Soho Shoes in North Carolina closed. It’s because the parent company, Urban Hype, now bankrupt. The company claims they have zero assets and nothing but debt.
Illinois based YTB International now bankrupt. The company has had many problems, such as declining sales and a lawsuit by the California attorney general. Also, at least seven Illinois companies announced more than 1200 people being laid off! Those companies are Ball Metal Beverage, General Cable, John Costigan Residential Center, L3 Electrodynamics, NanoInk, Vie de France Yamazaki and Portola Packaging.
The Katonah-Lewisboro School District, in New York, is laying off 11 employees, and jacking up local taxes by 5%. School officials say it’s the only way to balance next year’s school budget.
The Liberty Academy Charter School in Jersey City, New Jersey, closed down. School officials blamed lack of academic performance.
In California, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District announced that it is forced to take drastic action because of millions of dollars in budget shortfalls and funding cuts. In Los Angeles, the Playa Rivera restaurant closed down. Most people considered the restaurant a success, but apparently the owners had much higher expectations and considered it a failure. In San Francisco BioWare (a division of video game maker EA) shut down, 30 people out-o-work. In Sacramento, the big pub Pyramid Alehouse closed down due to the bad economy. 80 employees laid off.
The news source Daily Voice closed down its Massachusetts locations. At least 11 employees laid off. An unnamed former employee said company officials led them on to think nothing was wrong with the company: “The news came really out of nowhere, considering the emails that were reassuring that we’re fine.”
In Connecticut, Minnesota-based uniform rental and linen supplier AmeriPride ended its Hartford operations. At least 55 employees laid off.
In Alexandria, Virginia, decor and furniture store Bizim Collection closed down. The owners are leaving the United States.
In Florida, J.C. Penney closing its West Palm Beach store. 125 people laid off!
Mining equipment manufacturer Joy Global closing its Millersburg, Kentucky, factory in October. 150 people will be let go! The company has been closing other factories, and blames it on crashing demand for their products.
Texas based Tesoro oil company shutting down its Kapolei, Hawaii refinery. It’s selling it off along with 31 Hawaiian gas stations. Company officials say its no longer worth it to refine fuel for the Hawaiian market. 210 employees out-o-work!