Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss WARNings and store shutdowns made or announced in November 2017:

Department store Bon-Ton (with HQ operations in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania) announced it will shutdown a minimum of 40 stores by the end of 2018, affecting hundreds of jobs, supposedly due to never ending crashing sales.  But wait, somehow the corporation was able to come up with $2-million USD in ‘retention bonuses’ for its executives!  Can you say “bullshit!”?

What automotive industry recovery?  After 93 years Benny’s Home & Auto Stores Famous for Low Prices ramped up its shutdown of all 31 stores, and one distribution center, across Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, at least 715 jobs gone by the end of 2017!

Alaska: In Juneau, after 22 years Lisa Davidson’s Boutique shutdown, the owner blaming “A shift in how I wanna spend my time…”

Arizona: In Tucson, after 23 years ‘retro’ clothier Hydra announced on Facebook it was shutting down after Xmas.

 California: Right after publically committing itself to helping the hurricane ravaged residents of Puerto Rico, 85 years old San Francisco based law firm Sedgwick LLP killed itself!  Sedgwick offices across the U.S. shutting down between now and January 2018, hundreds of jobs gone due to a failed attempt to merge with a competing law firm!  After ten years, independant movie theater operator Cinefamily shutdown due to employees alleging the company bosses routinely sexually harass them.  Despite a strong online presence (website, Facebook, smartphone applications, etc), teen clothier Styles for Less is now bankrupt busted with as much as $50-million USD of debts!  Retailer Robert Talbotts laying off 37 people at its Monterey store in January 2018.  In San Diego, after 125 years (surviving numerous recessions and The Great Depression) jeweler Jessop’s shutdown due to nobody in the family wanting to continue the retail operation.  In Santa Barbara, after 30 years vintage costume (some dating to 1870) shop Victorian Vogue shutdown, the owner blaming the loss of sales on the shutdown of the nearby Brooks Photography Institute, whose students accounted for half of Victorian Vogue’s sales.  Build-a-Bear Workshop finally notified the state that it shutdown its Anaheim store, 72 jobs gone back in September. 

Colorado: In Denver, Second Spin record-CD shop forced to shutdown in January 2018 because the “landlord decided to venture into something else.”

Connecticut:  In Ridgefield, after eight years Bise Fashionable Finds shutdown because the owner is moving to North Carolina to take over a bigger store.  In New Haven, after 21 years Sassy Beauty Supply shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease.

Florida: Disney suddenly laid off more than 145 people at its various resorts in the U.S., despite the fact that Disney’s resort parks are the only part of the corporation with growing revenues!  Insurance service provider Patriot National eliminating 250 jobs as part of a plan to let creditors take over the failing business!  Janitor service Mundy Maintenance and Services eliminating 54 jobs right before Xmas. Assurant Valuations eliminating 62 jobs by March 2018.

Georgia:  Department store Belk shutting down its Phipps Plaza Mall ‘flagship’ location, 144 jobs gone sometime in 2018!  In Valdosta, after seven years Red Door Records announced on Facebook it’ll shutdown after Xmas.

Idaho: In Rexburg, after 46 years Targhee Sports shutting down in January 2018, as well as Duck Creek Pawn, the co-owners of the stores blame a “bad business deal” that’s forcing them to sell the land the stores are on.

Illinois: P.R.O.U.D. (Pontiac Redeveloping Our United Downtown) shutting down its Illinois Marketplace Store, apparently they’re not that united because “… it was no longer financially feasible to continue the store.”  In Dixon, after 25 years Downtown Sports shutting down after Xmas, due to the death of one of the owners.  Also in Dixon, after 18 years Super Dollar Store shutdown saying “The numbers are just not there.”  In Alton, after 165 years (surviving numerous recessions and The Great Depression) Goulding’s Jewelers shutting down so the current 70 years old owner can retire, who said “…I’m kind of worn out finally, and the business changing. Amazon is taking over the world. And, of course, the local economy is suffering.”  What automotive industry recovery?  In Rockford, after 56 years vehicle retailer Gary Carlson Motors is for sale and will shutdown after Xmas.  Office Specialists shutdown its store in Kewanee as part of its plan to focus more on internet sales.  Department store Lord&Taylor issued a shutdown WARN for its store in Skokie, 119 jobs gone by the end of April 2018!  Bankrupt Maurice Sporting Goods issued a layoff WARN for its Northbrook location, 104 jobs gone right before Xmas!

Indiana: On Facebook the owner of Fun F/X blamed online competition for his Grape Road store’s demise.  It’s ironic because Fun F/X has its own website, where it will continue to do business. Tuesday Morning shutting down its close-out store in the Highland Grove plaza due to losing its lease.

Iowa: In Des Moines, after 122 years (surviving numerous recessions and The Great Depression) ‘everything’ shop H.B. Leiserowitz shutdown, blaming the final straw on competition from big box stores, but their sales slowdown started when cameras went digital.  In Ames, after nine years Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe shutdown and is for sale to help pay for the owner’s retirement.

Hawaii: After 37 years bankrupt busted Island Air is now dead, at least 423 jobs in Hawaii gone!  An aviation ‘expert’ blames the airline’s demise on its switch to larger aircraft which “…forced them out of their niche market…….and forced them to go head to head…” with bigger airlines.

Kansas: Topeka based shoe retailer Payless announced “additional steps” starting with an additional undisclosed number of layoffs.  Burlington (formerly Burlington Coat Factory) shutting down its store in Topeka’s West Ridge Mall this Winter.  Also in Topeka, the Ramada West Hotel suddenly shutdown blaming an extremely weak off-season tourist market which caused the property to be sold-out from under the hotel’s feet, 30 jobs suddenly gone.  Tuesday Morning shutting down its close-out store in Andover in January 2018, due to lack of sales. In Halstead, after almost 30 years Shear Image Hairstyling shutdown so the owner could retire.

Kentucky: In Louisville, home decor-clothing store Gifthorse shutting down in December because the owners are moving away.

Louisiana:  In Bossier City, after 33 years guitar seller The String Shop shutting down by January 2018, the owners saying “Been fighting for about a year and a half to keep it going and it’s time. …music industry…is dying out.”

Maryland: In Silver Springs, after 43 years Roadhouse Oldies Make Your Own CD shutdown, the owner lamented “People who were actively accumulating music, albeit records or cassettes or CDs or whatever, are no longer accumulating stuff.”  In Annapolis, department store Lord&Taylor shutting down its store at Westfield Annapolis mall, 141 jobs gone by April 2018!  Lacrosse equipment retailer LAX World suddenly shutdown all its brick-n-mortar stores, and abandoned its HQ, after getting hit with numerous lawsuits from landlords and suppliers.  Bon-Ton issued a shutdown WARN for its store in Hagerstown, 47 jobs gone by the end of February 2018.  What housing market recovery?  First Guaranty Mortgage issued a WARN for its Frederick location, 82 jobs gone by the end of January 2018.

Massachusetts: In Norwell, after 70 years Garden Craft Center shutdown so the owners can retire.

Michigan: Contracted trash collector Diva Disposal suddenly went chapter 7 bankrupt dead, customers say they got no warning and trash is piling up!  In Woodhaven, after 40 years Skateland is now for sale and could shutdown in December.  In Royal Oak, after 83 years Chinn Jewelry shutting down, the property for sale, with the owner blaming “…a combination of the economy…the internet, increased expenses, decreased revenues.”  In Grandville, after more than 80 years Richard Engels Jewelers shutting down when the inventory is gone, the owner is moving to Florida.  In Grand Rapids, god powerless to stop the internet from shutting down ‘his’ christian Eardmans Bookstore. Christian book printer Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company says it’ll focus solely on internet sales.

Minnesota: Minneapolis based Target shutting down 12 additional stores across nine U.S. states by the end of 2017. Target administrators claim their new store openings cancel out any old store shutdowns.  In Rochester, Hight & Randall Ltd. Personal Jeweler announced on its website it is shutting down, to be replaced with “something new in 2018.”

Missouri: Now dead law firm Sedgwick LLP issued a shutdown WARN for its Kansas City office, 75 jobs gone by mid-January 2018.  It should be noted that Sedgwick LLP recently announced efforts to help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.  Also in Kansas City, after more than 40 years the Gold’s Gym in the Westport district suddenly shutdown without any warning to customers.  However, local news media said customers expected the shutdown as customer service rapidly went down the toilet.  In Warrensburg,  after 61 years B&B Auto Supply shutdown because “We’ve seen many changes in the industry and in ourselves … and with those changes in mind, we’ve decided it is time to focus on our health and retirement.”  In Springfield, after 25 years CD Warehouse shutdown, blaming the shift to digital (despite the fact that CDs are a type of digital platform).

Montana:In Great Falls, after 30 years Forsyth Paint and Decorating shutting down, the owners saying “We’re wearing out.”

New Hampshire: After 29 years consignment shop Two Flights Down shutdown.

New Mexico: In Portales, after 62 years Woody’s Jewelry shutdown because the owner ‘burned out’.

New York: Bon Ton shutting down its department store in Massena by the end of January 2018, due to not renewing the lease.  Also in Massena, after 65 years the owners of Cornell’s Dry Cleaning saying of their multiple locations that “we’re shutting everything right down” by mid-December.  What housing market recovery?  Too Big to Jail Capital One issued a shutdown WARN for its Melville mortgage ops, 26 jobs gone by March 2018.  In NYC, after 53 years Matt Umanov Guitars shutting down in December, Matt says “Commercial rents went up. People left. The community left, and tourism came in.”  Also in NYC, Too Big to Jail Morgan Stanley laying off 29 people between March and June 2018.  NYC based and troubled clothing retailer J.Crew revised its U.S. store shutdown list upward to 50 stores, due to what is now an obvious death spiral in sales.  250 J.Crew jobs were already killed earlier in the year, the increase in store shutdowns means more than 3-hundred additional jobs will be lost!  In Latham, after 39 years Northeast Music, Inc. halting brick-n-mortar ops and going online only (because they believe the hype about online sales killing brick-n-mortars, when by 2017 online sales accounted for only 15% of retail sales in the U.S., and state level internet tax collections prove it).  In Brooklyn-NYC, Apogee Retail issued a shutdown WARN for its Unique thrift store, 58 jobs gone by the end of January 2018.  Also in Brooklyn-NYC,  Red Lantern Bicycles shutdown blaming never ending rent increases: “So we just decided we’d finish out the year and not go through another winter and call it quits now before the next increase kicked in.”-Brian Gluck

North Carolina: What housing market recovery? Landlord Platinum Properties is now chapter 7 bankrupt, and most likely dead.

North Dakota: In Fargo, after 99 years of selling shoes Shu by R&G shutdown because the owner wants to retire.

Oregon: In Portland, after 46 years The Real Mother Goose Fine American Craft shutting down its store on South West Yamhill the day before Xmas, due to the landlord conducting a radical remodel that is forcing all the tenants to leave.

Pennsylvania: Too Big to Jail California based Wells Fargo finally notified the state of its shutdown of its operations in Bethlehem, 468 jobs now gone!  After six decades Stout’s Mower Service shutdown with the owner explaining “I am 76 years old”.  Mormon Mitt Romney’s co-founded wunderkind Staples shutting down its location in Greenwich. Tellingly local news media called the Staples store “Another large store in the Pittsburg-area…” (Staples is by no means a large store)  In York, York Wallcoverings shutting down its sole factory operated 27 years old retail store, when the inventory is gone, blaming the way people now shop.

South Dakota: Celebrity Hotel & Casino now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Tennessee: Memphis based retailer Fred’s suddenly laid off 90 employees right before Thanksgiving as part of a plan to become more competitive, local news media speculated it was just the beginning of more layoffs.  In Memphis, FYE-Spin Street Music shutting down when the lease expires in January 2018, because even sales of Japanese anime and manga items have crashed!

Texas: In Victoria, after 24 years Torin Bales Fine Jewelry announced on Facebook that its shutting down.  What housing market recovery? In Plano, Too Big to Jail Capital One eliminating 950 mortgage related call center jobs as part of its plan to get the hell outta the mortgage lending and home equity business!

Vermont: In Montpelier, after several decades Onion River Sports and The Shoe Horn both forced to shutdown because they are no longer able to get debt financing to buy their inventories!

Virginia: Elder-Beerman shutting down its decades old department store in Vienna, by the end of January 2018.  In Bluefield, after about 20 years Joann Fabrics Crafts shutting down when the inventory is gone, local news media says no reason was given.

Washington: In Seattle, after 42 years Zanadu Comics shutdown for “hundreds” of reasons, the obviously pissed owner adding on his Facebook post  “THE DREAM HAS ENDED….The good guys don’t always win.”  Also in Seattle, after 1-hundred years (surviving numerous recessions and The Great Depression) Crown Hill Hardware shutting down due to a death in the family, which is forcing the sale of the property.

West Virginia: Goodwill suddenly shutdown its thrift store in Wheeling, saying the landlord did not want to renew the lease. Department store Belk shutting down its Morgantown location, 39 jobs gone in March 2018.  In South Charleston, after more than 36 years Village Floral shutting down so the 83 years old owner can retire.

Wisconsin:  In Stevens Point, Mitchell Piano Works shutting down after Xmas, a different music store will take its place.  In Wisconsin Rapids, Heid Music shutting down after Xmas, it is moving to Stevens Point.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. RETAIL/BANKING/SERVICE SECTOR COLLAPSE, October 2017: “RETAIL IS NOT A JOB OR A CAREER…” “THIS YEAR…WOULD BE OUR LAST YEAR”

SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, November 2017:“WE’RE ONE OF THE BEST STORES IN OUR MARKET!”

U.S. INDUSTRIAL/MINING/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS, November 2017:“OUR EFFORT TO FIND A FINANCIAL FUTURE…HAS NOT SUCCEEDED.”

Dumbing Down the U.S.A., November 2017:“CLOSING WAS THE ONLY OPTION.”

U.S. HI-TECH/COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN, November 2017:“AN UNFORESEEN CHANGE”

U.S. government shenanigans, November 2017: “THE PEOPLE…WILL NEVER, NEVER FIND A BETTER JOB…”

U.S. food crisis, November 2017:  “SORRY FOLKS THE END HAS COME FOR THE PIG.”

ObamaCare ACA death spiral, November 2017:“SEVERAL SYSTEM AND CONTROL FAILURES”

GREAT RENEGER: OFF-SHORING OF U.S. JOBS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL INVESTOR MORALE IMPROVES!