Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of October, 2015: 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.
India based internet restaurant finding service Zomato eliminating 3-hundred jobs mainly within the United States! The U.S. employees affected are those tasked with collecting data on U.S. restaurants.
Alabama: 15 state controlled booze (Alcoholic Beverage Control) ABC stores being shutdown due to lack of money.
Arizona: Small Planet Bakery shutting down their Tucson shop right before Thanksgiving after 41 years: “…we haven’t been making money… At one point back in the late ’80s, we were in 36 grocery stores … In May we cut it down to five stores…”-Lucy Mitchell, co-owner
California: The grocery chain store known as Fresh & Easy is now being shutdown by its current owners Yucaipa Companies, which is known for chopping up and selling off businesses (Mormon Mitt Romney style). The shutdown of 97 grocery stores will result in 3-thousand people across the U.S. desert southwest becoming jobless starting now! Yucaipa has been trying to sell the grocery chain but nobody is interested in buying, the filed for bankruptcy protection. Japan based upscale convenience stores FamilyMart-Famima! shutdown all their remaining California stores! Once Los Angeles based but now Idaho based Flagship Food Group issued a shutdown WARN for their Chatsworth food factory, 123 jobs lost before the U.S. Thanksgiving! Napa City Winery shutting down on New Year’s Day, 37 jobs lost. In Los Angeles, Hersha Hospitality Management shutting down before Xmas, 71 jobs lost (they claim it’s temporary). In Oakland, Svenhard’s Swedish Bakery shutting down after Thanksgiving, 168 jobs lost! In Saint Helena, it was revealed just how many people work at the 28 years old Tra Vigne restaurant; 136! Their lease was not renewed, they will shutdown five days before Xmas. San Luis Obispo losing yet another mom-n-pop, after 25 years Bali’s Yogurt shutdown, the owners admitted they were shutting down sooner than they thought, due to increasing competition. In Los Angeles, iconic Los Chavos Restaurant shutting down in November. Local news reports say the owner sold-out, and the buyer refuses to comment. The U.S. Forest Service has been hit with a class action lawsuit accusing it of illegally giving Switzerland based food producer Nestlé taxpayer owned water in the drought stricken state! It was used for the Arrowhead brand bottled water. If you buy Arrowhead you’re contributing to the plight of California’s farmers! In Costa Mesa, after 26 years Scott’s upscale restaurant shutting down in January because the owner decided it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease. In Burbank, Not A Burger Stand eatery shutdown due to landlord issues. A GMRI owned Red Lobster restaurant in Los Angeles is shutting down, 83 jobs lost before Thanksgiving. In South Lake Tahoe, The Cork and More wine store shutdown after 39 years due to nobody wanting to buy the business. In Hollywood, Sushi Roku shutdown, the owners say they need to focus on a smaller number of restaurants. After four years the British empire’s upscale snooty Tamarind of London shutdown their Newport Beach restaurant without warning. Local news says management refuses to comment. After 20 years, popular (reports say it was always packed during big games) Zeke’s Bar and Grill shutdown due to the lease not being renewed. In Los Angeles, after three years award winning restaurant Alma shutting down by the end of the month due to ongoing lawsuits and a failed internet crowd-funding campaign.
Colorado: Another Great Harvest Bread store shuts down, this time in Montrose. Denver based Chipotle shutdown 43 restaurants in Washington and Oregon states. They claim it’s temporary, so they can eliminate Escherichia coli (E. coli O157:H7) after Washington state health administrators issued an outbreak warning on Halloween. It should be noted that affected stores posted notices blaming “equipment problems” or “supply chain problems” for their shutdown!
Connecticut: After 44 years Chuck Wagon Restaurant shutdown, the owner has been trying to sell it but so far nobody wants to buy. In Southbury, the relatively new LaBonne’s Market IGA grocery store shutdown. The owners blame lackluster sales and increasing costs like utilities,taxes and ObamaCare insurance benefits saying “We just could never get it off the ground.”
Florida: Tampa based restaurant chain owner Bloomin’ Brands is in trouble (as usual), but so much so this time that investor analyst Zacks has told shareholders to dump their stocks in the corporation. Stocks of Bloomin’ Brands downgraded to Sell status, the company failed to show any significant increase in revenues in its last report but is still considered to have too much debt. The debt is probably from all the new restaurants Bloomin’ Brands has opened in the past year. The food corporation controls restaurant chains known as Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, and Roy’s. Interesting side note, several of Bloomin’ Brands restaurants have suffered fires this year; in April the Outback Steakhouse at the Meridian Crossroads plaza in Meridian, Idaho (blamed on corroded gas line). Then two months later another Meridian, Idaho, Outback Steakhouse caught fire, this time at the Bonita Crossroads Shopping Center, firefighters said it “seemed to be electrical”. The Carrabba’s in Suntree, Florida, caught fire this month with initial reports saying the fire started on the roof around an air conditioning unit. In June, the West Springfield, Massachusetts, Carrabba’s caught fire twice, first initial reports said the fire somehow started in between the metal and rubberized roofing materials around a vent fan, then the next morning the kitchen caught on fire! It’s not just fires, the Richland, Washington, Bonefish Grill was vandalized with a blowtorch in June. Miami-Dade based Burger King calling it quits in Costa Rica, all 29 restaurants shutting down, 434 jobs lost! In Neptune Beach, after five years Lillie’s Coffee & Bar shutdown because of the greedy landlord. Jacksonville based Southeastern Grocers revealed they eliminated 250 administrative jobs!
Georgia: In Atlanta, ten restaurants suddenly shutdown! Here to Serve Restaurants shutdown its Prime, Strip, Noche, Twist, Smash Kitchen, Coast Seafood, Shucks Oyster and Wine Bar, and others. On top of that 1-thousand employees’ final paychecks are being issued without the automatic tax payments, meaning employees will have to pay the taxes themselves, AND not all employees will be getting their final pay because the company is broke! Restaurant chain Christophe’s To Go shutdown their stores in Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs: “We ran into many challenges, but at the end of the day our biggest challenge was that we could not maintain enough sales to make the model viable.” In Emory, after 70 years Evans Fine Food shutdown. Suddenly restaurant Rosebud shutdown “effective immediately” because of “unforeseen circumstances”.
Hawaii: In Honolulu, after 30 years popular Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts (known for ‘R’ rated ice cream names) shutdown its Varsity Center store, shocked customers reacted with “Oh my Gaawwdd!” The owners say they will now focus solely on wholesale production of mochi ice cream. Oahu, state health inspectors shutdown and then fined the Paalaa Kai Bakery. The shutdown was for health code violations and the fine was for selling food after they were ordered to stop. The inspections are part of new food martial laws under the new Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 50, Food Safety Code.
Idaho: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration slammed shut Ketchum-based Sun Valley Juice Company for repeated violations of federal food safety regulations. The company got in trouble with the federal regulators back in 2006 as well. Court ruling shuts down horse race betting venue Double Down Betting, Sports Bar and Grill in Idaho Falls, 70 jobs lost. the Idaho Supreme Court banned instant horse racing gambling machines. Hungry people have increased in The Gem State as demonstrated by the fact that the Idaho Foodbank Fund (funded by donations from taxpayers) has supported seven more local food banks than last year! The evil Right to Work (you over) ‘lawmakers’ made it harder to qualify for federally funded food aid (aka SNAP or food stamps), but created a local taxpayer supported Idaho Foodbank Fund. Since then evil pro-government weenie heads pointed to the resulting drop in food stamp (SNAP) distributions as proof Idahoans weren’t going hungry! I wonder what those Right to Work (you over) ‘elected’ lawmakers are doing with that federal food stamp funding? Potato growers are warning of lower crop yields this year, even though acreage is way up. Analysts say this year’s spud harvest will be below the five year average: “We’ve had some unusual weather this year. Some growers were hit by cold, some by heat and some had a lot of water. And with the water came late blight.”-Frank Muir, Idaho Potato Commission
The low spud harvest is also being affected by a disease affecting potatoes has been discovered in four farm fields in three counties. It’s called Zebra Chip (Liberibacter bacterium) and could put a damper on what was expected to be a good year for spud farmers. Zebra Chip first showed up in the Pacific Northwest in 2011, it makes a fresh potato look like it’s rotting on the inside. This bad news comes as the Big Idaho Potato (propaganda) Truck just returned to The Gem State after a costly ($700-thousand USD) multi-state tour.
Pumpkin farmers south of the Boise area reporting a shortage of pumpkins: “It’s been a rough year. It’s probably been the roughest year I’ve had with pumpkins since we’ve been doing it, and we’ve been doing it a long time.”-Fred Schreffler, owner of The Berry Ranch
Illinois: Pumpkin farmers report massive losses, Illinois normally grows 90% of the pumpkins in the United States! In Woodstock, after 46 years Red Barn Farm Market shutdown. More proof Obama’s homie town is a failed state; in Bloomington, God refuses to stop the shutdown of his Catholic Workers created food pantry for low income families Clair House. After almost 37 years their last meal will be the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Aspen Foods laid off 65 people, immediately following a massive recall of chicken products due to salmonella. It’s been revealed that the true reason Chicago restaurant Japonais by Morimoto shutdown is due to a massive lawsuit because the owners haven’t been able to pay any rent for the past year! In Cairo the only grocery store in town, Wonder Market, shutting down before Xmas. The nearest grocery store is over the border in Kentucky. Local news said corporate officials did not respond to their questions. Apparently the area is considered one of the poorest in the state. After 31 years iconic Ed Debevic’s diner shutdown due to the property owner wanting to build a 22 story apartment complex! In Chicago, after six years the Birchwood Kitchen shutdown this weekend, the owner is trying to sell it. In Aurora, after less than a year the massive Cosmopolitan Marketplace grocery store shutting down! The shutdown was revealed by signs that read “All Sales Final”. A local alderman blames the shutdown on lack of sales. Oak Brook based McDonald’s in deeper trouble than first thought. According to Business Insider, franchise operators are fed up with corporate policies that include not offering financial help to 30% of franchise owners who admit they are broke: “We are in the throes of a deep depression, and nothing is changing! Probably -Mark Kalinowski, analyst
After 12 years Mama Compton’s restaurant in Rock Island shutdown: “We’ve got to find a better place. In order, as a small business, to thrive, we need this downtown area to be growing, and we decided that is not happening.”-Psyndy Compton-Muse, co-owner
Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 58 years restaurant Rib Room shutdown without warning. The family owners said they can’t continue operating the popular eatery. In Evansville, Penny Lane Coffeehouse shutdown, the owner blamed ongoing construction that’s blocking access to his shop: “Very, very frustrated, I don’t feel like we’ve gotten any support from the City of Evansville. We’ve had our entrances blocked, which I know is a fire hazard, it’s just been an absolute nightmare!”-Brian Bennett, owner
Iowa: In Davenport, the Ichiban Sushi & Steak House restaurant shutdown. Local news reports say Davenport city administrators are concerned because their tax revenues are crashing and burning because of all the shutdowns. In Garnavillo, after 38 years Bob’s Food Store IGA shutdown: “…it just seems like a let down, you know, the bottom fell out and it’s over with, you know?”-Bob Bente
Maryland: Collington Services shutting down a Safeway grocery distribution center and a general merchandise distribution center, 7-hundred jobs lost by Xmas! And that’s after 2-hundred people have already been laid off, according to state data! In Elkton, after 12 years Terrapin Station Winery shutdown: “Mother Nature took her toll on our vineyards and we were not able to generate enough investment to get us rolling again.”-Janet and Morris Zwick, owners
Massachusetts: New Bedford based Top Quality Seafood & Shellfish now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on massive debts. After 43 years iconic Medieval Manor restaurant theater shutdown due to crashed and burned sales. A survey revealed many Weak Bostonians thought the place had shutdown a long time ago! In Saugus, after 57 years the home of the Orange T-Rex, Route 1 Mini Golf & Dairy Castle, shutdown. The owners always kept their 1950s style operation looking brand new, unfortunately they had to sell out to greedy property developers who’ll tear everything down! Canton based Dunkin’ Brands revealed they’re losing one of their franchise operators (Speedway) which will result in 1-hundred Dunkin’ Donut stores shutting down across the U.S.! Administrators with Speedway claim they misjudged the economy and expanded their franchise ops too fast.
Michigan: In Kalamazoo, after 50 years Wayside West sports bar shutdown. Local news reports blame a shooting that happened last year, but in reality the property was sold-off.
Minnesota: Minneapolis based food giant General Mills announced they’re shutting down operations in British empire United Kingdom and New Zealand! Local news reports that General Mills has already eliminated at least 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs due to stagnant food sales! In Knife River, the Lighthouse at Emily’s restaurant shutdown when a potential sale to non-profit North Shore Scenic Railroad fell through. PM Beef is shutting down its Windom meat plant right before Xmas, 260 jobs lost! Windom City administrators say they will lose almost half of their revenues from lost taxes and fees! After 14 years Minneapolis French cuisine Vincent A Restaurant shutting down after Xmas, so the owner can “move on with my life”. Restaurant La Belle Vie shutdown blaming the increase in mandatory minimum wage.
Mississippi: In Jackson, after 62 years Lamar Restaurant shutdown: “The last four to five years it has really gone down. People just aren’t eating as many plate lunches as they were…..They want what I call plastic food.”-Chris Grillis, owner
Missouri: Evil Saint Louis based chemical warfare and GMO maker Monsanto eliminating 2-thousand 690 jobs blaming the crashing and burning global farm industry! Gee, decades ago Monsanto swore their chemicals and Genetically Modified Organisms were going to save the global farm industry!!! Saint Louis based iconic beer maker Anheuser-Busch offshoring less than 40 U.S. jobs to India, blaming crashing sales in the United States. J Buck’s restaurant and its twin Joe Buck’s both shutdown, the owner blaming jacked up rents and other “rising operational costs”! At one point there were five J Buck’s-Joe Buck’s restaurants! Dooley’s Beef n Brew House shutdown.
Montana: Great Falls based restaurant chain Shoot the Moon Grill now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Customers got suspicious when restaurants started shutting down, posting signs that read “closed due to flooding”.
Nebraska: After only one year two eateries in the University of Nebraska’s student union shutting down after Xmas. The owner of Subway Pizza Express and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels says sales to students have crashed by 44% from last year! As I warned, ConAgra making it official and will kill-off 1-thousand 5-hundred jobs! Interestingly, even though previously ConAgra said they were moving ops from Nebraska to Illinois, 7-hundred of the layoffs will take place in Chicago.
New Hampshire: Keene base food supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers laid off an undisclosed number of employees due to the gigantic collapse of A & P (Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery stores across the eastern U.S.
New Jersey: In Newark, after eight years SAS Cupcakes shutdown, the owners didn’t say why. Acclaimed Thirty Acres restaurant shutting down after Thanksgiving. Despite praise by critics sales were no good: “Maybe we weren’t in the right place at the right time, or maybe Jersey City wasn’t the right place….”-Kevin Pemoulie, coowner
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, Flying Star Cafe shutdown its ten years old restaurant on Silver and 8th Street. It’s the third Flying Star to shutdown since the company went bankrupt.
New York: Warren Buffett owned Kraft Heinz shutting down three food factories; Avon, Walton and Campbell eliminating about 930 jobs! In Pekin, after 40 years restaurant Schimschacks shutdown. In West Village, after 30 years Empire Szechuan Village restaurant shutdown because the landlord wanted to jack the rent from $5-thousand per month to $25-thousand! Grocery store Drew’s Food issued a shutdown WARN for their Brooklyn 4511-8th Avenue store, 51 jobs lost in January 2016 because it’s not worth it to renew the lease due to skyrocketing rents. Hillstone Restaurant Group shutting down its Houston’s Restaurant in Garden City, 71 jobs lost after Xmas because it’s not worth it to renew the lease due to skyrocketing rents. In Riverhead, King Kullen grocery store shutting down due to it not being worth it to renew the lease. In NYC, CMG YOTEL ending its contract with East & West Restaurant, 71 jobs lost by January 2016. Patina Restaurant Group issued a shutdown WARN for their NYC Brasserie Restaurant, 68 jobs lost right after the Gregorian New Year. In NYC, McDonald’s at 427 10th Avenue shutting down after Xmas, 65 jobs lost. SCRATCHbread shutting down due to greedy property owners, the pissed owner said “…it’s bullshit I have to destroy the most important thing in my life.”
North Carolina: Tin Tin Box and Noodles shutdown apparently because of the greedy landlord, the owner of the Japanese restaurant said he’s looking for a new location. Thai Pan restaurant shutting down in Greensboro after 10 years of yummy food. The owner blames her husband because he’s retiring and wants to move.
Ohio: Global food company Manitowoc announced they are shutting down their Cleveland ops and leaving 274 people out in the cold by April 2016! Like the rest of unAmerican corporate Amerika Mantiwoc is consolidating production. In Niles, Lone Star Steakhouse shutdown saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease. In Dayton, Olive an urban dive restaurant shutdown due to difficulties with the property owner: “We tried everything we could to find another feasible way to keep Olive in Dayton, but now that the decision is made, we’re announcing the close….”
Oregon: In Portland, it’s been revealed that the entire city block between South West 2nd and 3rd and Taylor will be demolished! This includes the 110 years old Lotus Cardroom and Café.
Pennsylvania: In Lititz, food giant Cargill announced it will shutdown the Wilbur Chocolate factory, 130 jobs lost! Cargill is consolidating ops, just like the rest of unAmerican corporate ‘merica! In Media, after 65 years restaurant D’Ignazio’s Towne House shutting down after Xmas. The property is being sold to speculators. After seven years the award winning Supper restaurant shutdown, it’s now a private party and catering operation only.
Tennessee: After 15 years Vaudeville Cafe shutdown due to “financial burdens”. In Nashville, Khan’s Desserts shutting down because “…the rent has gone up greatly, and without partnership or investment, we are unable to move to another location.”
Texas: 12 Del Taco restaurants shutting down in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro, 218 jobs gone before Xmas! Administrators said “Del Taco has made this decision for financial reasons.”, however the real reason is the company has a new owner from the Failed State of Illinois (Larry Levy) and he’s crashing and burning the burrito joint. In Victoria, a Subway sandwich shop on Main and Constitution streets shutdown.
Vermont: Middlebury based Woodchuck Hard Cider laid off eight employees, administrators blame competition. In Burlington, the South End Kitchen shutting down right before Xmas. The owners admitted they bit off more than they could chew when they opened the restaurant. In Stowe, Phoenix Table and Bar shutdown due to lack of money: “Here’s what happened. A big undertaking with hard-working staff doing twice the work that was needed to keep it going; an off-season looming without much cash; an exhausted ownership that needed a breather. Sorry, everyone!”-Julie Pickett
Washington: The Black Bear Diner in Olympia shutting down right before Thanksgiving. 45 jobs lost because the Gott-Damned landlord jacked up the rent by 60% and refused to make necessary building improvements! India based restaurant locating service Zomato shutdown their Seattle office without warning, it’s part of their plans to eliminate at least 150 U.S. jobs! Bellingham based Haggen Foods has told the bankruptcy court of its intent to shut down all its grocery stores, at least 10-thousand jobs lost!
Wisconsin: In Whitewater, grocery store Daniel’s Sentry shutting down after Xmas, 53 jobs lost. Horney Goat Brewing shutdown their restaurant. Dairy Farmers of America shutting down their Plymouth Borden cheese factory in January 2016, 3-hundred job lost! Administrators said it wasn’t worth it to upgrade the old factory and will instead contract out the work!
“I’m paying the state….so I can work for free!”: U.S. Food Crisis September 2015
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
