Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.
California: In Canoga Park, after only a few months ConfeXion Cupcakes shutdown without warning. News reports say its the first business in the new Village at Westfield Topanga plaza to shutdown, and other businesses are considering leaving as well. A co-owner of ConfeXion Cupcakes blames outrageous rent. In Napa, the Scientopia Discovery Center shutting down and in search of a better location. They also hope to renovate a school bus for mobile exhibits.
Colorado: In Denver, after 48 years iconic Andre’s Confiserie Suisse dessert restaurant shutting down because the A-hole city jacked up the taxes: “The city basically doesn’t want us here anymore. We got priced out.”-Bruno Gegenszhatz, owner
Connecticut: In New Milford, after 24 years restaurant Salsa shutting down next week. The owner sold it so he could retire.
Idaho: The city of Chubbuck has admitted that after at least five years their recycling program is a money loser. It’s essentially for the same reason coal, oil, steel and aluminum operations are going down; crashing commodity prices. Chubbuck administrators said the recycling contractor is reporting that the price per ton of mixed recyclables has dropped so low that they must now charge the city for the use of what were once free roll-off containers located at City Hall and elementary schools. That ended up causing Chubbuck to suffer a net loss of $2,474 USD in the month of October (even with residents paying for their own individual recycling containers), and as such the city is canceling the use of those roll-off containers. (Once again people, no glass or styrofoam recycling in southeastern Idaho!) (No Glass or Styrofoam Recycling in SE Idaho?)
Massachusetts: The Hopkinton based company, EMC Corporation, which took over Texas based computer company Dell, revealed they will eliminate $250-million USD in jobs during 2016 as a result of the Dell takeover!
Michigan: In Davison, the Farmer’s Daughter Country Store shutting down at the end of the month. City administrators are now foaming at the mouth over the prospects of major redevelopment in the area, now that most of the old businesses are gone.
Minnesota: Globe University (Minnesota School of Business) announced it will shutdown its Moorhead campus sometime during the 2016-17 school year: “As with many colleges across the country, our Moorhead location has seen a continuous decline in enrollment….”
New Jersey: God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 113 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Our Lady of Assumption church in Bayonne.
New Mexico: The city of Santa Fe can no longer afford to pay the rent on the city parking lot on Canyon Road and threatened the property owner to pay them instead, lest they shut it down! As a result the property owner called bullshit on them and is shutting it down himself! It’s the only ‘city’ parking lot in the area.
New York: Pier 1 Imports shutting down their Watertown store. In Nyack, popular Hartell’s Deli shutdown. Hartell’s has operated in Nyack since the 1970s, no word on why they shutdown. Too Big to Jail TrustCo Bank shutting down one of two Schenectady offices this month.
Ohio: In Mansfield, after 29 years Lee’s Ancient Wok shutting down, the owners want to retire but their adult son has no plans to continue working the popular restaurant.
Oregon: In Portland, after 114 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) grocery store Strohecker’s shutting down by the end of the month. Local news reports say no reason was made public (the corporate owners, Lamb’s Markets, refused to talk). Indications are that the store’s pharmacy operations will continue in a different location. What’s that about Goodwill creating jobs? In Salem, it was revealed that seven years old Thai Beer Restaurant was forced to shutdown when the property owner sold-out to Goodwill Industries. In Lake Oswego, mental health clinic for children Youth Villages Oregon (aka Christie Care, Christie Campus) being shutdown after complaints of abuse and sexual contact. Investigators blamed it on lack of supervision.
Pennsylvania: In Bridgeville, after 30 years restaurant Tambellini’s shutdown. The building was sold.
South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, DN Nails shutdown by state inspectors. The inspection was the result of three customers complaining of severe pain and bleeding. Inspectors found unsanitary conditions like plumbing that didn’t work (sinks backed up with water) and evidence that banned implements were being used. A local news source called the conditions in the pedicure shop “gross”.
Virginia: In Richmond, after 1-hundred years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) chain store Pleasants Hardware shutting down its flagship store by February, and selling off the remaining seven stores! The stores employ about 1-hundred people each!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed
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.”