Tag Archives: wall street

International

AGOSTO-12: Mexico’s oil industry turns to China for help!

30 August 2015 (09:46 UTC-07 Tango 01)/08 Shahrivar 1394/15 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1436/17 Jia-Shen (7th month) 4713

Petróleos Mexicanos (PeMex) is about to take possession of the latest offshore gas compression rig, built in China.  The rig will be used in the Gulf of Mexico to compress gas at a rate of 61 million cubic meters (200 million cubic feet) per day, at a time when U.S. oil companies have killed off more than 100-thousand U.S. jobs.

AGOSTO-12 is said to be able to handle category 3 hurricanes and will reduce environmental pollution by recycling and reinjecting unused gasses into the Cantarell oil fields. It’s expected to operate for at least 25 years.

Fracking causes Oklahoma quakes, ironically shuts down oil wells!

Saber Rattling against China about huge oil reserves underneath China! It’s why China is on the warpath against Uygur Muslims! 

Business/Economics

“…access to food is poor…getting worse.” “There is no option to press forward.” There’s no bread? : U.S. Food Crisis August 2015

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of August, 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.

Warren Buffett co-owned Kraft-Heinz announced it will eliminate another 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs in Canada and United States!   Apparently most of the new layoffs will affect corporate level employees in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and jobs considered redundant as a result of the merger between Kraft and Heinz.

Alabama: Food Outlet shutting down their 27 years old Jacksonville grocery store. Administrators say new competition has “split our customer base in half”, combining that with increasing costs of operations it just wasn’t worth while to continue.

Arkansas: After 27 years of yummy peaches Collins Round Mountain Orchard shutdown for good due to climate change: “Unfortunately, the weather has not been in favor of our crop……

….the fruit just will not produce this summer. With that being said, Collins Orchard is officially closed permanently.” 

California: Grocery store Raley’s announced it will eliminate 29 jobs from their West Sacramento HQ and their Natomas warehouse.  Company administrators are excited about killing off so many jobs because it makes them feel “…optimistic about the future and we continue to hire in areas to support future growth.”  Raley’s also revealed they’ve leased out their Winnemucca store to Idaho based Ridley’s Family Markets, affecting 50 Raley’s employees.  The Winnemucca store is the fourth Raley’s to shutdown this year. Washington based Haggen Foods issued mass shutdown WARNs for the following locations; 2 stores in Simi Valley, 2 stores in Tustin, 2 stores in Chula Vista, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Santa Clarita Valley, La Mesa, San Marcos, San Ysidro, Bakersfield and Los Osos, 620 jobs lost by October!   Haggen administrators implied that all the Albertsons-Safeway stores they took over are losing money! A Los Angeles Times report says Haggen incorrectly overpriced 1-thousand items and at the same time underpriced other items, resulting in loss of business and revenues.   Albertsons-Safeway issued another layoff WARN for Pleasanton, this time 37 people to be unemployed in September.  Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another layoff WARN for Pleasanton, and a shutdown WARN for their Walnut Creek grocery store, 1-hundred jobs lost by October!  Delivery drivers for Albertsons and Vons grocery stores reporting mass layoffs and work hour cutbacks as a result of the Cerberus owned Albertsons takeover of Safeway: “I have a wife and three kids, and we live on a half acre of horse property in Mira Loma. We just had to sell our three horses and three pigs, next it will be the Harley.”-Jeff Dean, driver who had his hours reduced from full time to part time

Kroger owned Ralph’s issued shutdown WARNs for their following grocery stores; Hermosa Beach, Santa Ana and Pico Rivera, 210 jobs lost by October!   A company that claims to be “…the largest supplier of botanical ingredients in the U.S., for use in dietary supplements, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care…”, BI NUTRACEUTICALS, issued layoff WARNs for Emeryville and Santa Clara, 79 jobs lost by September.  In Salinas, Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates shutting down in September, 38 jobs lost.  In Santa Monica, Buca Restaurants 2 issued a shutdown WARN for September, 61 jobs lost. In San Jose, after ten years “ultra lounge” Fahrenheit shutdown. The operator blames the property owner for jacking up the rent, saying the cost to do business in San Jose is “on a more rapid upswing”.  And mom & pop Paolo’s Italian restaurant shutdown by the landlord.  The property owner is getting more money by turning the location into a cafeteria.  San Francisco based food delivery internet company Good Eggs ending operations in all cities except San Francisco, 140 jobs lost!  In San Diego, after one year Table No 10 shutdown without warning, local news sources could not find out why. After 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) gourmet grocer A.G. Ferrari Foods shutdown its Castro location.  Since bankruptcy in 2011 the gourmet grocery chain has dwindled from 13 stores to five.    It’s estimated that the drought will kill-off $2.75-billion USD in 2015 revenues for the huge California ag industry! Thousands of agriculture jobs lost!  In Petaluma, after eight years the Come Home to Cooking School forced to shutdown by A-hole city administrators who refuse to renew the license to operate!   In Emeryville, after almost 30 years Bucci’s restaurant shutting down at the end of September.  The owners said they are retiring, but local news reports point out that the city recently jacked up the minimum wage and Bucci’s tried to compensate by charging a $2.50 per person service charge.  In Oakland, British empire style pub The Growlers’ Arms shutdown, some locals speculated that people didn’t like the British style food.  In Arroyo Grande, after 42 years The Girl’s Restaurant shutting down in September, the owners blaming a massive rent increase, from$1.18 a square foot to $3, and that does not include the common area.  Washington based Starbucks is shutting down about 22 “popular” La Boulange bakery stores across The Golden State, in September. One San Francisco TV news source said many La Boulange employees are rebelling against Starbucks by rejecting job offers to work directly for the evil corporate coffee chain store.  In San Francisco, after 37 years Ino Sushi shutdown.  And restaurant Bugaloo’s shutdown by “whacked out Valencia Street rent”, the tiny location is now available to anybody who is stupid enough to shell out $17,500 per month.

Colorado: In Denver, after three and a half years River North Brewery shutting down their Blake Street location, blaming greatly increased competition in the past couple of years.

Connecticut:  Noank Community Market shutdown.

Florida: At the Tampa International Airport, food service company HMS Host Corporation issued a shutdown WARN for October, 796 jobs lost due to loss of contract!  After 42 years the Wine & Cheese Gallery shutdown, their letter implied there was too much competition compared to when they first opened in 1973.  In the Miami metro area the Oolite restaurant shutdown without warning, despite being voted best on South Beach.  Gastropod restaurant shutdown.  Food critics were surprised when Pubbelly Boys’ L’Echon Brasserie shutdown.  The L’Entrecote de Paris shutdown as well.  In Fort Lauderdale, Taps Restaurant, Bar and Lounge and Bimini Boatyard Bar & Grill both shutdown.  In Latana, Pizzeria Oceano shutdown.  In Orlando, after five years restaurant Mi Tomatina shutdown.   In Palm Beach the owners of Blondies, a restaurant known for serving ‘breakfast’ for ‘dinner’, shut it down after four successful years blaming the greedy landlord.  In Miami Beach, the operators of restaurant Piola South Beach say they’re being shutdown by the greedy landlord, after 15 years: “There was no form of negotiation nor effort made from the other party to come to a civilized agreement amongst partners who had been together for over a decade.”-Angelo Angiolliori, manager

The South Florida Business Journal also blamed greedy landlords: “Investors are having to justify their record-high purchases with record-high rents. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult for restaurants and independent companies to make a profit while paying more than $300 per square foot….”

Georgia:   In Decatur, after almost three years Paper Plane bar and eatery shutdown, the owners didn’t say why, but tried to fool their fans by saying they had been taken over by Walmart. 

Hawaii: No more dinner cruises?  After a month of being idle 102 employees of Roberts Hawaii were laid off with only three days warning!  #Roberts Hawaii No Aloha

Idaho:  In Boise, Supervalu grocery store announced they will shutdown in October, 115 jobs lost!  The Idaho Wheat Commission is reporting that the density of wheat recently harvested is down, averaging 55 pounds per bushel.  Weight below 60 pounds per bushel  will reduce the amount of money farmers are paid for their crop.  Low density of grains is caused by hot temps and dry conditions.   Northern Idaho pea farmers report crashing yields due to lack of water, however, eastern Idaho farmers who have access to water from the Snake River are reporting bumper yields.  The bad news is that transportation costs, and the high cost of seed, are holding back many eastern idaho farmers from growing for the pea market.  In Ada County, a potato farm has been hit by a disease that causes a condition known as Zebra Chip.  It’s been two years since that last case, but this time University of Idaho Ag specialists say the plants showed none of the typical symptoms above ground, it was discovered only after they dug up the spuds. It was also alarming because Idaho spud farmers have spent a lot of money this year spraying chemicals to prevent crop destroying diseases.

Illinois: After 15 years the Lincolnwood Produce & Grocery store shutting down, the property up for sale.  It’s the last grocery store in Lincolnwood, news reports say the store owner refused to explain why he had to shutdown.  In Forest Park, after 12 years the Flavour Cooking School shutdown, the owner admits “…the business has been struggling for some time now.” Chicago based Groupon eliminated 20% of its restaurant software jobs.  In Des Moines, after 48 years popular Mr. Filet Steakhouse shutdown because the city administrators have decided the building must be torn down in the name of progress. McDonald’s will eliminate 135 jobs from its Oak Brook HQ despite mega-profits!  90 McDonald’s corporate jobs will also be eliminated overseas.  These layoffs are on top of the 128 corporate job cuts made since December 2014!  Administrators blame ongoing sales crash, however, it should be noted that in their last quarter they reported a $1.2-billion USD profit!  The layoffs can only mean that McDonald’s administrators do not see any economic recovery in the future, they actually see things getting worse. In Carol Stream, after less than a year the Butera Market grocery store is shutting down (it was formerly a Piggly Wiggly which didn’t even last a few months).  News reports indicate the property has a history of revolving door grocery store ops, analysts blame intense competition because the area has a lot of grocery stores compared to the population density.   Taffies Restaurant shutdown: “We just need to find a new location. This restaurant has been here for 35 years. It’s a leased building. We’ve put more money into it than we’re making.”-Angela Van Matre

After six years restaurant Browntrout shutdown because sales suck: “We just can’t seem to hold it together….It’s drying up on us…It’s so erratic. What’s really stopping us now is we can’t make payroll…..I can’t keep a Band-Aid on it.”-Sean Sanders, owner

Iowa: Chicken giant Tyson shutdown their Denison beef slaughter house, 4-hundred jobs lost! Administrators blame the drought in the western U.S. for causing a lack of cows for the food market.   In Windsor Heights,  Maria Grocery and Gift being kicked out by the end of September due to the building being demolished.  In Mason City, employees of Warren Buffett have gone to the local news media to report mass layoffs at the local Kraft plant.  In Ainsworth, after 56 years the Four Corners Restaurant shutdown.  It’s been sold-off, the family owners blamed lack of customers.  Food giant Cargill shutting down its Animal Nutrition customer service and sales office in Coralville blaming crashing sales, 15 to 28 jobs affected.

Kansas: After 11 years Sutera’s Restaurant & Bar shutdown.  In Topeka, Aussie themed Florida based Outback Steakhouse shutdown with little notice, 60 jobs lost.  The manager hinted that profits have crashed, but refused to give a specific ‘official’ reason to local news media.  After less than ten months Take Five Coffee + Bar shutdown due to the lack of customers: “We don’t have a choice. There is no option to press forward.”-Lori Chandler, co-owner

Kentucky: In Mount Sterling, after 55 years Jerry’s Restaurant shutdown.  Kroger shutting down their Lexington grocery store in September, 103 jobs lost!   In Louisville, after five years Hillbilly Tea shutdown without warning.  After 30 years non-profit Kentucky Harvest warned they’ll be no more food for the poor: “We’re in a dire state! We’re inside four months operating cash left before we have to cease operation.”– Brent Smith, chairman

News reports indicate that donations to Kentucky Harvest are down partly because one of the founders is now in federal prison for stealing donations!

Maine: In Freeport, S&S Seafood shutdown due to a crash in supplies of clams.  At one time they were handling more than 1-million pounds per year, but now barely 300-thousand pounds are brought in.  The owner sold the property and is moving to Florida.  After 70 years Nicely’s Market shutting down due to “Mom is retiring, and I have other ventures going on.”-Kyle Nicely

Massachusetts: In Pittsfield, Madeleine’s Patisserie & Cafe shutting down after less than two years. It’s blamed on the greedy landlord.  In Littleton, Sunny Delight Beverages shutting down their Harvard Road factory in December.  Sunny D has been laying off Littleton employees since 2014.  As with other corporations Sunny D is consolidating operations, and selling off their Littleton juice factory. In Boston Weak, after 96 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Quinzani’s Bakery shutdown, being sold-off, 90 jobs lost.  Local news reports say the area has become a revolving door of failed businesses (“rapidly gentrifying”).  After 56 years The Beachcomer shutdown and was sold-off.  The new owner says it will be torn down, and maybe a new ‘high-end’ restaurant will be built.  Cupcake Town shutting down in Mansfield.

Michigan: In Grand Rapids, after less than a year the Memphis Smokehouse restaurant shutdown, due to a death in the family.   Bagger Dave’s restaurants shutdown in Grandville and Holland, no warning or explanation given.  In Niles, God refuses to help ‘his’ British empire founded Salvation Army Food Pantry stay open.  The local Salvation Army Major blames a decrease in donations and a steady increase in poor people: “We have been seeing for the last three or four years a lot of new folks that we’ve never seen before.”-Major William Walters

Minnesota:  Blue Point Restaurant shutdown both their seafood joints, one in Wayzata and one in Bloomington. Restaurant Zen Box shutdown their skyway location.  The Lowery Cafe and Ancestry Books being forced to shutdown their brick-n-mortar ops by a Snidely Whiplash landlord: “…our landlord…abruptly and we believe arbitrarily removed the management at The Lowry Cafe and closed it down…our landlord has neglected to give us a new written lease, which has placed us in a month to month as of June 1st. These grievances and the vulnerable position we are left in are our reasons for closing Ancestry’s physical location.”-Chaun Webster and Verna Wong

Mississippi:   Isle of Capri Casinos shutting down its Natchez casino due to declining revenues.  The non-gambling assets (like food service) are being sold-off for $11.5-million.   In Jackson, a Piggly Wiggly grocery store on McDowell Road is shutting down.  Local news says it’s the second grocery store in the area to shutdown this year.  After ten years Kostaki’s Pizzeria shutdown, the owners said they’d rather spend time with family.

Missouri: Farmers are reporting wheat with wet feet, which is a bad thing.  A long run of rain has caused an outbreak of fungus and other diseases that attack wheat.  The result is the quality of wheat harvests went down the toilet, many farmers report they got only $1 to $3 per bushel when they normally get $4 to $5.

Montana: In Great Falls, grocery store Vans’ IGA shutting down by the end of September.  It’s blamed on the greedy property owner.

Nebraska: Julio’s Old Market restaurant shutdown because the property owner sold the building.  Farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial eliminating 70 jobs at its Grand Island factory, in October.  One reports said CNH laid off 136 workers in February 2015, and more than 2-hundred in August 2014!  It’s blamed on a 40% crash in farm equipment sales,  according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.  Those sales are down because farmers are losing their financial ass in the commodity markets: “The state of the Ag economy right now is in trouble. I’m in the red….I’m losing money at the current market values.”-Miles Ramsey, farmer

New Jersey: The bankrupt busted Montvale based A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery chain notifying (for legal reasons) all 28-thousand 5-hundred employees across the U.S. of possible layoffs!  Specifically, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) notified 8,662 New Jerseyians that they will become unemployed by Thanksgiving!  That’s on top of the 871 New Jersey A&P jobs being eliminated by September!  A&P is shutting down or selling off their New Jersey stores, including its Super Fresh, Pathmark and Food Basics stores.  In Jersey City the Thessalonians Community Outreach Church’s food pantry losing its lease.  It feeds at least 2-hundred people per month (open twice per week), it’s hoped they can find a new location.  In Parsippany, cereal maker Post Foods issued a WARN saying 48 people will become jobless by the end of September.

New York:  In Sunnyside, the Bliss Street Station Irish pub shutdown.  Turns out it’s been for sale for several years, finally somebody bought the property.  Warren Buffett revealed that he will shutdown the Tarrytown Heinz food factory, 149 people to become jobless between now and Thanksgiving!  It’s a result of the merger with Kraft. Rumors are building that the Food Emporium on Greenwich Street in NYC is shutting down due to jacked up rent. The store manager is reported to have said “That’s news to me.”  In Greenport, after 15 years Cuvee Bistro and Bar shutting down in September.  Family health problems are blamed.  The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) issued a mass shutdown WARN for all their Empire State grocery stores, 13-thousand and 97 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving!  Restaurant Associates lost their contract with Too Big to Jail Capital One, 37 jobs lost by October.  In Allentown, after ten years outdoor La Tee Da Cafe shutdown, the owners said “…we’re ready to do something else.” In Ogdensburg, 11 jobs lost suddenly after the eight years old A&W-Long John Silver’s restaurant on Champlain Street shutdown without warning: “The owner said they aren’t making enough to keep things open.”-Josh Hitsman, manager

North Carolina:  Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant shutting down their Cary location, they plan on renting the space out to another eatery.  In Durham, the Foster Street Daisy Cakes bakery shutdown, supposedly a popular donut shop is moving in sometime this Winter.  A Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Wilson shutdown, 30 jobs lost. Officially it’s blamed on low sales.  Divine Wine and Beer shutdown, the owner blames it on his wife who became the new pastor of the Church of Asheville.  In Greenville, only four years after a grand re-opening Lowes Foods shutting down in September, 45 jobs lost.  Administrators said it’s part of their plan to stay viable, but is it possible the new owners of the Lynncroft Shopping Center wanted more rent money?  It’s been revealed that the shutdown of popular restaurant Greek Isles was due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent after the 11 years lease expired. The restaurant operators are hoping to find a new ‘home’.   In Burlington, after two years Verona Italian Restaurant shutdown.  In Greensboro, Graffiti’s Bistro shutdown due to the owners realizing they can make more money selling it off.  In Eden,after five years 912 Bethlehem Restaurant shutdown “for personal reasons”.

North Dakota: In Fargo, farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial launched a fourth round of layoffs since last year, this time 34 people will become jobless in September, bringing the total layoffs to almost 2-hundred since November 2014!  Also in Fargo, Country Hearth Bread on South University Drive shutdown without notice. Local news report said the corporate owner refused to explain why.  North Dakota State University claims to have developed a new durum wheat that can handle extreme weather conditions, it’s called Joppa.  Farmers are reporting at least two bushels per acre more yield than the previous durum they’ve been growing, even with extreme rain.

Ohio: The Cleveland Clinic announced it is kicking McDonald’s out of its food court, as part its new War on Fat People.  To show you how a-feared people are of the Anti-Fast Food Police State a technician at the clinic was caught by news media eating a Mickey D’s meal, and he wimp assedly confessed “Every now and again I stray just a little. I don’t eat too much of it. I just wanted it right now.”    In Huber Heights, after six years Granny C’s Bakery shutting down due to skyrocketing operating costs: “A lot of my good friends, who’ve worked for me and who are still here are going to be jobless. We’ve never made money……When I get to the point where I don’t have any more money in my personal fund to switch over into the bakery funds to pay salaries to pay ingredient costs, I can’t go any further.”-Rebecca McDaniel

Oregon: Wheat yields vary greatly within the state; on the western side of Umatilla they’re down more than 50%, in Wasco and Sherman counties and in Pendleton and Walla Walla average yields were reported, it’s blamed on the radical weather.  After more than 12 months the anti-GMO Moreland Farmers Pantry shutdown, according to local news reports it has something to do with the owner also being anti-homosexual marriage. The Fenrir restaurant shutdown. News reports claim the owners are looking for a new location.  After three years the Jamison restaurant shutdown.  The owners blamed escalating operating costs. Albertsons-Safeway announced the NE 181st Avenue Safeway grocery store in Portland will shutdown before the end of the month.  It’s blamed on the fact that 25% of the people who live in the area are paupers.  It was pointed out that the area has “…lost four grocery stores over the last 20 years. And the access to food is poor already and getting worse.”  But guess what?  It was revealed that Albertsons-Safeway will continue paying the rent on the property for the next five years: “…Safeway signed a five-year lease earlier this year with California-based developer Retail Opportunity Investments Corporation (ROIC)….they will continue to pay rent for the space rather than lease it to another grocer.”–The Skanner News 

In Saint John’s Bar, The Central Hotel restaurant and bar shutdown, 11 jobs lost.  The property owner is selling it to a property developer.   The restaurant operator also admitted they never had any intention of running a restaurant anyway: “…we ended up taking over the restaurant, which is never something that we planned on doing. We just kind of said, ‘Why are we killing ourselves to do this financially?’….it has been a huge financial strain.”-Risa Davis, co-owner

Pennsylvania:  In Dubois, Fezell’s Sandy Township Shop N Save issued a shutdown WARN for October, 50 jobs lost.   More proof robots are taking your jobs; Amoroso’s Baking told 2-hundred Philadelphia employees that many would be laid off as the company is moving to a new automated location in New Jersey.  It’s the result of their merger with Ginsburg Bakery.  In State College, gas station-convenience store Sheetz shutdown on East College Avenue. Administrators indicated that food and beverage sales were too low.   In Philadelphia County, the Department of Labor & Industry published a mass shutdown WARN for A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery stores, without revealing how many people will be laid off.

South Carolina: Greer based restaurant food supplier Ovation Brands was taken over by Texas based Food Management Partners (FMP).  As a result an undisclosed number of Ovation employees were laid off without warning: “FMP offered zero severance to the laid-off employees. No advanced notification was given either.”-unnamed former employee

The takeover of Ovation Brands will affect restaurant chains Ryan’s, Fire Mountain, Country Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse.

Tennessee:  In Memphis, restaurant ¡Chiwawa! shutdown after two years, the owner claims he’ll open a new place as soon as he figures it out.  Can’t trust him ’cause the sign on the door says “Closed for Repairs”.  In Nashville, reports say the Granny White Market (aka Purple Cow) is being forced to shutdown by the greedy property owner who suddenly told the store owner he had six weeks to vacate: “After 19 years he tells me we need to close the doors. It just makes you sick.”-Dan Smith, Purple Cow owner 

Texas: In San Antonio,  Big Easy Cafe being forced to shutdown and look for a new home.  In the Cincinnati Entertainment District in West El Paso yet more shutdowns, including the Cincinnati Bar and Grill and the Corner Tavern.  Local news reports blame high rents and low sales.  Silverleaf Resorts issued a WARN saying 203 people across the Lone State State will become jobless by the end of September!  45 years old Stanley’s BBQ shutdown.  Two years ago it was sold to a family that tried to keep it alive but failed, blaming crashing sales.   In San Antonio, The Monterey restaurant shutting down in November, despite five years of successful sales: “The Monty was a much bigger success than we ever expected it to be, but it was never expected to be an economic success. It was a laboratory, but we didn’t really even have a plan when we first started.”-Chad Carey, founder

Vermont: Waterbury based coffee roaster Keurig Green Mountain announced it will eliminate 2-hundred jobs due to expected future drop in sales!

Virginia: In Appomattox, the employees and customers of Huddle House restaurant were shocked at the sudden shutdown. Employees claim the management used the excuse that a freezer was broken to send everybody home one night, then the next day the place was shutdown, and the employees are still waiting for their final paychecks. Local news media say the corporate HQ in Georgia is ignoring their inquiries.   A 26 years old locally owned Roanoke Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutdown due to crashing sales. In King George, 38 years old grocery store Dutch’s Mart shutting down in September, blaming lack of sales: “…it is what it is. We have a very loyal following, but you still need certain numbers.”-David Clare, owner

Washington:In West Seattle, after six years The Feedback lounge shutdown.  In Seattle, Vespolina Italian restaurant shutdown, the owners blamed insufficient sales.  Hommage restaurant shutdown.  Restaurant Gastropod and brewery Epic Ales shutting down in September.   Bellingham based Haggen Foods will shutdown at least 27 grocery stores across the western U.S.  Haggen Foods announced they will shutdown their Spanaway grocery store in October, 62 jobs lost.  Analyst blame it on the fact that Haggen might have been tricked into taking over of 146 Albertsons-Safeway stores almost overnight: “The requirements of the deal almost made it impossible for them to succeed. If you tell me that I’ve got to drive my car from Portland to Connecticut, but you’ve got to do it in four days, going no more than 50 miles per hour……You’re creating parameters under which I can’t possibly succeed………Haggen is lucky if they get out of this with the 18 stores they started with.”-Kevin Coupe 

Washington DC: Riyad Market forced to shutdown in November by the property owner and the federal Attorney General. The Obama regime used a 2014 drug bust at the store as the reason.

West Virginia: After 60 years the Workman’s IGA shutting down their Chapmanville grocery store: “We hate it most for our top notch team of employees. We hate it for the community as well because competition keeps prices where they should be….Because federal, state, and local governments are so overbearing with laws and regulations, it is hard for small businesses to exist. Workman’s IGA is closing…because running a small business, especially a grocery store, is just no fun anymore.“-owners

Wisconsin: It’s been revealed that Warren Buffett is shutting down the Kraft-Heinz owned Oscar Mayer meat plant in Madison, 165 factory worker jobs lost, another 147 corporate positions lost!  In Appleton, after 16 years Sai Ram Indian Cuisine shutdown, the owner’s sons claiming that “It’s been hard to find employees.”  The owners are planning on spending more time back in India.  In Columbus, Hydro Street Brewing & Eatery shutdown after failing to pay back a taxpayer funded loan. Ramen noodle joint Tochi shutdown in Shorewood due to problems with the new lease.  The owner is hoping for a new location.  In Stevens Point, restaurant @1800 shutdown without warning by the property owner, apparently because the owners of the Sentry Insurance building say they must remodel the entire building.

Wyoming: After 20 years of ethanol production Wyoming Ethanol shutting down their Torrington plant, 23 jobs lost. They can’t compete against lower oil prices. Mayor Mike Varney said the shutdown will directly affect local corn growers: “It`s going to hurt us…..our farmers that have raised corn for ethanol production, that’s going to be a real blow to them…”

“We’re going to go down.” U.S. Food Crisis, July 2015 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

International

Drought forces Iran to beggar for food! Begins invading farms in other countries, with petro-cash of course!

29 August 2015 (06:10 UTC-07 Tango 01)/07 Shahrivar 1394/14 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1436/16 Jia-Shen (7th month) 4713

What U.S. economic sanctions?  It’s been revealed that the true reason for inflation in Iran is due to lack of food, not U.S. sanctions: “Between 38 to 40% of the Iranian families’ economy is related to food which requires us to build a base for reducing prices of nutritional products….”-Mohammad Reza Shafeinia, Ministry of Agricultural Jihad

After years of drought the Iranian Ag Industry is suffering from lack of water.  In some places the fresh water sources have dropped so low the water is now too salty.  The drought has also forced government agriculture administrators to abandon their plans to make Iran independent in wheat production (despite earlier reports saying Iran had a record wheat harvest this year).  Even the cultivation of Iranian watermelons and rice is under threat by Mother Nature.

As a result Iran has announced its first foreign farm operation in neighboring Kazakhstan.  A small farm of more than eight hectares (19 acres) has begun cultivation specifically for sale in Iran.  But the next move for Iran is war torn Ukraine.

Despite the U.S. created civil war in European Ukraine, Iran plans to begin farming ops there within the next few months.  After that a farm op in African Ghana.  European Serbia has indicated that it will invest in Iran’s Agriculture Beyond Borders program.

In the South American Brazil, Iran is planning a 60-thousand hectares (148-thousand acres) Beyond Borders farm project.

What U.S. Sanctions? Iran loans Syria $1-billion!

U.S. imposes new sanctions!

Mormon bank caught violating U.S. sanctions against Iran! 

Too Big to Fail bank caught violating U.S. sanctions against Iran! 

U.S. sanctions against Iran shut down Peugeot, for General Motors.

U.S. allows farm Corporations to contiue business with Iran, oil contractors as well. 

United States renews Iran sanctions exemptions for 11 countries!

Iran oil revenues up 59% despite U.S. & EU sanctions!

Russia to help Iran avoid U.S. & EU sanctions! 

Japan says U.S. & EU oil sanctions against Iran will not affect global oil supply! 

Japan sues U.S. over Iran sanctions! U.S./U.K. media lie about Japanese bank freezing Iranian accounts! 

U.S. oil sanctions have actually increased Iranian oil sales! 

U.S. sanctions against Iran means death knell for French steel factory.

U.S. sanctions on Iran target Chinese company.

Business/Economics

“…had to sell our three horses and three pigs, next it will be the Harley.” More Albertsons bullshit! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 29 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: Copper miner Asarco shutting down Pinal County mining operations, 211 jobs lost by the end of October!  It’s blamed on copper prices crashing by 40% since 2011.

California: Washington based Starbucks is shutting down about 22 “popular” La Boulange bakery stores across The Golden State, in September.  One San Francisco TV news source said many La Boulange employees are rebelling against Starbucks by rejecting job offers to work directly for the evil corporate coffee chain store.   Delivery drivers for Albertsons and Vons grocery stores reporting mass layoffs and work hour cutbacks as a result of the Cerberus owned Albertsons takeover of Safeway: “I have a wife and three kids, and we live on a half acre of horse property in Mira Loma. We just had to sell our three horses and three pigs, next it will be the Harley.”-Jeff Dean, driver who had his hours reduced from full time to part time

Colorado: Texas based EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel laid off 12 people at their mill in Pueblo.

Florida: Fuel delivery company Bunkers International now chapter 11 bankrupt busted after Too Big to Jail PNC Bank cut off debt financing (a move known as De-leveraging).

Iowa: Food giant Cargill shutting down its Animal Nutrition customer service and sales office in Coralville blaming crashing sales, 15 to 28 jobs affected.

Kansas: What automotive industry recovery?  Changes being made at GM’s (General Motors) Fairfax Malibu car factory will result in 380 parts suppliers losing their jobs; Inteva Products 180 jobs and  Woodbridge Sequencing Center 2-hundred jobs!

Massachusetts: In Worchester, iconic 32 years old Bicycle Alley shutting down soon, the owner wants to retire and said “This was planned for awhile.” 

New Mexico: Gold and copper miner Freeport McMoRan reducing output at its Tyrone Mine, 210 jobs lost between now and 2016!

New York: Proof of a bad economy and mass exodus from The Empire State, as Westchester County reports a $6-million USD drop in sales tax revenues for the first six months of 2015! In typical failed state flailing county administrators are not only going to deal with it by jacking up taxes, but they’re laying off hundreds of employees!  158 county employees were bribed into voluntarily quitting (buyouts), but administrators warn that if tax revenues continue to crash more employees would be let go!  In Allentown, after ten years outdoor La Tee Da Cafe shutdown, the owners said “…we’re ready to do something else.”   In Ogdensburg, 11 jobs lost suddenly after the eight years old A&W-Long John Silver’s restaurant on Champlain Street shutdown without warning: “The owner said they aren’t making enough to keep things open.”-Josh Hitsman, manager

Ohio: CVS Pharmacy eliminating 232 Ominicare jobs starting at the end of October!  It should be noted that Omnicare got a 2011 tax incentive in exchange for promising to create 630 jobs by 2022.   After 57 seasons taxpayer owned Huntington Playhouse in Bay Village shutting down right after Xmas.

Washington: After 16 years Edmonds Maytag Laundromat shutdown by the greedy property owner of the Salish Crossing: “I could see the writing on the wall and knew these changes were coming, but I really didn’t expect things to move so fast.”-David Kenyon, given 30 days to clear out “…76 washers, dryers and other machines, get customers to pick up their finished jobs…”

Washington DC: Riyad Market forced to shutdown in November by the property owner and the federal Attorney General.  The Obama regime used a 2014 drug bust at the store as the reason.

28 August 2015: Restaurant shuts down with no warning, takes employees’ paychecks.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Restaurant shuts down on employees & customers, keeps employees’ final pay! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 28 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: The non-profit animal rescue operation Humane Society of West Alabama shutting down its main source of funding, the Humane Society Flea Market: “We don’t get any local or government funding at all so everything we have is 100% through fundraising and donations, so this is going to be difficult for us to come back from, as far as  having to close the place.”-Anita Smelley

Arizona: Phoenix based copper and gold mining company Freeport-McMoRan announced it will eliminate 10% of its jobs and reduce output by 20% in 2016.

California: In San Francisco, after 37 years Ino Sushi shutting down next week.  In Laguna Beach, after surviving The Great (deflationary) Depression the only movie theater, South Coast Cinemas, shutdown without warning.  The owners blame the greedy landlord for refusing to agree to a new long term lease.

Connecticut: In West Hartford, after 44 years Herb’s Sport Shop shutting down in October: “Essentially, it’s an expensive place to rent. At one time, it was a very popular, active, profitable location doing very well, but there’s very little foot traffic nowadays…..the parking is a pain.”-Andrew Sheintop, owner

Delaware: Affordable Care Act forcing Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to “streamline our operations” and layoff 12 employees.

Florida: In Orlando, after five years restaurant Mi Tomatina shutdown.  In Miami, after several decades the Giveaway Discount Drugs store suddenly shutdown.  A man who was hired to clean out the store said the aged owner is suffering health problems.

Georgia: Bankrupt Hutcheson Medical Center shutting down their Labor and Delivery Services to “provide cost saving measures.”

Iowa: The Lodge Hotel & Conference Center shutdown with little notice and is being sold-off.  It’s blamed on necessary building repairs that are too expensive to justify.

Kansas: After 11 years Sutera’s Restaurant & Bar shutdown.

Kentucky: Kroger shutting down their Lexington grocery store in September, 103 jobs lost!

Massachusetts: In Boston Weak, sexist Simmons College shutting down their women’s only MBA program, blaming increased competition.  You know the saying; “If you can’t stand the heat……”

Michigan: Affordable Care Act forcing MidMichigan Health to shutdown its Hemlock operations in September.  Administrators blame lack of business.

New York: Too Big to Jail Bank of New York Mellon eliminating an additional 280 jobs at its Market Street offices, by October! Bookseller Barnes & Noble shutting down two brick-n-mortar stores, one in Forest Hills and one in Queens.

North Dakota: In Fargo, Country Hearth Bread on South University Drive shutdown without notice. Local news report said the corporate owner refused to explain why.

Pennsylvania:  FTS International shutdown their Lycoming location, 52 jobs lost.  Macy’s shutting down their Pittsburgh store in September.

Texas: In Corpus Christi, after 80 years Carl’s Flowers shutdown. 

Virginia: In Appomattox, the employees and customers of Huddle House restaurant were shocked at the sudden shutdown.  Employees claim the management used the excuse that a freezer was broken to send everybody home one night, then the next day the place was shutdown, and the employees are still waiting for their final paychecks. Local news media say the corporate HQ in Georgia is ignoring their inquiries.

Wisconsin:  Wood products company Georgia-Pacific shutting down its Philips factory, 60 jobs lost in October.

27 August 2015: “…the number of business closings nearly tripled…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“…the number of business closings nearly tripled…” Success breeds ‘failure’ as booming restaurant shuts down! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Washington based Boeing laying off another eight people in Long Beach, by October.  CGR/Thompson Industries issued a shutdown WARN for their Fulerton operation, 102 jobs lost by October! Lyris Technologies laying off 79 people by the end of September.  Oil giant Chevron issued more mass layoff WARNs, this time 5-hundred people to become jobless by the middle of October!  In San Jose, Quest Diagnostics eliminating 78 jobs in October.  In Sunnyvale, Illinois based Motorola laying off 213 people by the end of October! (Does it have anything to do with the merger with China’s Lenovo?)  Tax-sucker Raytheon Intelligence issued a shutdown WARN for their Chula Vista ops, 41 jobs lost in October.  Sky Aerospace Products issued a shutdown WARN for their Los Angeles ops, 53 jobs lost in October.  In Pittsburg, steel company USS-POSCO Industries issued a mass layoff WARN saying 661 people will become jobless at the end of October!  ObamaCare forcing Kindred Hospital South Bay to shutdown its KND Development 53 in October, 94 jobs lost.  In San Diego, Soitec Solar Industries shutting down in October, 1-hundred jobs lost!  In Berkeley, reports say biotech company XOMA eliminating 58 jobs in order to “lower operating expenses and preserve capital”.   Western Digital Technologies WARNed it will layoff 137 Californians by the end of October!  Silgan Containers continues to eliminate jobs, this time 180 people in Riverbank will be laid off in October!

Colorado: In Denver, after three and a half years River North Brewery shutting down their Blake Street location, blaming greatly increased competition in the past couple of years.

Maine:  After 70 years Nicely’s Market shutting down due to “Mom is retiring, and I have other ventures going on.”-Kyle Nicely

Michigan: In Detroit, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Quaker run Friends School.  Administrators say they’re “working hard” to find investors who’re willing to pump money into the 50 years old school so they can re-open for the 2016-17 school year.  Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bank shutting down five offices.  It’s part of their bigger plan to get rid of 130 offices across the U.S.

Minnesota: The Lowery Cafe and Ancestry Books being forced to shutdown their brick-n-mortar ops by a Snidely Whiplash landlord: “…our landlord…abruptly and we believe arbitrarily removed the management at The Lowry Cafe and closed it down…our landlord has neglected to give us a new written lease, which has placed us in a month to month as of June 1st. These grievances and the vulnerable position we are left in are our reasons for closing Ancestry’s physical location.”-Chaun Webster and Verna Wong

Missouri:  After ten years Kostaki’s Pizzeria shutdown, the owners said they’d rather spend time with family.  What automotive industry recovery? Maker of automotive parts Woodbridge Sequencing Center eliminating 2-hundred jobs by the end of October!

Nebraska: Farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial eliminating 70 jobs at its Grand Island factory, in October.  One reports said CNH laid off 136 workers in February 2015, and more than 2-hundred in August 2014!  It’s blamed on a 40% crash in farm equipment sales,  according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.  Those sales are down because farmers are losing their financial ass in the commodity markets: “The state of the Ag economy right now is in trouble. I’m in the red….I’m losing money at the current market values.”-Miles Ramsey, farmer

New Jersey: After 63 years Babyland, in Millburn, shutting down in September.

New York: Honeywell Scanning and Mobility issued a layoff WARN for their Skaneateles Falls location, to take place on 31 December 2015.  Drugs maker Pfizer issued a shutdown WARN for their Rouses Point location, the shutdown taking place between November and the end of December.

North Carolina:  In Charlotte, 935 The Red Room club shutdown because the owner went to prison for federal tax violations.  However, some wimp-ass local big brother, big sister, police state loving TV news media made it sound like the nightclub was shut down because of violent crimes.  It’s been revealed that the shutdown of popular restaurant Greek Isles was due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent after the 11 years lease expired.  The restaurant operators are hoping to find a new ‘home’.

Tennessee: A Shelby County fire station was shutdown due to lack of manpower.  The County Fire department had to stretch its assets to cover the Millington Fire Department which is also seriously lacking in manpower.  The lack of manpower is blamed on a lack of funding from residents.   The Tennessean reports “…since March, the number of business closings nearly tripled to 4,498. The third quarter typically has the highest rate of dissolutions, according to the Secretary of State’s office, which means the number of closings is expected to climb further this year.”

Texas: In La Marque, greyhound racing track Gulf Greyhound Park shutting down in January 2016, 3-hundred jobs lost! Administrators admitted they could no longer compete with other race tracks.  In San Antonio, The Monterey restaurant shutting down in November, despite five years of successful sales: “The Monty was a much bigger success than we ever expected it to be, but it was never expected to be an economic success. It was a laboratory, but we didn’t really even have a plan when we first started.”-Chad Carey, founder

Virginia: In Centertown, after 31 years electronics retailer DeWitt shutdown due to increased competition.

Washington: Seattle based Amazon laid off “dozens of engineers” at its California located Lab126, blaming it on their failed Fire Phone.  California based Red Lion shutting down their Vancouver hotel by the end of October, 82 jobs lost.   It’s blamed on the city’s plan to redevelop the waterfront.

Wyoming: After 20 years of ethanol production Wyoming Ethanol shutting down their Torrington plant, 23 jobs lost.  They can’t compete against lower oil prices.  Mayor Mike Varney said the shutdown will directly affect local corn growers: “It`s going to hurt us…..our farmers that have raised corn for ethanol production, that’s going to be a real blow to them…”

26 August 2015:“We’ve never made money…I can’t go any further.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

“We’ve never made money…I can’t go any further.” Idaho jacks up ObamaCare rates! Pro ObamaCare health service admits ObamaCare can’t pay the bills! Haggen, Ralph’s & Safeway reveal mass California grocer kill-off! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 26 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Washington based Haggen Foods issued mass shutdown WARNs for the following locations; 2 stores in Simi Valley, 2 stores in Tustin, 2 stores in Chula Vista, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Santa Clarita Valley (I previously reported on), La Mesa, San Marcos, San Ysidro, Bakersfield (I previously reported) and Los Osos, 620 jobs lost by October!    Kroger owned Ralph’s issued shutdown WARNs for their following grocery stores; Hermosa Beach, Santa Ana and Pico Rivera, 210 jobs lost by October!  Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another layoff WARN for Pleasanton, and a shutdown WARN for their Walnut Creek grocery store, 1-hundred jobs lost by October!   A company that claims to be “…the largest supplier of botanical ingredients in the U.S., for use in dietary supplements, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care…”, BI NUTRACEUTICALS, issued layoff WARNs for Emeryville and Santa Clara, 79 jobs lost by September.   ObamaCare probably was the real reason for two dental companies merging back in May, now Zimmer Biomet Dental issued shutdown WARNs for their Carlsbad ops, 279 jobs lost by the end of October!  Mountain View based tech company Intuit eliminating more jobs, this time 249 laid off!

Florida: Too Big to Jail American Express issued a WARN for their Weston office, 86 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving.

Idaho: The state Department of Insurance has approved ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act) health insurance rate increases by as much as 26% in 2016!  It was also revealed that ObamaCare Idaho insurance rates have already gone up by as much as 15%!  Health insurance providers claim that they still payout far more than what they get in premium payments under ObamaCare, which means from the insurance industry perspective their own ObamaCare (they wrote the law folks) is a failure!   The wimp-ass state Department of Insurance director feebly said “In spite of our best efforts in working with carriers, health insurance rates will be increasing for some Idahoans in 2016….we urge consumers to review their plans and shop wisely…”

Illinois: Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar killing even more jobs, this time 475 people to become unemployed as sales continue to crash!

Iowa: Unnamed news sources say Dethmers Manufacturing (aka Demco) eliminated a “substantial” number of jobs.

Maine: ObamaCare forcing the new owners of Mid Coast Health Services walk-in medical clinic to shutdown in September.  Administrators said ObamaCare is “…realigning health care services.”

Maryland: Sears Holdings revealed they will shutdown their California Kmart right before Thanksgiving, 71 jobs lost.

Montana: Slow internet service provider CenturyLink shutting down their Kalispell retail store in September.

Nevada: ObamaCare created Nevada Health Co-Op shutting down, admitting that it cannot make enough money under ObamaCare to pay for day-to-day operating costs! 

New York: Sears Holdings revealed they will shutdown their Appliance Repair Division in Melville, 31 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving.  What construction industry recovery? San Mateo Construction is closing up shop in White Plains after losing their contract with utility con artist ConEd, 90 jobs lost by the end of the month.  Sterling National Bank issued WARNs for several offices, at least 11 jobs lost right before Xmas.  In Brooklyn, after six years Bergen Street Comics shutting down in September.  The owner refused to comment to news media, but there are reports that rents in that neighborhood have gone through the roof.  Taxpayer rip-off artist NRG Energy finally shutting down the money-pit Huntley coal fired electricity power plant, 90 jobs lost in 2016.  It was revealed the power plant has lost millions of dollars over several decades!  NRG Energy will also idle their Dunkirk power plant in January 2016.

North Carolina:  After 115 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Sutton Park Baptist Church.  Because of The Rapture, I mean declining membership, there are only about 18 members left.  But maybe it’s racism, after all the remaining members are ‘white’ and apparently no ‘black’ or ‘brown’ people want to join the church, according to local news reports.

Ohio: ObamaCare(?) forced taxpayer funded Ashtabula County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to layoff 17 people and reduce working hours for others.  Fluor BWXT warned 1-thousand 4-hundred people of mass layoffs at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant uranium decontamination operation in Piketon!  570 could be let go by 01 October!  Flour BWXT administrators blame a lack of taxpayer funding.  In Huber Heights, after six years Granny C’s Bakery shutting down due to skyrocketing operating costs: “A lot of my good friends, who’ve worked for me and who are still here are going to be jobless. We’ve never made money……When I get to the point where I don’t have any more money in my personal fund to switch over into the bakery funds to pay salaries, to pay ingredient costs, I can’t go any further.”-Rebecca McDaniel

Pennsylvania:  God refuses to stop what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome at ‘his’ La Salle University, 23 employees laid off due to a $12-million USD shortfall caused partly by crashing freshmen enrollments.

South Carolina: Greer based restaurant food supplier Ovation Brands was taken over by Texas based Food Management Partners (FMP).  As a result an undisclosed number of Ovation employees were laid off without warning: “FMP offered zero severance to the laid-off employees. No advanced notification was given either.”-unnamed former employee

The takeover of Ovation Brands will affect restaurant chains Ryan’s, Fire Mountain, Country Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse.

25 August 2015: More A&P, Haggen shutdowns!

“If we weren’t a food desert before, we certainly are now!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 26 August 2015: Proof Lampert makes money off store shutdowns only!

Sears Holdings is shutting down an appliance repair center in The Empire State, as well as a Kmart in Maryland, in time for Thanksgiving.

Another Hometown Store shutting down.  The franchise owner is shutting down his Maryland store after three years of operations.  However, he blames the property owner (of Perryville Outlets) for failing to deliver on promised and much needed improvements to the shopping center.

Eddie Lampert is considering combining the advertising accounts of Sears and Kmart.

In the latest Sears Holdings quarterly report, the retail company finally made a profit, but it was not due to sales.  In fact sales crashed again.  The profits are coming from the shutdowns, sell-offs and lease-back operations of store properties (for the past few years I’ve been warning that this is the real reason Lampert is shutting them down).

Regarding the down sales report, Sears and Kmart still have some diehard shoppers as 74% of sales come from members of the Shop Your Way kickback scheme, I mean rewards program.

11 August 2015: Lampert spends $6-million while more stores close down! 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), recently revealed California Kmart (71 jobs lost), recently revealed Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown.  Recently revealed Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice,  Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota:  Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost),  Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics, Idaho

More A&P, Haggen shutdowns! Idaho says solar & wind power cost customers mo money! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 25 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Santa Clarita Valley, only four months after its grand opening Haggen Foods announced it is shutting down within the next 60 days.  It’s part of Washington based Haggen’s plan to dump dozens of former Albertsons and Safeway stores they were tricked into buying.

Idaho: Since 1978 renewable energy contracts with the Public Utilities Commission lasted 20 years, but not anymore.  Contracts will now be as short as two years.  An investigation by state regulators discovered that 20 years contracts actually increased renewable energy prices for customers.  Solar and wind power companies argued against shortening the contracts.

Kentucky: In Owensboro, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Precious Blood Catholic Church daycare center.  Church administrators say the daycare center is $60-thousand USD in debt.

Maine: After 17 years the Aqua City Actors Theater shutting down blaming the landlord for jacking up the rent.

Massachusetts: Tufts University laid off four people, reports say more layoffs are in the planning. More proof tech is not recession resistant, Boston based fitness app maker RunKeeper laid off 16 of its employees.  The CEO said they have to start selling more stuff.  In Westfield, Soup’s On has been put up for sale, will shutdown at the end of the month.  The owner is recovering from an injury.

Minnesota: In International Falls, after more than seven years the Ben Franklin Crafts store shutting down by September.  The owner tried to sell the store, but nobody wanted it.

New York: Too Big to Jail First American International Bank issued a shutdown WARN for their Forest Hills office.  Restaurant Associates lost their contract with Too Big to Jail Capital One, 37 jobs lost by October.

North Carolina: Charlotte based 127 years old upscale department store Belk has been sold-off for $3-billion.  Administrators swear no stores will be shutdown or employees laid off.  Famous last words as I’ve yet to see the sale of a company not result in at least employee layoffs.

North Dakota: In Fargo, farm vehicle maker CNH Industrial launched a fourth round of layoffs since last year, this time 34 people will become jobless in September, bringing the total layoffs to almost 2-hundred since November 2014!  Also in Fargo, after 27 years One World Boutique shutting down in September, due to the owner’s health problems.

Pennsylvania: The Education Plus Cyber Charter School in Abington shutdown without warning, 1-thousand families affected!  The state Department of Education did not like the charter school’s “education model”, even though parents reported great success with their ‘special needs’ children.  In York County, the Department of Labor & Industry published a shutdown WARN for Coyne Textile Services, however they did not reveal how many people will become unemployed.  In Philadelphia County, the Department of Labor & Industry published a mass shutdown WARN for A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery stores, without revealing how many people will be laid off.

Washington: Tax sucker Boeing warned its employees of mass layoffs in connection to military spending cuts for satellites, and recent failures of commercial launches of Boeing satellites.  “Several hundreds” could be laid off by Xmas!   Haggen Foods announced they will shutdown their Spanaway grocery store in October, 62 jobs lost.  What construction industry recovery?  In Tacoma, lumber provider Interfor suddenly shutdown, 127 jobs lost!  And China (Taiwan) based tech company HTC killing more jobs in the U.S., this time 85 people were laid off in Bellevue.  15 days ago HTC laid off 47 people throughout Washington.

23-24 August 2015: “Go Donald Trump! You’re nothing compared to me!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

International

False Flag or Incompetence? Toyota continues to get hit! Insurance payouts double!

25 August 2015 (04:04 UTC-07 Tango 01)/03 Shahrivar 1394/10 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1436/12 Jia-Shen (7th month) 4713

More than a week after massive thermobaric explosions nearly destroyed the Binhai District in Tianjin, China, Japanese car maker Toyota continues to suffer economically.

Toyota is delaying the re-start of their production lines at least until the end of this week.  One report said Toyota’s Tianjin production shutdown is costing them 2-thousand 2-hundred new cars per day!

Toyota is also shutting down their Changchun factory due to lack of parts that are shipped from Japan through Tianjin.

Germany’s Volkswagen confirmed last week’s estimate of the number of VWs lost in the explosions.

French carmaker Renault is considering using ports other than Tianjin for future car shipments.

There are reports that the price of foreign cars are now skyrocketing in China.  However, United Kingdom’s Jaguar-Land Rover claims that it won’t raise prices even though there is now a waiting list for their vehicles.

Credit Suisse, of Switzerland, says expected insurance payouts have nearly doubled to $2.2-billion USD.

A Reuters reports said the Tianjin Rui Hai International Logistics warehouse explosions could be seen coming from a mile away: “More than 4-thousand people have actually died in 2-thousand 6-hundred accidents between 2009 and 2014, so this is a significant problem.”-Clare Baldwin, Reuters

Tianjin administrators even ordered Rui Hai International Logistics to review safety concerns at their warehouse the week before the explosions.  Analysts blame a combination of complicated multi-governmental agencies trying to regulate the chemical industry, with outright corruption across all levels of business and government.

Research by an Ecosocialist Feminist Revolutionary was able to connect the dots between shareholders of Rui Hai International Logistics and top Chinese government administrators.

The government of China has apparently imposed a news media blackout concerning the Shandong explosions.

Yet another chemical warehouse explodes in China! 

The latest stats:

4,460 PLA and police personnel deployed

129 people dead (mainly firefighters, police and warehouse employees)

692 wounded (confirmed 67 Toyota employees wounded, it could have been more as the majority of Toyota employees had the day off, U.S. farm vehicle maker Deere also reported wounded employees, but refused to give specific numbers)

610 people still hospitalized

number of missing reduced to 44

322 rescued

Blast radius 3km

779 buildings damaged or destroyed

More than 11-thousand new cars destroyed, area now called Tomb of Cars

Jaguar-Land Rover reports nearly 6-thousand new vehicles destroyed

1-thousand+ new Toyotas destroyed, 4-thousand 7-hundred new Toyotas damaged beyond repair

Lexus said they had 783 new cars at the port of Tianjin, but did not say they were damage, only that they would be delivered late. 

1-thousand 5-hundred new Renaults destroyed

2-thousand 7-hundred new VWs destroyed

Evacuation radius 5km

Vanke Harbor City residential area hardest hit affecting 260-thousand square meters (853-thousand square feet)

10 hectares (24.7 acres) confirmed contaminated with sodium cyanide

17-thousand families evacuated

30-thousand people directly affected

12 schools and 3 apartment buildings now evacuation shelters