Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.
Alabama: In Birmingham, Cosi Restaurant announced it would not renew its lease. After 30 years Cosmo’s Pizza shutdown, the stressed out co-owner Leisa Bunn blames money troubles: “…I’ve worked here for over half my life, and it’s killing me to give it up, but I have no choice.”
Arizona: In Yuma, a local business is blaming currency wars for its demise. After two years restaurant Carnivores of Yuma shutting down due to lack of Snow Birds from Canada. The Canadian dollar has dropped in value against the U.S. dollar, making it too expensive for many Canadians to travel within the United States. I lived in hot-as-hell Yuma for almost two years and I can tell you that Snow Birds from the north, during winter, are a major source of revenue for local mom-n-pops. The rest of the year revenues come from taxpayer funded Yuma Marine Corps Air Station and Yuma Army Proving Grounds.
Arkansas: Boulevard Bread shutting down their River Market kiosk.
California: In Oxnard, after 27 years frozen veggie food maker Coastal Green Vegetable shutting down, 137 jobs lost by March! The owners blamed currency wars, crashing sales and gave out a list of increasing costs; water, regulations, wages and ObamaCare healthcare. Bon Appetit Management issued a shutdown WARN for their San Francisco ops, 79 jobs lost by April. Albertsons-Safeway eliminating another 24 jobs from the old Safeway HQ in Pleasanton, by April. In Berkeley, after two years the Off the Grid food truck giving up and shutting down its Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) location. Prior to this the Off the Grid food truck was chased out of its original location in the Gourmet Ghetto by city A-Hole administrators, when brick-n-mortar restaurants complained. Warren Buffett owned Kraft-Heinz issued a shutdown WARN for their San Leandro food factory, 117 jobs lost by mid-April! Pacific Harvest issued a layoff WARN for their Guadalupe food ops, 75 jobs lost by mid-April. Valley Fine Foods suddenly shutdown their Benicia 22 years old production ops, 94 jobs gone. The company moved their production, sanitation, shipping and receiving and maintenance operation to North Carolina, loyal employees had no warning: “They were shocked and surprised. A few have been here a while, 17 years. Those were the hardest impacted. They appeared…..in shock, like phases of any loss, it’s shock and denial first.”-Adriana Nunez, HR manager
Colorado: CB & Pott’s shutting down their 42 years old West Campus restaurant. The operators claim they will open a new restaurant in a new location “to be closer to our core guests.” Yet another Denver restaurant shutdown. After 12 years popular Gypsy House Cafe shutting down mid-March due to the greedy property owners selling out without warning the operators of the Cafe. In Fort Collins, after 30 years restaurant South China shutting down due to a significant increase in rent. The Vail Cascade resort issued a layoff WARN, 2-hundred jobs being eliminated! Sky Hotel 39 Degrees issued a shutdown WARN, 91 jobs lost.
Connecticut: In Wallingford, after 56 years banquet host Villa Capri shutting down in July. The family owners are in the process of selling the property, they need to focus on their other business ops.
Florida: Troubled Aramark issued a shutdown WARN for its Florida Gulf Coast University ops, 288 jobs lost by May! In Maitland, after nearly 30 years RanGetsu Japanese Restaurant and Bar shutting down in March, no reason given. Local news reports say at one time the owners were trying to open five restaurants, now they’ll be down to just their restaurant back in Japan. Wholesale soup maker Chef Creations is no more, they’ve sold out to a Massachusetts corporation resulting in 110 Chef Creations HQ employees, in Orlando, becoming jobless between April and July! Local news media made the sale sound like a surprise as Chef Creations had recently won new local tax breaks, and gotten approval for major financing, for expansion of their soup making operations. Lee Roy Selmon’s shutting down their 10 years old Saint Petersburg restaurant. The corporate owners said it needed extensive remodeling, and it wasn’t worth it. They also blamed lack of parking and increased competition. Tampa based Bloomin’ Brands confirmed it will shutdown 14 Bonefish Grill restaurants by the end of the year, due to crashing sales. In Miami Beach, Shore Club Hotel issued a mass layoff WARN, 218 food service workers to be laid off in April! In Lake Buena Vista, Fulton’s Crab House issued a shutdown WARN, 214 food service jobs gone by mid-April! In Bradenton, after almost five years Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar shutdown because of an evil landlord: “Our landlord has chosen not to renew our lease. Why? He states we are not successful. We have always paid our rent and a percentage of our sales to him on time, which has equated to almost $1.1 million in five years, and our initial investment of over $800,000 to build Tarpon Pointe.”-Facebook posting
Georgia: The city of LaGrange shutdown a second homeless ‘overnight warming’ shelter in as many months, using the excuse they are not safe.
Hawaii: In Honolulu, Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant shutdown due to the landlord suddenly demanding the keys to the store. The landlord is one of my former evil employers, GGP (General Growth Properties). A rep for the operator of the restaurant said there were three years left on the lease.
Idaho: Albertsons-Safeway is doing it again, taking over and killing off an independently owned grocery store chain, this time on the west side of The Gem State. Paul’s Market has sold out to the evil corporate giant (who caused the demise of Washington’s Haggen grocery chain last year, killing off thousands of jobs!). It sounds like three Paul’s Markets will be shutdown and four will be rebranded as Albertsons stores. Idaho’s Department of Labor has yet to publish any required WARN regarding the shutdowns. The city of Boise could be sued by some of the tenants at the Boise International Airport. Tenants also suing the New York based food service management contractor hired by the city, Delaware North. Owners of airport eateries accuse Delaware North, and the city, of running them into the ground, primarily by substituting their original products with lower quality items and providing terrible customer service, resulting in decreased sales. Boise area news sources say Delaware North refuses to responded to their questions. A former manager at Aberdeen’s Idaho Select potato processing plant has been sentenced for his crime of ripping off the company. He admitted to using company money to buy cars, homes, go on vacations, send his daughters to college and even pay his daily bills. He must now repay $1.7-million USD within seven years, as well as spend time in prison. Embezzlement crimes are very common here in the ‘christian’ dominated Idaho (2010 U.S. Census Bureau data says at least 80% claim to be Christians). For more food fraud: Idaho farmer caught selling modified seeds as ‘organic’!
Illinois: Local news media revealed that two Carbondale/Route 13 area restaurants shutdown in January; KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Show Me’s Restaurant. Three Joe Caputo & Sons grocery stores shutdown, and more could follow! The grocery store operator is being sued by its supplier who says they haven’t paid for any food delivered since June 2015!!! Moline based farm equipment maker Deere (aka John Deere) revised its 2016 profit expectations downward. Originally administrators thought 2016 sales would drop by 7%, but now they say things are so bad they expect a 10% drop in sales. In Prospect Heights after only two years and $13-million in renovations, the Ultra Foods grocery store shutdown due to lack of sales, 98 jobs lost by mid-April.
Indiana: In South Bend, after 20 years Top Notch Restaurant & Bakery shutdown. News reports say it will be replaced with a grocery store. But don’t get excited, the new grocery store is actually an old grocery store moving to a new location, so it’s a net loss of jobs. In South Bend, 88 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Dainty Maid Bake Shop shutdown due to the death of the owner. The popular shop is for sale and the employees hope any potential buyer will re-open it. In New Albany, after 30 years Mom & Pop’s Cone Corner is no more. The current owners bought the ice cream joint last year, they gave no reason for the shutdown.
Kansas: In Topeka, the Dillions grocery store on Huntoon Street shutdown. City administrators are fearful of increased food insecurity based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data that says residents in the area around the Dillions are now living in a “food desert”.
Louisiana: In Lafayette, the Winn-Dixie grocery store, on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, shutting down. 61 jobs lost by March. Also in Lafayette, after seven years Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro shutdown. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shutting down their Shreveport donut shop on Youree Drive. In a ’round-a-bout way administrators said the store was losing money.
Maine: In Sanford, after 31 years Fi Wood restaurant shutdown.
Maryland: C&S Wholesale Grocers shutting down their distribution ops on Lums Road, about 2-hundred jobs lost by April! A county administrator said she was surprised because C&S was recently advertising to hire more employees! C&S administrators told county officials they could not stop the shutdown due to the sudden loss of a major contract.
Massachusetts: In Somerville, after five years Sabertooth Vegan Bakery shutting down so the owner can get the hell outta Boston Weak Massachusetts and go on “permanent vacation”: “…things here just haven’t been working out. It’s always been my dream to live in California and work on an animal sanctuary and I was offered an amazing opportunity to do that.”-Evie Noël
Michigan: It’s been revealed that Southfield based Bagger Dave’s burger joint shutdown 11 restaurants across Michigan and Indiana in 2015. One of those restaurants was only ten months old. Bagger Dave’s is controlled by Diversified Restaurant Holdings. After 45 years Bacchus Wine & Spirits shutdown: “We were given an offer to buy the license, the building and the land that was enough to make it worth it.”-Dean Caplan
Minnesota: Egan based Ovation Brands suddenly shutdown 74 restaurants! Apparently the only warning was given back in August when company administrators warned they were about to begin shutting down ‘underperforming’ restaurants (August is also when Ovation Brands was taken over by Food Management Partners). The shutdown restaurants include Home Town Buffet (three just in the San Francisco area of California), Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s, Fire Mountain and Country Buffet. Price Chopper shutdown the New Adams grocery store, 57 jobs lost. Administrators basically said it wasn’t worth it to keep the food store open.
Mississippi: In Oxford, after nine years Holli’s Sweet Tooth shutting down in April, the owner blames non-stop increasing costs of operation that now exceed sales.
Missouri: Yet another Saint Louis restaurant gone. After ten years bistro Soulard shutdown. In Florissant, local news reports are questioning why restaurant Deaver’s suddenly shutdown after 13 years. No explanation was given.
Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra shutting down a frozen food production line in Council Bluffs, administrators claim this time they won’t layoff any employees. Douglas County must have a suicide wish as they’re shutting down 160 food joints, for operating without a license! Administrators with the county Health Department claim they do it every year, however, the interim prosecutor for the city of Omaha says as far as he knows such an operation has never been “enforced”. Chris Janicek, the owner of Cupcake Omaha and Cake Box, exclaimed “This agency has run amok!”
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, the Satellite Coffee shop consolidated with a restaurant across the street. It should be noted that the restaurant across the street, Flying Star, is currently chapter 11 bankrupt busted.
New York: In New Hartford, after six years the Sav-A-Lot grocery store shutdown, the only notice was a sign taped to the front door. Allied Frozen Storage issued a shutdown WARN for its West Seneca frozen food warehouse, 64 jobs lost by the end of July. In NYC the owner of the 28 years old Cafe Lalo told Community Board 7’s Business and Consumer Issues Committee “business is terrible and he may have to close”. After 80 years, reports say iconic Fairway market is in so much financial trouble it can’t pay its debts, and will default. The news comes from credit rating company Moody’s. After 33 years in Times Square Sushi Zen shutdown without warning. Local news reports said the owners had originally stated they would be moving to a new location, not shutting down. In Brooklyn, the owners of Bark Hot Dogs shutdown their Park Slope eatery saying “…economics just weren’t working out.” Brach’s Supermarket issued a shutdown WARN for their Lawrence grocery store, 127 jobs lost by the first of May! Administrators blame the bad economy. Despite a grand opening send-off by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Constantino’s Market in Rochester’s College Town shutdown after less than one year in business! It’s blamed on lack of sales: “Unfortunately, Constantino’s was ultimately not supported at a level that allowed them to be profitable.”-Randy Ruttenberg, Fairmount Properties
The restaurant known for having its walls plastered with autographed dollar bills, 69 Bayard Restaurant, shutdown with no explanation. Local news said the restaurant has a history of changing owners frequently. Near Star Lake, the Padgett’s Hometown IGA shutting down after 35 years of grocery sales: “Sales keep going down, expenses keep going up and I’m having a hard time just paying my bills, so it’s just time.”-Mark Padgett
North Carolina: In Durham, after 12 years restaurant City Beverage shutdown. Local news reports say the owners have failed to pay $1-million USD in state & federal taxes!
Ohio: In Cheviot, Vitor’s Bistro shutdown, the owner blames low sales on a bad location. The Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort and Seafood Buffet & Grill shutdown after a long history of violating local health codes, which resulted in several customers getting sick. In West Chester, after 68 years bakery supplies maker Bakery Crafts shutting down, 119 jobs lost starting in April! Columbus based Bravo Brio Restaurant Group is warning it must shutdown Bravo Cucina Italiana and Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants after a third straight year of revenue losses! And in Columbus, eateries Till Dynamic Fare and Izzy & Mo’s Luncheonette both shutting down. The owners said they’re leaving the area. Anti-gun laws failed to stop a man from attacking customers at the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli, with a machette! Four people were wounded. The restaurant has shutdown for an undetermined amount of time: “We need more time to regroup and heal as a team.”-Facebook post
In Cleveland, decades old iconic the DINER on clifton shutdown due to the greedy landlord: “We’re being thrown out on the street! Next to my parents dying this is the most stressful time of my life! …..This feels personal when it’s something that’s been such a huge part of my life.”-Perry Drosos, operator
The landlord claims the eviction was coming for at least a year, primarily due to planned radical remodeling of the building.
Oklahoma: In OKC, Texas based Spaghetti Warehouse suddenly shutdown, with no explanation why: “After more than 30 years in the community, we have made the difficult business decision to suspend operations and announce the closure of the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant in Oklahoma City. The closure is effective on Tuesday, February 2nd. ….we are hopeful that in the near future we can reopen Spaghetti Warehouse….” (I did find a lot of internet postings by customers that hated the place, and were even surprised it was still open, many claimed it shutdown years ago)
Oregon: After 36 years Sewick’s Dive Bar shutting down, to be replaced by a 46 unit apartment building.
Pennsylvania: Texas based upChuck Cheese, I mean Chuck E. Cheese pizza joint shutting down in the Clearview Mall by the end of March. Food maker Mondelez eliminating 509 jobs in two locations, between March and May! After six years Pittsburgh Public Market shutting down by the end of March. The eatery owner blames lack of customer traffic due to the recent shutdown of Marty’s Market, and the Firehouse farmer’s market. In Allentown, Tony Luke’s shutdown their Hamilton Street sandwich shop. Local news reports say it’s the 5th business inside the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone to shutdown within the past three months! Penn State University warned all 1-thousand 1-hundred Ag Ex employees of mass layoffs, due to the state ‘lawmakers’ failing to pay the 2015-16 agricultural extension subsidies!
Rhode Island: In Cranston, Ted’s Montana Grill shutdown blaming the landlord for wanting to jack up the rent.
Texas: In Austin, restaurant Arro shutdown suddenly, apparently it’s being turned into a bar. In Dallas, after less than a year restaurant Hickory & Fry shutdown. Apparently residents of Dallas-Fort worth can’t handle the concept of a tapas bar. Houston base food distribution giant Sysco says they have to kill more jobs, this time 1-thousand 2-hundred employees will become unemployed over the next 15 months! Administrators say the economic environment is forcing them to find ways to increase profits without relying on sales (because sales suck).
Virginia: In Virginia Beach, after 70 years popular Charlie’s Seafood Restaurant shutdown, local news reports blame the bad economy. Urban Farmhouse shutdown their three years old Church Hill restaurant. Sounds like they couldn’t afford the rent as they claim they’re looking for a new location.
Washington: After creating booze selling ‘privatization’ rules which jacked up the cost (including taxes) of your favorite hard drink by 15%, new data shows that the idiot ‘lawmakers’ of The Evergreen State actually drove booze buyers into neighboring Oregon and Idaho. The Idaho State Liquor Division credits at least 7% of its state run store sales to buyers from Washington. For Oregon the jump in hard drink sales was even bigger, with ten border booze stores reporting between 17% and 67% increase in sales to Washingtonians since 2011!
Washington DC: Crane & Turtle announced they’re shutting down in April, after less than two years of serving eats. Both the lead chef and the lead baker decided to move to New York. The owners of the restaurant decided it wasn’t worth it to find replacements. The U.S. Army announced it must shutdown, or reduce in size, one out of every three chow halls due to “changing soldier demographics, satisfy soldier desire for selection/taste or nutritional requirements … or meet commander mission requirements”.
Wisconsin: In Sheboygan, after five years restaurant Weimann’s Sports Center shutdown despite being voted best sports bar. The owners blame constant road construction projects among other issues: “We fought a battle we just couldn’t win and ultimately felt it would be a lot less stressful for our family to not be in business. It’s a tough business.”
500 years of German Beer Purity flushed by Monsanto!
Deflation will cause 1 in 5 dairy farms to fail!
Honey Bee Colony Collapse caused by Human Globalization!
U.S. Food Crisis January 2016: “We were not ready to close 10 years ago, but we’re ready now.”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification