Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of July, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

Alabama: In Huntsville, after only one year (and several location changes) Wild Bean Coffee shutdown. The owner said the bad economy is forcing him to return to his old job, but he’s still hopeful about his passion for selling coffee: “I am returning to my profession as a helicopter avionics tech, and will continue to learn about coffee through the travels that my new position will afford me.”-Shelby Ward

Arizona:  In Scottsdale, California style BBQ Smokehaus shutdown.  In Tempe, Marcello’s Pasta Grill shutdown after more than 20 years.  Nello’s Pizza shutdown locations in both Scottsdale and Tempe.

California: In Los Gatos, the 31 years old California Cafe shutdown due to the lease expiring.  Local news reports say city administrators got a request to expand the seating capacity, but so far nothing has transpired, 40 jobs lost.  Florida based cleaning contractor DCS Facility Services issued a mass layoff WARN, 385 jobs gone by August, possibly due to losing their contract with Idaho based WinCo Foods! JBS USA Food Company issued a shutdown WARN for their Santa Fe Springs operations, 101 jobs gone by mid-August!  Tyson Foods issued a shutdown WARN for their Vernon operations.  In Rancho Mirage, after only one year upscale restaurant BBs at the River shutdown due to lack of customers, according to local news reports.  In the San Francisco area, reports that popular Ike’s Place got into trouble with local government planning administrators regarding its latest location, and is pulling out.  After only six months restaurant Cadence shutdown, blaming costs of operation and intense competition.  After only nine months restaurant Oro shutdown, blaming costs of operation and intense competition.  Cafe Flora is now for sale.  In Oakland, after about four years Stag’s Lunchette shutdown due to skyrocketing costs of operation, specifically cost of labor and taxes.   In Valencia, Tri Tipps sandwich joint shutdown and sold-off by the owner who has this grave prophecy: “Between the minimum wage increase, and California taxes and regulations, it makes it very hard to run a business. My prediction is, virtually no small businesses will be left in California in the future.“-Robert White

Connecticut: In Derby, Adams Superfood issued a shutdown WARN, 64 jobs gone by mid-September.

Georgia:  In Loganville, Cupcake Wars contender Sugar Kneads Cakery shutdown.  The owner revealed she’d been dealing with two years of crashing sales, which forced her to make several rounds of employee layoffs before finally giving up.    Patent Seed Company-Super Sod shutting down their 35 years old Lakeland location, 20 jobs lost over the next few months.  Administrators say the costs of operations have jetted too high, and their sales in the Lakeland area have sunk too low. They made a pun when they stated “…the production unit cannot sustain itself here. The growth has just not returned to this region of the state since the recession.” (they used the word ‘growth’ numerous times in their public announcement)  In Valdosta, the Smok’n Pig suddenly shutdown, 60 jobs lost: “We couldn’t get the volume up to where it needed to be. We hated to do it.”-Pat O’Neal, owner

Hawaii: Primo Popcorn shutdown their Honolulu location saying the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate stores.

Idaho: Click pics to make bigger

The Idaho Farm Service Agency claims that 24-thousand Idaho jobs are directly supported by farm exports to other countries.  The IFSA is pushing for passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, claiming it will increase those job numbers, but remember, many farm jobs go to immigrants! 

Illinois:  After 46 years restaurant Beningo’s in Bloomington shutting down in August.  The owners originally wanted to shutdown in 2008, but stayed open after a surge in customer traffic, now they say they must retire while they can since they’re in their 70s.  Farm vehicle maker Deere (aka John Deere) laying off 120 people at its Harvester Works factory in East Moline!  Administrators blame continued crashing sales.

Indiana: Two C&S Wholesale Grocers warehouses shutting down, 186 jobs lost by the end of September due to the loss of a contract!  In Mishawaka, after one year Daihido Gourmet and Sushi shutdown, the owner swears up-n-down it has nothing to do with ongoing multiple health code violations. In Goshen, after five years Mattern’s Butcher Shop & Corner Deli suddenly shutdown, no explanation.  Days prior the building owner leaked news of the shutdown, but when asked about it the restaurant co-owners said it’s all “Goshen gossip” and “We have our reasons……no comment”.

Iowa: In Uptown Ankeny, after less than two years The Bear Restaurant and Wine Bar shutdown, the owner said he needs to “refocus”.   In Cedar Rapids, after nine years restaurant Zins shutdown due to a sudden increase in competition: “We have come to a critical point in our operations.”

Kansas: In Kansas City, a more than 30 years old The Price Chopper grocery store shutting down.  Administrators (Balls Food Stores) claim it’s the only way they can build new stores, but, also admitted the main reason for the shutdown was that the store was losing money.   In Wichita, after ten years Pirate Pete’s restaurant shutdown  due to “…some equipment issues that it’s outside of our price range to fix. We’re just not making the money we need to be making anymore. …..the economy is just killing us.”-Julie Miller, co-owner

Louisiana: Louis Dreyfus Imperial Sugar shutting down their Gramercy packaging factory, 49 jobs gone by the end of September.

Maryland: In Hampden, after six years Alchemy Modern American Eatery shutdown, apparently because the owners opened a new restaurant elsewhere.

Massachusetts: In Needham, after more than 30 years Joel’s Candy shutting down by the end of August, the owner lamented “I have a lot of customers, but not enough.”

Michigan: In Birmingham, after 41 years Peabody’s Restaurant-grocery store shutdown, the family sold it to a property developer.  Now bankrupt Texas based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores Zelenka Farms issued a shutdown WARN, 3-hundred people in the city of Grand Haven unemployed by September!  In Flint, McLaren eliminated 83 food service jobs by shifting to cheaper contract workers.

Minnesota: Golden Valley based General Mills announced the killing of 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs around the world, about half those jobs are in the U.S.!  Administrators blame crashing sales.  Since 2014 General Mills has eliminated at least 3-thousand 4-hundred jobs.

Missouri: It was revealed that the following restaurants shutdown: Brickyard Tavern, Electric Cowboy, Ferguson Burger Bar and More, Krieger’s Chesterfield Pub & Grill, Luna Lounge,
Mathew’s Kitchen, Melt, Mexcla, Niche, Social House II, 
Tavern of Fine Arts and Thurman Grill.  In Saint Louis, Old Standard Fried Chicken shutdown.  After one year the R-Bar shutdown “due to increasing demands in our ‘real lives'”.  Also, Amy’s Corner Bakeshop shutdown: “Lease is up, couldn’t make it work, so here we are.”-Facebook post

New Jersey: Netherlands owned Stop n Shop grocery store shutting down in the Hillsborough Towne Centre, officially due to not being able to renew the lease.  General Mills shutting down their Vineland Progresso Soup factory, 370 jobs gone by Summer 2017!  Not sure if this is part of their announcement of massive jobs cuts around the world, but it apparently violates union contracts.

New York: In DeWitt, Ruby Tuesday shutting down their 22 years old Erie Boulevard location due to failed lease negotiations, the building is now for sale.   In NYC, the iconic elitist Four Seasons canteen shutdown due to the owner not wanting to renew the lease, and convicted criminal Martha Stewart was there to celebrate.  Supposedly a new Four Seasons will open in a new location in 2017.  In Schenectady, after 90 years Mastroianni Brothers Bakery shutdown by the board of directors due to substantial financial losses, 51 jobs lost.  In Brooklyn NYC, after 40 years Del Rio Diner shutdown, the owners blamed crashing sales during the last ten years.  In Rochester, after 16 years Wine Sense shutting down.

North Carolina: 23 years old Worms & Coffee (Midway trading Post) shutdown by state highway project.  Blue Spoon Market, Cafe and Cooking School shutdown its market and cafe ops. The cooking school will continue as soon as they find a new location.    In Thomasville, after four years restaurant Southern Sisters shutdown, the owners are now focusing on selling wholesale to grocery stores.   Now bankrupt Texas based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores Zelenka Farms issued a shutdown WARN, 240 people in the city of Sims unemployed by September!   In Elkin, after 19 years the Sonic Drive Thru suddenly shutdown without warning by the current owner: “I can tell you that the driving factor is because we’re simply losing money. ….the writing’s on the wall. We’re not interested in business if we’re not making money. Our group took over the store about eight years ago and we’ve really struggled with it. We just couldn’t make it work.”-Chuck Bodine, district manager

Upset, and desperate, employees didn’t care that their employer was losing money: “My mother, my stepmother, and my four little brothers all moved down from New Hampshire because she had a guaranteed job here. Three of us were working here. We were expecting to at least get through the summer.”-Liam Stocktom

Ohio: Hard Rock Cafe shutdown their 18 years old Flats District location in Cleveland.  Two years after a grand re-opening restaurant Chintz Room shutdown, local news reports say it’s the 4th Columbus Food League operation to shutdown in the past two years.  Amcor Rigid Plastics shutting down its recently acquired beverage bottle factory in Dayton, at least 86 jobs gone by Xmas.  The Dayton plastic bottle factory is credited with being the first to make drink bottles with PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate).

Oregon:  Idaho based WinCo Foods issued mass layoff WARNs, at least 198 jobs gone by the end of August!  It might be connected to WinCo ending its contracts with DCS Facility Services.  Now bankrupt Texas based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores Zelenka Farms issued a shutdown WARN, 50 Oregonians unemployed by September.

Pennsylvania: In Doylestown, Goodnoe Farm Dairy Barn shutting down due to not renewing their lease.

South Carolina: An independently owned Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutting down on West Beltline Boulevard, in Columbia. Administrators saying “Sales are down and the lease is up”, about 70 jobs gone. In Greenville, after four years Breakwater Restaurant & Bar shutdown its South Main Street location.

South Dakota: British empire Canada based Buhler Industries shutdown their decades old Salem Farm King operations due to “poor farm economy”, 67 jobs lost.

Texas: In Denton, after 63 years Davis Purity Bakery shutdown due to the owner’s retirement.  Irving based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores across the U.S.  Zelenka Farms now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  More than 1-thousand 5-hundred jobs threatened as the company is being put up for sale!    In San Angelo, after only two years Greens Grocery and Cafe shutting down when the inventory is gone, the operators blame lack of sales.  In College Station one of three Kroger grocery stores shutting down: “Within the past several years, we attempted to increase sales, profitability and store conditions, but despite our best efforts, we were not successful.”-Joy Partain

Virginia: In Arlington, after 15 years The Boulevard Woodgrill shutting down in August.  The hard times are just too much for Hard Times Cafe, the chili joint suddenly shutdown their Clarendon location. Apparently the property is now leased to another business, but nobody is talking.   After ten years Blues BBQ Company suddenly shutdown their Roanoke location.  Local news reports say the owner, who lives in Washington DC, is focusing on an internet operation.  In Richmond, after five years candy store Pecan Jack shutdown its Stony Point Fashion Park location due to crashing sales, which have gotten worse since the new mall owner began a massive remodeling project.

Washington: DCS Facility Services issued a mass layoff WARN, 220 jobs gone by August, due to the loss of their contract with Idaho based WinCo Foods!  Employee owned Yoke’s Foods took over Trading Company Stores and the yokes on the employees as three Trading Company Stores are being shutdown, about 212 jobs lost by September!

Wisconsin:  Tyson Foods finally shutdown their Jefferson County pepperoni factory, 4-hundred people laid off in the name of improving “overall performance”, and that was after 2-hundred employees voluntarily “left the company”!  The meat factory was 141 years old, Tyson Foods bought it in 2001.   In Green Bay, despite surviving The Great Depression iconic Al’s Hamburgers shutdown due to deaths in the Rank family.  Local news reports say the burger joint was sold and that the purchaser also bought the rights to the restaurant’s name, so locals are hopeful.  In Milwaukee, after 22 years restaurant La Peria shutdown.  Local news reports say the owners are looking to do something new, but also hinted that the building was just too old. After only eight months Jeng’s Asian Kitchen, in Monona, shutdown due to lack of customers: “If they don’t come, they don’t come! You do your best and that’s all you can do.”-Jeng Tong Vue

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

June 2016: MARYLAND KILLS PARK GEESE TO FEED HOMELESS!