Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of August, 2017: 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.

Hurricane Harvey slamming Texas and Louisiana.  Texas getting record level rain/floods.  According to federal law produce grown on land hit by flooding cannot be sold for human consumption!  

The Texas Tribune:  Harvey’s winds and rain disrupt Texas agriculture

Arizona: In Scottsdale, Flo’s Chinese Asian Restaurants now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Local news media reported that ever since 2008 the restaurant chain has been shutting down eateries, now there’s only two left: “The revenue from our two remaining restaurants, though strong and healthy, could not alone support payments for a loan designed for three restaurants.”-Florence Chan, co-owner

Arkansas:  In Hardy, after only two years restaurant Cruisers shutdown due to the owners getting outta the restaurant business.

California: In Los Angeles, restaurant Church & State chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to labor law violation lawsuits.  Quest Nutrition issued shutdown WARNs for two Los Angeles operations, 524 jobs gone in October! Switzerland based Nestlé shutdown its Glendale op, 583 jobs gone!  Chili’s issued a shutdown WARN for its Thousand Oaks restaurant, 48 jobs gone in October.   Japan based Daiso issued a shutdown WARN for its Hayward grocery store, 98 jobs gone in October.  Dole Food eliminating 172 strawberry picking jobs as it shuts down its Oxnard ops, blaming massive debt and crashing sales!  In San Jose, after 13 years Lisa’s Tea Treasures shutdown, explaining on its website “Sadly, our lease has not been renewed.”  Glendale based DineEquity announced it will skyrocket shutdowns of its Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants; 135 Applebee’s and 25 IHOPS across the United States being shutdown as part of a plan to open 125 new restaurants in other countries!   In Sacramento, after 30 years Rubicon Brewing Company suddenly shutdown due to lack of “cash flow” caused by supply problems from farmers and skyrocketing ‘craft beer’ competition.

Colorado:  After 59 years and two locations, Black Forest Restaurant shutdown so the owner can retire.

Florida: In Delray Beach, the co-owner of Smoke BBQ announced on Facebook “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the closing of Smoke BBQ Delray Beach effective immediately.”  In Palm Beach, after only seven months reality TV ‘star’ owned upscale eatery Bowery Coastal shutdown.  In Plant City, Southeast Milk-Sunshine State Dairy Farms began laying off 52 people.

Hawaii:  After 38 years iconic Shore Bird Restaurant and Beach Bar shutdown so the owners can retire.

Idaho: In Twin Falls County somebody is shooting livestock.  In the past month two Llamas were killed, as well as a cattle rancher’s prize bull and heifer. A railroad track runs along the properties where the killings took place (somebody shooting from a train?).  In Bonneville County somebody shot and killed eight cows, leaving their bodies to rot, the local Sheriff believes they’ll find more dead cows.  In Idaho Falls, after 20 years Sarah’s Candy Cottage announced on Facebook that they must shutdown due to being “bought out”.

Illinois: Oak Brook based McDonald’s shutting down 169 restaurants in India due to a contract dispute with Connaught Plaza Restaurants.  Oak Brook based TreeHouse Foods shutting down three factories in three states, killing 375 jobs due to a 12% crash in sales!  In Arcola, after 47 years Dutch Kitchen shutdown, the owners saying “It’s time to stop.”  In Park Ridge, after less than one year the ‘new version’ of the iconic Pickwick Restaurant shutdown.

Kansas:  Farm equipment maker AGCO halting production and idling 2-hundred factory workers for at least four months, due to lack of sales!

Kentucky: In Owensboro, after 52 years Taylor’s Grocery Outlet shutdown, no reason given.

Maryland:  In Baltimore, OrderUp! laid off 70 HQ employees due to being taken over by GrubHub/Groupon.   Ryleigh’s Oyster shutdown its Mount Vernon restaurant.

Michigan: Seventh Day Adventist founded, Donald Trump hating, Kellogg Company (aka Kellogg’s) eliminating 233 jobs at its Battle Creek operations by 2018, claiming it’s part of its plan to increase production!  In Plymouth, after 75 years iconic Box Bar shutdown so the owner can retire.  In Grand Rapids, after 12 years Mangiamo! shutdown to be replaced by an ‘special’ events center.  After four years, without warning Saladworks shutdown and auctioned-off, no reason given.  In Taylor, after almost 1-hundred years Dairy Fresh Brand shutting down, 180 jobs gone in October!  The shutdown will affect dairy distribution in four states.

Missouri: In University City, Randolfi’s Italian Kitchen announced it is shutting down next month, the owners saying “We’ve thrown everything we have into his restaurant. There have been a lot of tears, but it’s time to close the chapter.”  In Saint Louis, with only a few hours warning on Facebook Howards suddenly shutdown, the owners saying “…regret that we can’t keep going…”  In Ellisville, Lucky’s Market shutdown, the company’s website explained “…did not experience the growth we needed to keep this store open.”

Montana: In Livingston, Northern Pacific Beanery shutdown with the owners saying “It’s just time for us to move on.”  Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory shutdown its store in the Holiday Village Mall, blaming consumers by saying “National and local retailers are responding to shifting consumer patterns by modifying their marketing strategies, including store closings.”

New Jersey:  Internet based meal service company Blue Apron issued a shutdown WARN for its Jersey City ops, 1-thousand-270 people jobless by October!

New York: TGIFriday’s issued a shutdown WARN for its Union Square location, 33 jobs gone by Xmas. Private social club River Club of New York shutting down, 60 jobs gone in time for Thanksgiving (due to renovations).  Hudson Valley Snacks and Soda issued a shutdown WARN, 38 jobs gone in October.  In Manhattan-NYC, grocery store Garden of Eden shutdown its Chelsea location due to “historic lack of patronage”.   Wisconsin based Penzeys Spices (penzeys.com) shutdown its Long Island-NYC location, it was the second time the spice seller shutdown a NYC location.  Internet based meal service company Blue Apron suddenly halted hiring and laid off 14 HQ employees “As part of our long-term strategy”.  Without warning Met Fresh shutdown its one year old grocery store in Nyack, no explanation for the “permanent” shutdown.   In Glen Falls, Food Co-op shutdown blaming lack of volunteers to run it: “Unfortunately, at this time we’re unable to keep the hours necessary to sustain a grocery store.”

North Carolina:  In Raleigh, after 17 years Bella Monica Flatbread pizza restaurant now chapter 7 bankrupt dead.  The parent company Bella Monica actually died in 2015, but the co-owner tried to keep the restaurant going.  Also in Raleigh, after 14 years distributor El Ideal Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, most of its food products come from outside the U.S.

Ohio:  Fresh Thyme Farmers Market shutting down one of its four Cincinnati area ‘health food’ stores, blaming increased grocery store competition.

Oregon:  In Portland, Ringside Grill was suddenly sold-off and shutdown, owner Craig Peterson told local news “Dinner hasn’t been able to compete since the recession.”  In Clatskanie, after three years Hump’s Restaurant announced on social media that it was shutting down, no reason given.  Farmers Grain in Nyssa is now chapter 7 bankrupt dead, affecting other farm operations in Idaho and Washington.

Pennsylvania: The Tax Foundation concluded its study on Philadelphia’s so called sugary drink tax (most are made with GMO corn syrup and don’t contain any sugar); the tax now makes soda-pop more expensive than beer because the tax is 24 times higher than the beer tax!  Isn’t beer made by fermenting sugars?    The study also revealed that expected tax collections are way below what the Utopianist city leaders expected.  In Tunkhannock, Brick’s Market shutdown, 34 jobs lost due to not being able to find a buyer for the small grocery store.

Tennessee: In Spring Hill, after four years Mac’s Grub Shak announced on social media it is shutting down in September, local news described the burger joint as “popular”, no reason for the shutdown given.  In Chattanooga, after 20 years English Rose Tearoom shutdown: “We lost our lease … and I’ve been trying to bring on another owner … but it didn’t materialize.”-Sharon Gilley

Texas:  Local news media reporting “yet another” Skinner’s Corner Store shutdown, this time in Lakeport.  In Dallas, after five years Max’s Wine Dive shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease.  In Fort Worth, a Tom Thumb grocery store shutdown.  Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen suddenly laid off 69 employees as it shutdown its Irving HQ due to being taken-over by a competitor.  Snap Kitchen laying off more than 150 people in Austin and Houston, due to consolidation of production to a new factory!  In Austin, after 32 years popular Porfirio’s Tacos announced on Facebook that it must shutdown, no reason given.   Without warning Houston based Joe’s Crab Shack shutdown 41 restaurants across 19 states, thousands of jobs instantly gone: “…everything was fine. I even picked up two shifts to work. When she came in, all the managers were here. All the corporate managers were here. The tables were flipped upside down and they shut everything out.”-Devoshia Jones, instantly unemployed

Vermont:  Nordic Farms now chapter 7 bankrupt, local news reported the phone is now disconnected.

Virginia:   In Manassas, after nine years Hard Times Cafe & Cue forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord.  Dean Foods shutting down its PET dairy operations in Richmond, 75 jobs gone due to “Production will be phased out”.

Washington: In Seattle, Stumptown Coffee Roasters shutdown its East Pine Street location to focus on its other location.

Wisconsin:  In Bay View, after three years Little DeMarinis pizza joint announced it could not renew the lease, which expires in 2018.  In Milwaukee, after seven years Upper 90 Sports Pub shutdown, on social media the owners saying only “we have an exciting opportunity we just could not pass up.”  PDQ Food Stores eliminating 350 HQ employees in October, due to being taken-over by a competitor!  Gordy’s Market chain is up for sale, and if nobody buys it then more than 1-thousand people will become jobless (some stores have already shutdown)!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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