Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of September, 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.
Arizona: In Phoenix, after 34 years Gourmet House of Hong Kong shutdown. In Tucson, after five years the owner of upscale (according to local news reports the cheapest steak meal costs $39!) Five Palms Steak & Seafood announced on Facebook the restaurant shutdown, no reason given.
Arkansas: After only two years of food production Del Monte Foods shutting down and selling-off its food factory in Siloam Springs, 2-hundred jobs gone due to consolidation operations!
California: In Fresno, after ten years the Daily Grill shutdown because “Our lease is up and we weren’t able to come to an agreement on continuing, so we’re going to have to depart.” Albertsons shutting down two Von’s grocery stores in time for Thanksgiving, one in Mira Loma, the other in El Monte, 182 jobs gone! In Salinas, Providence Farms and Merrill Farms both issued shutdown WARNs, 257 jobs gone by Thanksgiving. Dairy supplier Super Store Industries issued a layoff WARN for its operations in Fairfield, 111 jobs gone by Thanksgiving! In Santa Clara, after 58 years the owners of By-Th’-Bucket Seafood Italian announced on their website that they shutdown, explaining that “…the time has come to pursue other endeavors and devote more time to our families.” The company that sells the outrageously priced ‘hi-tech’ juicer, and juicer food products, is now dead. After only 16 months, and despite selling “over a million” products, Juicero announced on its website that it gave up trying to sell its $4-hundred USD juicers online. A shutdown WARN claims 98 people will become unemployed at the end of October. Switzerland based Nestlé eliminating about 6-hundred food jobs at its factory in Bakersfield, between November 2017 and January 2018! Nestlé claims they are not shutting down the factory, but that the layoffs are due to crashing sales, if sales improve they’ll re-hire those laid off.
Florida: “Based on reports from the field, it’s estimated that there’s a 50 to 70% crop loss in South Florida….”-Lisa Lochridge, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, commenting on the agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Irma. In Destin, after 20 years Golden Corral suddenly shutdown, the longtime manager said “I’m kind of stunned”, but speculated that Golden Corral corporate is not willing to renew expiring leases. On 11 SEP 2017, Orlando Dinner Entertainment-Pirates Dinner Adventure suddenly laid off 206 people! Local news reports say the pirate themed dinner theater claims the sudden shutdown is temporary, caused by Hurricane Irma. Snack food maker Synder’s Lance went through with its threat to shutdown its factory in Perry, on 29 SEP 2017, now 250 jobs gone due to consolidation ops!
Idaho: The Gem State’s wheat crop is down 5% over the past five years, but the quality is higher than ever. State officials are also boasting of a multi-million USD deal with Republic of China (Taiwan) for Idaho wheat. This might be good news for Idaho farmers but it means less of the grain available for the domestic U.S. market, which could drive prices for U.S. consumers up.
Illinois: In Decatur, after only three years Ted’s Taters shutdown due to health problems of the owners. In Chicago, after only two years Snappers Seafood & Chicken shutdown their Morgan Park location, apparently because some of the family co-owners moved to Florida.
Indiana: In Merrillville, after almost nine years the owners of coffee shop Spill the Beans announced on Facebook they are shutting down. In Indianapolis, after ten years BARcelona Tapas shutdown without warning, the owner blames “a variety of factors”. In Fishers, after 48 years the owners of Archer’s Meats and Catering announced on Facebook they shut-it-down saying “Yep, we are retiring.”
Michigan: In Ann Arbor, after seven years Mark’s Carts shutting down its food truck courtyard, apparently because the owner found it too hectic to manage all the food truck ops. Cherry Growers Incorporated now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, admitting that they failed to make adequate adjustments to recent crop failures. In Mount Clemens, after 40 years Big Boy (formerly Bob’s Big Boy) restaurant shutdown: “The Mount Clemens store was one of those that kept under-performing. We made the decision to close it down.”-Keith Sirois, Big Boy Restaurants International
Minnesota: In Roseville, after 32 years Fairview Wine & Spirits shutdown. In Saint Paul, after more than 60 years St. Clare Broiler shutdown, the owners saying “Today’s economics make it almost impossible to run a single, independent, family owned and operated restaurant at a profit.” Food seller Tastefully Simple revealed it laid off employees in August, and is now leasing out part of its HQ in Alexandria. In 2005 it was considered one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., but in 2014 it began eliminating jobs and hasn’t stopped, and is now down to 1-hundred. Company admin are trying to raise capital to save their ass.
Missouri: Saint Louis based, but owned by Belgium’s InBev, Anheuser Busch suddenly laid off 4-hundred ‘high end’ employees in its craft beer division! After spending big money taking over some craft beer ops, Anheuser Busch is shifting to craft hard cider ops. Back in 2015, Money warned that Anheuser Busch was hatching a plan to kill-off craft beer. In 2016, the new owner of Anheuser Busch revealed plans to eliminate 5-thousand-5-hundred jobs over the next three years!
Nebraska: In Omaha, after ten years Patrick’s Market shutdown, the owner saying “I am the last of the old dinosaurs.”
Nevada: In Carson City, after 30 years restaurant Grandma Hattie’s shutdown becuase the landlord sold the property.
New Hampshire: In Raymond, after 35 years Pines Seafood House shutting down, the owners revealed that during good times they’ve employed as many as 35 people, but in the past few years could barely keep-on eight.
New Jersey: Stop&Shop in Raritan shutting down “…because the former owner of the property didn’t maintain it.” Hard Rock Cafe issued a shutdown WARN for its Atlantic City location, 96 jobs gone by November.
New Mexico: In Las Cruces, Burger Time shutdown its 43 years old restaurant near New Mexico State University. In Albuquerque, after only a few months restaurant Doughboys Bakery shutdown due to legal battles with General Mills. General Mills says the name of the restaurant was too close to their own Pillsbury Doughboy.
New York: In Sarasota Springs, after 14 years Circus Cafe suddenly shutdown after a failed attempt to sell it, earlier this year the owners were forced to another restaurant called The Crown Grill. West Side Supermarket-Westside Market shutting down its store at 2171 Broadway, NYC, 69 jobs gone due to not being able to renew the lease. Also in NYC, Noho Star issued a shutdown WARN, 54 jobs gone right after Xmas. Temple Bar issued a shutdown WARN, 13 jobs gone right after Xmas. Lindy’s Restaurant-52nd 8th Operating issued a shutdown WARN, 35 jobs gone in January 2018. Restaurant Associates lost its contract with Barclays, 41 jobs gone mid-October. In Cuba, D.F. Stauffer Biscuit issued a shutdown WARN for its cookie factory, 51 jobs gone between Xmas 2017 and June 2018. In Rochester, the owners of 2Foodies Wine & Spirits emailed loyal customers saying “It is with heavy hearts that we announce that 2foodies Wine & Spirits will be closing……..we were exploring ALL options (such as someone partnering with us or someone buying 2foodies)…” In Latham, after seven years the owners of Positano Specialty Foods announced on Facebook they shutdown, no reason given. In NYC, after less than two years restaurant The Lucky Bee shutdown, the owners saying “We simply can’t afford the rent.” Tops Friendly Market shutting down its grocery store in Jordan, in October, due to lack of profits. In Syracuse, after 98 years Nojaim Brothers Supermarket shutting down, despite getting local and state tax breaks to expand. The owner blames it on lack of sales/profits: “…we finished our quarterly report and the comment from my accountant was, ‘You could probably hang in there a couple of months and then you’re going to have judgments all over the place.’ And I said, ‘I’m not going to go out owing people.'”– Paul Nojaim
North Carolina: Kairos-Chubby’s Tacos-Guacamaya Fresh Mex chain restaurant now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to sales crashing by $1.4-million USD since 2015. Save-A-Lot shutdown its two years old Elizabeth City grocery store because “…it ended up not panning out the way that we thought it would.” In Winston-Salem, Abundant Life Natural Foods shutdown its 36 years old Marketplace Mall location, the local owners saying “We also can’t run ourselves into the ground. We can’t do losses every month. Nobody can stay in business that way.” JustSave shutdown its grocery store in Thomasville, corporate saying its part of their plan “…for investing in new stores and continuing major store remodels.”
Ohio: In University City, Kroger shutting down its 56 years old grocery store because the greedy landlord is redeveloping the property, 63 jobs gone. In Bellaire, after 54 years Rigas Restaurant shutdown, apparently because the ‘christian’ matriarch of the family owners simply decided “I think it’s time to close.” The family told local news they didn’t want to argue with her since she’s the one who started the restaurant. In Hamilton, after three years J Austin’s Riverbank Cafe shutdown due to lack of sales.
Oregon: In Salem, NORPAC-Hermiston Foods issued a shutdown WARN, 199 jobs gone!
Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria destroyed 80% of the U.S. territory’s crops!
South Carolina: The Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Knightsville shutting down blaming “predatory pricing” by Walmart, also the property is up for sale. On Hilton Head Island, restaurant 843 shutdown because of Hurricane Irma, the owners say they were still trying to recover from 2016’s Hurricane Matthew.
Tennessee: In Cool Springs, after less than five years the Puffy Muffin shutdown, the ‘christian’ owner blamed lack of employees saying “…the Lord directs all of our steps…… And we’re spread too thin, honestly…. You can teach cooking and you can teach baking, but really you need people who are skilled….”
Texas: In Lewisville, Mama’s Pizza Buffet failed to pay rent and has been ‘locked-out’ by the property owner. Fiesta Restaurant Group shutting down all remaining Pollo Tropical locations in The Lone Star State, due to losing $1.2-million USD. Fiesta Restaurant Group blames it on Texans not knowing what a Pollo Tropical is. After 45 years Casa Jurado shutdown its last restaurant in El Paso.
Vermont: Nordic Farms now chapter 7 bankrupt.
Virginia: Road construction-Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel project forcing the Chesapeake Grill to shutdown.
Washington: Bridle Trails Red Apple announced it will shutdown its 20 years old grocery store in Kirkland, in February 2018, due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent. After more than 20 years the new owner of the original (and last in Olympia) Bagel Brothers announced on Facebook that it shutdown because she couldn’t afford the cost of updating it, 11 jobs gone.
Washington DC: The owners of Cantina Maria Cafe announced on Facebook they were shutting down in October, but also stated “…we’ll be gone until 2020-2021 with a new pier, a new coat of paint, and thankfully new bathrooms.”
Wisconsin: Bankrupt Gordy’s Market began shutting down grocery stores it couldn’t sell-off, at least 15 store were auctioned off despite protests from creditors, at least 1-thousand jobs gone!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
U.S. Food Crisis, August 2017: “HISTORIC LACK OF PATRONAGE” HARVEY KILLS TEXAS CROPS?