Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns made or announced in July 2017:
BARBARIANS SACKING ROME: FOREIGN LANDLORDS NOW CONTROL THE ‘AMERICAN’ DREAM!
GREAT RENEGER: TRUMP ALLOWS 15,000 MORE LEGAL MIGRANTS INTO U.S.!
Arkansas: Christian founded Bentonville based Walmart suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of HQ employees in the name of “creating efficiencies”. In Keo, after 50 years Morris Antiques announced on Facebook they shutdown.
California: In Fresno, mini-golf joint Boomers shutdown because “We lost our lease”. In Newport Beach, after seven decades Bay Arcade shutdown by new owners who’re spending millions to turn it into a donut shop. San Francisco based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo laying off 70 executives as part of a bigger plan to eliminate thousands of jobs across the U.S. Too Big to Jail Bank of America shutting down its offices in Lakeport and Ukiah in November. In San Ramon, Bank of the West eliminating 54 jobs by mid-September. San Francisco based clothier Gymboree announced the shutdown of 350 stores across the U.S., thousands of jobs lost, click here to see the list. Vernon based True Religion Apparel now chapter 11 bankrupt busted blaming crashing sales, at least 27 stores across the U.S. shutting down. Clothier BCBG Max Azria issued a mass layoff WARN for its Vernon ops, 492 jobs gone by September (don’t blame the internet, they offer free shipping on their website)! Interviewing Service of America issued a shutdown WARN for its Alhambra ops, 66 jobs gone by mid-September. The Ritz-Carlton shutting down its location in Half Moon Bay by mid-September. Build-A-Bear Workshop issued a shutdown WARN for its Anaheim location, 99 jobs gone by mid-September. Ebisu Marketing-Hotei Marketing issued a shutdown WARN for its Los Angeles operations, 116 jobs gone by September! Sports marketing company Competitor Group couldn’t compete and issued a shutdown WARN for its San Diego ops, 145 jobs gone in November!
Colorado: In Sterling, JCPenney shutdown its store in the High Plains Shopping Center. Payless Shoesource also shutdown a store in Sterling, along with two other Payless stores across the state.
Connecticut: In Unionville, after 143 years (!) Parsons Paint & Hardware shutdown, the family owners blaming it on “hardware burnout”. British empire based Too Big to Jail RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) issued yet another layoff WARN, this time 23 jobs gone in September.
Florida: More than 80 years old formal wear retailer Alfred Angelo went chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutdown all its stores across the U.S. without warning, pissing off thousands of customers waiting for paid orders to be filled! In Daytona Beach, after 59 years the last local bowling alley Bellair Lanes shutdown. PHH Mortgage Corporation eliminating 15 jobs in Jacksonville by October. British empire based Too Big to Jail HSBC issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Brandon, 197 people laid off on top of the 357 laid off in April! Outdoors store Gander Mountain eliminating 119 jobs by the end of August!
Hawaii: In Pearl City, Pictures Plus Interiors shutting down in August.
No more “well loved by customers” pawn shop on Yellowstone Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho.
Idaho: It was discovered that 50 years old, ‘well loved by customers’ (according to Facebook postings) Shamrock Rare Coins (aka Amy’s Shamrock Coins) pawn shop secretly shutdown, even the official website is offline. Mitt Romney co-founded wunderkind Staples announced it will shutdown its Pocatello store in August, falsely blaming “customers” for shopping online.
Illinois: What housing market recovery? In Bridgeview, after 40 years Advantage Carpets Plus Colortile shutdown, the owner says he is only semi-retiring because his wife doesn’t want him to fully retire. In Chicago, after more than ten years Permanent Records shutting down so the owners can focus on their newer operations in California. Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino laid off 20 people due to crashing revenue. In Hinsdale, after 53 years York Barber Shop shutdown, the owners complained “There’s too much competition. It used to be there were barbershops and beauty shops and that was it. There weren’t all these unisex places.”
Iowa: In Waterloo, after 104 years (!) Robin’s Surplus shutting down in September: “….we’ve been gradually decreasing in business over the last 10 years. We’ve noticed the decline, based on internet sales. I even polled my kids and asked where the bought all the Christmas stuff and the bought it on the internet.”-Gary Ritter, co-owner
Kansas: In Parsons, after four decades Sullivan Furniture shutdown due to family health problems. After only two years in the Wichita Mall clothing store Foggy Bottom shutdown, no reason given.
Louisiana: In Lafayette, after 15 years flower shop The Gardenaire shutdown, the owners will focus on wholesale saying “We just can’t compete….People don’t come in like they used to. It’s just changing times.”
Maryland: Laurel based Rent-A-Wreck of America now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming it on a never ending lawsuit with the company’s founder. In Hagerstown, Bon-Ton shutting down when the lease expires, 55 jobs lost by February 2018. After 32 years non-profit arts & crafts operation Baltimore Clayworks went chapter 7 bankrupt and shutdown after a deal to sell the financially struggling operation fell through. In Havre de Grace, Stirling Bridge Jewelry and Gifts shutting down, saying on Facebook “For a variety of reasons, foremost being the rapid decline of business in downtown Havre de Grace and the mass exit of numerous other businesses during this last year, Stirling Bridge Jewelry & Gifts will be relocating to Delaware….” First Potomac Realty Trust issued WARNs for two locations, 72 jobs gone by October.
Massachusetts: Boston based Too Big to Jail Fidelity Investments continues killing jobs, this time hundreds of employees were suddenly laid off! It was also reported that Fidelity Investments bribed (buyouts) 1-thousand-5-hundred employees to quit! Boston based shoe and clothing retailer Nader-The Tannery now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.
Michigan: In Detroit, after 124 years (!) the country’s oldest hat retailer Henry the Hatter shutting down due to a greedy landlord.
Minnesota: In Red Wing, after 27 years Al’s Antique Mall shutdown, the owner saying “The whole customer has changed and it’s a new generation. What you once thought was rare is now on ebay.” In Granite Falls, after 38 years Willie’s Corner Store shutting down in August because nobody wanted to buy it: “This was very disappointing to think that no one wants to continue what you have been doing for years to keep Willies alive.”-Penny Krogstad, co-owner
Montana: In Great Falls, after more than 25 years Hobby Land shutdown, the owner said she was ready to retire.
Nebraska: In Lincoln, Bishop Heights True Value hardware store shutting down, saying on Facebook the store “just (does) not have the sales we need to continue operating.”
New Hampshire: In Dover, after only four years, and even moving to a newer location with cheaper rent/utilities, Spun Records shutting down in August due to lack of sales. I guess all that main stream news media (fake news) hype about records making a comeback was just hype.
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after 34 years Grandma’s Music and Sound shutdown, the owners told local news media the risks of retail now outweigh the rewards.
New York: At JFK Airport, Command Security lost its contract with FedEx, 46 jobs gone by the end of August. Also at JFK, DAL Global lost its contract with Virgin Airways, 49 jobs gone by the end of October. Courtyard by Marriott LaGuardia Hotel shutting down, 144 jobs gone by October! Commercial bank contractor Gannett National Shared Services eliminating 31 jobs by the end of October. Conduent Business Services eliminating 59 jobs by the end of September. In Brooklyn-NYC, after more than seven years hangout joint The Rock Shop shutdown, the manager saying “Rent’s too high, taxes are too high. Too much development happening on Fourth Avenue!” In Rochester, after 29 years Lakeshore Record Exchange shutting down in September, the owner says more people listen to music than ever before, just not in the format he sells. Sports venue Yard Sports Village-Warwick Yard now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. In Buffalo, after 25 years clothier Urban Leisure and Luxury shutting down by the end of August because the owners want out of the retail industry. In Pearl River, after more than 60 years Mel’s Army-Navy Center shutdown due to the owner not finding a buyer: “People don’t want to get into the retail industry anymore. The store was doing fine, but no one was really looking to take it over.”-Chris Frawley, owner
North Carolina: High Point based Dynamic International Airways now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to lawsuits. Non-profit animal rescue op Duke’s Animal Haven shutdown “Due to circumstances beyond our control…….effective immediately.” In Chapel Hill, DSI Comedy Theater shutting down by the end of August, due to the owner being accused (but never charged) of sex crimes. In Washington, after four years The Blue Crab Monograms and Gifts shutdown because the owner got a job as a high school teacher.
Ohio: In Painesville, after 23 years Grande Designs Floral shutdown officially so the owner can retire, but local news media discovered the store, and inventory, is now “bank owned” and for sale. In Kettering, after 39 years clothing store Elan shutdown due to family health problems. In Fostoria, after 25 years Steinacker & Sons Ace Hardware shutdown, the owners lamenting “Unfortunately, we just couldn’t keep it going.”
Oregon: In Portland, after 15 years Newspace Center for Photography suddenly shutdown due to the discovery that the non-profit art gallery was broke! After five years the Action/Adventure Theatre shutdown saying “It’s become increasingly difficult for small arts spaces like ours to survive in Portland and while we are heartbroken that this city has to lose yet another venue, we can no longer shoulder the financial burden of maintaining our theater.” A writer for The Portland Mercury reacted to the sudden shutdowns of two art venues by saying “Shit’s bleak, you guys.”
Pennsylvania: Stauffers of Kissel Hill shutdown its 53 years old shop in Oregon Pike saying it was too small to compete with big-box. In Pittsburgh, baby furniture store Good Night Baby shutdown without warning, the owner told a local news TV channel that he was on vacation, however, a note taped to the door stated the store was closed due to “market conditions”. Local news media reported dozens of customers were still waiting for orders that they already paid for. In Philadelphia, after 52 years Snyderman-Works Galleries sold-off and shutting down so the owners can retire. In Erie, after 55 years Fisher Jewelers shutting down when the inventory is gone. Silver Creek County Club shutting down by September.
Texas: Katy based Academy Sports & Outdoors suddenly laid off 1-hundred people, blaming it on “the changing needs of our customers”! Stage Stores shutting down its 47 years old Bealls store in Corpus Christi, in September, because of the greedy landlord (Trademark Properties). In Brownsville, after 110 years (!) R.H. Lackner’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts shutting down, the owners blaming declining customers from Mexico: “The Mexican business has been a factor. It used to represent about half our business. I don’t see it coming back.”-Bobby Lackner
Virginia: In Danville, after 71 years M&M Furniture shutdown so the owner could retire. In Waynesboro, after 30 years Valley Framing Studio and Gallery shutdown, the owner saying “It’s about time to enjoy life…” Nordstrom shutting down its 15 years old store in Dulles Town Center because “…we feel we can serve our customers better at our other area stores and online.”
Wisconsin: In Wauwatosa, after 93 years Daly’s Pen Shop shutdown with the owner warning other mom&pop retailers by saying “I’m just getting out of this before I’m forced out!” In the same city Bartz’s party store suddenly shutdown as part of a corporate plan to shift to online sales only.
U.S. RETAIL/BANKING/SERVICE SECTOR COLLAPSE, JUNE 2017: “WE HAVE A STORE CLOSURE INITIATIVE”, “RETAIL IS PRETTY MUCH GONE!”
SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, JULY 2017: “WHERE DID ALL THIS MONEY GO?” “THAT’S THE END OF THE GAME.”
U.S. INDUSTRIAL/MINING/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS, JULY 2017: “BUSINESS HAD DECLINED SINCE 2008″
Dumbing Down the U.S.A., July 2017: “OF ALL THE MONEY WE SPEND ON EDUCATION, LESS THAN 32% GOES TO TEACHERS.”
U.S. HI-TECH/COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN, JULY 2017: “EVERYONE IS SHELL-SHOCKED!” 61% CRASH IN PROFITS!
U.S. government shenanigans, July 2017: “THEY GAVE ME NO REASON FOR CLOSING IT”
U.S. food crisis, July 2017: “WE ARE CLOSING……WE HAVE NO CHOICE”
ObamaCare ACA death spiral, July 2017: 250-THOUSAND JOBS KILLED! “REGRETTABLY, THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT”
OBAMA LEGACY: DEATH OF ‘OUTDOORS’ STORES, AND DON’T BLAME THE INTERNET!
OBAMA LEGACY: U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL “I HAVE NO CLUE. IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM TO BE WORKING…”
More railroad layoffs, Jacksonville based CSX announced an additional 7-hundred layoffs on top of the 1-thousand laid off earlier this year!
Mahwah based clothing chain store operator Ascena Retail Group-Ann Taylor-Lane Bryant-Dressbarn-Maurices-Catherines-Justice-Total Kids Fashion throwing in the towel after a $1-billion USD crash in sales across the board with all its fashion brands, 250 stores being shutdown by the end of the year with another 4-hundred store shutdowns after that, tens of thousands of jobs lost by 2019! But don’t blame the internet, the brands Ascena Retail Group sells are available online, and don’t just blame it on crashing sales blame the brick-n-mortar store shutdowns on greedy landlords: “Over the next two years, we expect to close or achieve substantial rent reductions in more than 650 stores, which represent almost 25% of the total store population with lease term maturity between 2017 and July of 2019.…”
