Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Arizona: It’s been revealed that Nellis Management will be shutting down Long John Silver’s restaurants (see Iowa). In Phoenix, Barnes & Nobel bookstore announced the will shutdown their Ahwatukee store in August. California based Mimi’s Cafe shutdown. In Scottsdale, more proof the internet can’t be blamed for killing brick-n-mortar stores; GoDaddy.com revealed it lost $200-million USD last year (and $279-million in 2012)! The privately held internet domain registry is trying to go ‘public’ and had to make the revelation as part of SEC rules.
California: In Turlock, God can’t stop the all powerful Obama Care from killing 1314 healthcare jobs with Emanual Medical Center! The 97 years old evangelical Christian run hospital warned California officials the massive healthcare layoffs will take place by the end of July, due to the takeover by Texas based secular (investor-owned) Tenet Healthcare. In Bakersfield, Kern Medical Center finally revealed how many jobs they will kill due to Obama Care; 111! On top of that the taxpayer funded county hospital system shutdown their home health and outpatient physical therapy operations! After 34 years the San Jose Repertory Theatre shutdown, 51 jobs lost. More proof the internet can’t be blamed for killing brick-n-mortar stores; in Santa Monica video gaming info website GameTrailers laid off an undisclosed number of employees. It’s blamed on the takeover by New York based Defy Media. In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard (HP) continues to kill jobs, this time 36 people let go without warning.
Florida: In Winter Haven, Medicare insurer Physicians United Plan now being liquidated. 300 jobs lost! 25-thousand Medicare recipients affected! So much for Obama Care! What housing market recovery? Brevard County is now the country’s leading area for home foreclosures. RealtyTrac says one in every 303 homes has been foreclosed by the Too Big to Jail banks! In Sweetwater, EurosSuites Residences and Resort hotel has been foreclosed by a Spanish bank! In Dania Beach, Thunderboat Marine Center in foreclosure. In Hollywood, a redevelopment project being foreclosed despite the loans being backed by taxpayer funding. 7-Eleven selling off 31 convenience stores. It’s part of the Texas based company’s plan to sell at least 78 stores this year. Company officials say the stores don’t fit their new “business model”.
Illinois: In Galesburg, the Sandburg Mall now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The mall is at least $10-million in debt. Schaumburg based Motorola Solutions announced they will kill an undisclosed number of jobs across the U.S., starting now. Company officials say they need to cut $200-million in costs, however, it might actually have something to do with the sale of Motorola Solutions to Zebra Technologies. In Collinsville, Kmart announced they will shutdown in September, 84 jobs lost. What housing industry recovery? In Chicago, troubled Armaclad Windows and Doors shutting down, 195 jobs lost! The company is being liquidated due to crashing sales and bad management. The company even got $10-million in local tax incentives, but it obviously isn’t enough in this bad economy.
Iowa: Another Long John Silver’s franchise going down, this time in The Hawkeye State. After 42 years Nellis Management announced they are shutting down at least eight of their Iowa stores (as well as their Illinois stores, reported in a prior Job Losses report). As in Illinois, news reports said Iowa employees were given no notice. Nellis Management claims they’ve suffered as much as 50% drop in sales! They blame a scientific report which dubbed Long John Silver’s the “worst restaurant” in the U.S.
Kansas: In Topeka, after 60 years Roy Frey Western Lifestyle store shutdown.
Kentucky: In Mount Vernon, the Anchor Packaging ‘Rock Castle’ operation shutting down and moving to Arkansas in August. Company officials claim it’s in response to customer demands.
Massachusetts: In Westfield, Savage Arms laid off an additional 48 employees. The gun maker killed 37 jobs back in March. Company officials say the layoffs were necessary in order to keep their guns affordable.
Michigan: At the Detroit Metro Airport a contract with Chili’s Too, Jose Cuervo Tequileria, Home Team Sports and Starbucks Fountain was ended. If a new contract is not signed 135 jobs will be lost in August!
Minnesota: Sky Ventures warning it will shutdown six Pizza Huts in June, if there are no buyers. Sky Ventures is bankrupt, the franchise company has already sold off 54 Pizza Huts.
Missouri: Troubled Saint Joseph School District killed more jobs. Three more teachers were added to the growing list of former employees. Last month three employees were laid off as well. School board officials blame it on disappearing students. However, the school district is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI wants to know why the administrators secretly gave themselves $200-thousand in bonuses! In Clayton, Brazikat restaurant shutdown. The owner blames bad reviews, however, it turns out the owner is being sued for breach of contract. In Richmond Heights-Saint Louis, after 18 years the troubled Harvest Restaurant shutdown. The owner blamed competition, however, the restaurant had routinely changed ownership for some reason.
New Jersey: Bankrupt trucking company New Century Transportation revealed they will kill 1500 jobs! Employees found out when they checked the Better Business Bureau’s website and discovered the company has been declared “to be out of business”.
New York: In NYC, British empire Australia based News Corp began killing an undisclosed number of jobs within its New York Community Newspaper Group (CNG). CNG is up for sale, it’s blamed on crashing newspaper revenues. Last year News Corp sold off Dow Jones Local Media Group for the same reason. After 20 years Chelsea’s Antiques Garage shutdown, it’s blamed on property developers. Hachette Book Group shutdown their Business Plus operation, at least 28 jobs lost. The company is fighting a legal battle with Amazon.
Oregon: In Albany, Kmart announced it will shutdown in September, 64 jobs lost.
Pennsylvania: Chartiers-Houston School District warned of layoffs, and they blamed the state for withholding payments on recent construction and renovations, and the federal government for increasing health care and retirement costs (Obama Care). District officials say the result is that they are now $1-million in the hole! In Lansdale, after more than 25 years soccer (football) clothing store Kick-N-Wear shutdown. The owner said he could no longer compete with bigger retailers. Minnesota based SuperValu announced they are selling off four Pennsylvania Shop ‘n Save stores. No word on how many jobs could be lost. Montgomery County killed 95 healthcare jobs with Abington Health. They blame Obama Care: “Like many other regional health systems, Abington Health is navigating changes in the health-care environment. These changes are numerous, the most significant being the shift in volume from inpatient care to outpatient care and declining reimbursements.”-Laurence M. Merlis, CEO
South Dakota: It’s been revealed that Nellis Management will be shutting down Long John Silver’s restaurants (see Iowa).
West Virginia: In Huntington, after 14 years the non-profit Jeffrey E. George Comfort House shutdown. The House was a place for families (who lived outside a 50 mile radius) of hospital patients to stay while visiting their ill relatives. It’s blamed on a Too Big to Jail bank which suddenly demanded full payment of the mortgage (called de-leveraging): “The bank holding the mortgage on our 25 year loan is calling it in after only 12 years of our timely payments and great credit rating!”-Grant Shy, chairman
10 – 11 June 2014: No more Long John Silver’s
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