonged Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) closures have triggered a sharp drop in daily revenue—down by 50% to 80% for many businesses, according to local advocates. Some have already shuttered permanently.
At last night’s Malibu City Council meeting, Alison Bunce, speaking on behalf of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, addressed the worsening crisis. “We can’t rebuild without helping preserve our local businesses,” they said. “We need to do more, and that comes from us—our community.”
The sentiment echoes that of Lyndie Benson, founder and CEO of Malibu lifestyle brand Bleusalt, who issued an open letter to the City Council this week. “Malibu isn’t just where I live—it’s where I’ve raised my family, built my business, and invested my heart,” Benson wrote. “We’re not just struggling—we’re at risk of disappearing.”
In both messages to city leaders, the call to action was clear: without intervention, Malibu’s distinct culture and business community may be irreparably damaged.
Lyndie Benson proposed the following to City Council:
1. Open PCH to the public for a set timeframe on weekends before May 31st – Even partial weekend access would allow for essential traffic and sales recovery.
2. Enact a commercial lease eviction moratorium – With many business owners barely making rent, a pause on evictions could be the lifeline they need.
3. Widely publish the PCH emergency bus schedule and consider partnering with major chain retailers—who have built-in customer bases outside Malibu—to help bus visitors in and stimulate foot traffic.
Benson also recommended that the city:
• Pause commercial evictions.
• Delay non-essential construction projects until after summer.
• Offer emergency grant funding for rent and operating expenses.
“Summer is our only real window for recovery,” Benson wrote. “The choices made right now will determine whether Malibu remains a vibrant, diverse community—or becomes a place where only chains and empty storefronts remain.”
As residents and entrepreneurs raise their voices, one message rings loudest: Malibu’s small businesses are the soul of the city—and without them, the community loses more than just its shops and cafés. It loses its identity.
“We need you,” Benson wrote. “Please don’t let us disappear.”
