Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.
Arkansas: The Argenta Market grocery store shutting down in February. The Market was part of an attempt to revitalize the downtown area. Company officials blamed competition from Walmart, Sam’s and Kroger. Blaming Korger is bogus because (if you’ve been following my postings) Kroger has been shutting down dozens of stores across the country.
California: In Sunnyvale, after 93 years upscale Loehmann’s shutdown. The upper class store went bankrupt busted back in December, guess the bad economy is affecting even the well off! In Saint Helena, Portfoli Hotels & Resorts Harvest Inn shutdown, 53 jobs lost.
Connecticut: Foxwoods Resort Casino killed 125 jobs, blaming competition from other casinos (which is BS because most casinos report they are losing money, in other words it’s the economy, stupid)!
Georgia: In Macon, after 68 years Morris Appliance shutdown. Local news reports blamed the bad economy.
Iowa: Wesleyan College warned of layoffs. At least 45 people will lose their jobs. 16 programs are being shutdown, affecting at least 50 students who thought they were close to graduating. College officials blame lack of students and lack of money!
Maine: In Kennebunk, Kennebooks shutdown. The frustrated owner blames the suck ass economy: “I have given the bookstore the best of my ideas, inspiration and time, and we still do not sell enough books…..I have worked without pay and have operated on a rotating staff of three part-time employees and two lovely students for the summer, and there is really nothing left to take out of the budget!”-Trish Koch
Minnesota: Minnesota State University Moorhead laid off 20 employees, and forced 21 employees to retire early, due to being short $5-million USD! University officials warned that if things don’t get better they will be short $8-million by 2016.
Missouri: In Ellisville a Kmart will shutdown in April. 55 jobs lost. In Maryland Heights, Coca Cola shutting down its bottling factory in March, 102 jobs lost! Local Fox news TV station said Coca Cola officials refused to say why.
New York: In NYC, upscale snooty Loehmann’s shutdown, 100 jobs lost (see above)! Sterling National Bank shutdown. In Pittsford, Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutdown their home mortgage office, 25 jobs lost. In Queensbury, Tribune Media Services laid off at least 20 employees. It’s due to company restructuring. In Rochester, Yarn Boutique shutdown. In Hell’s Kitchen, after 20 years Sweet Gifts/Video Cafe shutdown. The owners blamed the landlord: “……from the changes to our community and rising rents, we can no longer continue our operations.”-facebook statement
Pennsylvania: “…the landmark housing cooperative community in Vanport…”, Van Buren Homes, declared bankruptcy, despite a supposedly recovered housing market! The housing community admitted it was having problems paying local taxes and was being sued.
Virginia: Newspaper Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star now chapter 11 bankrupt busted: “…signals the end of the Rowe family’s 130-year ownership of the local media company.”-company statement
Washington DC: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management killing 300 of its own jobs! It’s blamed on lack of tax revenues.
Wisconsin: In Whitewater, mattress maker VyMaC shutdown, 42 jobs lost. The company was sold off and the buyer had no intention of continuing operations.
22 January 2014: Texas companies kill jobs despite making profits! Target kills 1100 jobs!
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013