Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of July, 2018:
Farmers are using artificial intelligence to force cows to be more productive
Goldfish Crackers recalled over salmonella
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
ALASKA: We can’t survive more cuts to Alaska king-salmon quota
ARIZONA: In Tucson, after only ten months Classic Spaghetti Western Steakhouse shutdown, the owner saying that even though the food is great the sales are not, and he has other restaurants to worry about.
CALIFORNIA: DW Berry Farms suddenly laid off 380 strawberry pickers, apparently without warning! The J.M. Smucker Company issued a shutdown WARN for its San Francisco ops, 1-hundred jobs gone by Halloween! Apple Gilroy-Apple By The Bay-Applebee’s issued a shutdown WARN for its Milpitas location, 51 jobs gone in September. Ingredient provider Ingredion issued a layoff WARN for its Stockton ops, 65 jobs gone by October. Upscale restaurant Hakkasan issued a shutdown WARN for its West Hollywood location, 99 jobs gone by the end of September. P.F. Changs issued a shutdown WARN for its El Segundo restaurant, 94 jobs gone by the end of September. In Vista, after 40 years popular Village Cafe shutdown so the owners can retire. In Bakersfield, the Sweet Factory shutdown its Vally Plaza Mall location. Struggling Chipotle shutdown its San Louis Opisbo, Higuera Sreet, location. Marie Callender’s shutdown its 40 years old ‘flagship’ restaurant in Los Angeles, because the landlord demanded a new lease that doubled the rent! In San Francisco, after 28 years Castro’s Harvest Ranch Market shutdown, the owner blaming lack of sales and greedy landlords: “If you can’t make any money, there’s no sense in keeping it open. We did our best and we negotiated with the landlord, and it didn’t work out.”-Gilles Desaulniers
FLORIDA: In Deerfield Beach, after 17 years Marlee’s Diner suddenly shutdown after failed restaurant management deals forced the owner to sell the property to a developer. Evil Cerberus Capital owned Albertsons-Safeway issued a mass layoff WARN, 452 grocery workers jobless by the end of August! Food service contractor Aramark issued a mass layoff WARN, 428 jobs in Miami gone in August! After 34 years Betty’s Laughing Horse Tavern shutdown, the property was sold.
IDAHO: Chipotle shutdown locations in Twin Falls (open less than one year) and Chubbuck (open less than two years).
Farm worker impaled by baling spike
Future Treasure Valley farmers face a tough road
Six wildfires ignited in Boise region, on July 4 holiday
Idaho-based Lamb Weston trying to deliver fries that stay crispy longer
Quigley Farm annexed for major property re-development (gentrification)
ILLINOIS: In Chicago, Howells & Hood Restaurant issued a shutdown WARN, 133 jobs gone by October due to the business being sold!
INDIANA: In Newburgh, after being brought back to life in 2014 Pizza Chef shutdown for good because the owner wants to try a different food venue. In Evansville, after four years Cisse’s Bread Bakery shutting down in August “because of the time the bakery is taking away from family.” Grocery store Wesselman’s shutting down when the inventory is gone, blaming ‘big box’ competition. Also in Evansville, Schaum’s Pizzeria suddenly shutdown. In Greenwood, after 45 years Hampton’s Market shutdown due to “the rise of big box stores”. Monarch Beverage issued a shutdown WARN for its Wine Division, 94 jobs gone by the end of August.
KENTUCKY: In Owensboro, after 44 “fun” years The Bakers Rack shutdown, the owner said she wants to “go out on top”.
MAINE: Border Patrol Stops Canadian Fishermen in Disputed Waters
MARYLAND: Giant Food shutting down its store in Windsor Mill by mid-August, calling the store “outdated” but also admitting they have too many newer grocery stores in the area.
Some residents will pay more for water
MASSACHUSETTS: Without warning, the new owners of America’s oldest candy company (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) shutdown its Necco factory in Revere: “Round Hill Investments was very excited to acquire Necco’s historic brands and to be part of their national resurgence. After careful engagement and consideration, however, the firm decided to sell the brands to another national confection manufacturer and today announced the closure of the operations in Revere, Massachusetts.”
In Boston, after four years restaurant Bisito shutdown its Burlington Mall location, local news media say its the third restaurant in the mall to shutdown this year. In Worcester, after 89 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Mrs. Mack’s Bakery shutdown, the owner saying her health problems might force her to move back to Ireland.
MICHIGAN: Ken’s Fruit Market shutdown its two years old Wyoming location to “focus on our other locations” because “this one isn’t doing as well”. In Detroit, after 19 years restaurant Andiamo shutdown, the owner saying in the past six years too many new restaurants have opened, meaning the local restaurant market can’t support them all.
MINNESOTA: Coburn’s-Save-a-Lot Food Stores shutdown its Saint Cloud, West Division Street, location due to low ‘customer count’ and the fact the company is spending money remodeling other Save-a-Lot stores in the area. Coborn’s also suddenly shutdown its grocery store in Montevideo, 59 jobs gone. In Duluth, Grizzly’s Wood Fired Cooking shutdown with short notice, the restaurant and a car dealership on the property are being torn down after the city approved a redevelopment plan.
MISSOURI: In Saint Louis, the owner of Porana Pasta shutdown his Washington Avenue location, blaming crashing sales on declining activity at the nearby convention center.
NEVADA: A 15 years old Dairy Queen in Northwest Reno shutdown, the aged owners (who claim they’ve worked with Dairy Queen since they were teenagers) say that for health reasons they’ve been advised to reduce their stress by reducing the number of restaurants they own. Local news media said the shutdown came as a shock to the employees.
China builds giant indoor vertical farm just east of Las Vegas
NEW JERSEY: In Parsippany, Cups Frozen Yogurt That’s Hot shutdown. Italy owned food service company HMS Host issued a WARN for its ops in Trenton, 287 jobs gone by mid-September!
NEW YORK: In Albany, after 42 years, and failed attempts to sell the property, Grandma’s Pies & Restaurant shutdown. In Great Neck, after only four months Ren Wen Noddle Factory shutdown, the owners saying “Based on your feedback, we will be temporarily closing this location to readjust”. In Larchmont, after 40 years La Riserva shutdown. In NYC, after less than two years the pro-veggie restaurant Hemlock shutdown. Gourmet Management issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC Penn Station TGI Fridays, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Haagen Dazs, Tim Hortons & Beer Cart Restaurants, 92 jobs gone by mid-October due to lost lease. Chipotle issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC corporate office, to happen between now and March 2019. Also in NYC, Union Square Catering Facility blamed the bad economy for issuing a shutdown WARN for its The Coffee Shop, 150 jobs gone by mid-October! Food service contractor Compass Group issued a shutdown WARN, 84 jobs gone due to losing a contract with Credit Suisse.
NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro base The Fresh Market announced it will shutdown 15 stores across the U.S. “for a variety of reasons unique to each retail location”. Four years old The Fresh Market store in Charlotte on the shutdown hit list.
607 poisonous plants of North Carolina
NORTH DAKOTA: State sues Dakota Access oil pipeline over farmland ownership
ethanol plant to explore use of barley feedstock
ND State University accused of negligence after dozens of farm research animals were crushed to death! (the future farmers of America?)
OHIO: In Mason, after 56 years Angilos Pizza shutdown, the owners saying “Mom and I are tired, we work full time jobs and run Angilo’s.” In Mount Adams, after 55 years Celestial Steakhouse forced to shutdown after the landlord suddenly leased the location to a competing food venue!
OREGON: In Salem, after 22 years Croissant & Company shutdown after failed attempts to sell, and even give away, the restaurant!
Wheat Farmers Fight to Stop Substation Fire
fire crushes wheat farmers during bountiful harvest
PENNSYLVANIA: In Allentown, two Grain & Centro restaurants were shutdown with short notice, it’s blamed on the “challenging” design of area, local news media pointed out the restaurants were located in the failed Neighborhood Improvement Zone where dozens of restaurants have come and gone since 2014. J.M. Smucker Company issued shutdown WARNs for its Sewickley and Meadville operations, 131 jobs gone by between the end of August and the end of September! France owned food service company Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for its St. Luke’s Hospital Allentown Campus ops, 67 jobs gone by the end of September.
SOUTH CAROLINA: In Greenville, DishOut Cafe & Catering shutdown because the owners were making more money with their new taco joint.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Lawsuit over prison food going to court
New breed of salmon to be stocked
TENNESSEE: On Oak Ridge Highway, after five years Archer’s BBQ shutdown due to lack of profits, the owners saying “businesses have to be profitable to survive.” The Fresh Market store in Hendersonville shutting down, 61 jobs gone by August.
TEXAS: In Houston, after 72 years Kegg’s Candies suddenly shutdown its retail store, as well as its chocolate factory, due to the “slow economy”. Also in Houston, El Tiempo Cantina forced to shutdown its Montrose location so that apartments can be built. In Austin, after 65 years The Frisco (the last of the Frisco Shop/Night Hawk chain of restaurants) shutdown. In Beaumont, after three years Wood Fired Grill-Backyard Dance Hall shutdown, the owner blamed lack of sales on the current “entertainment and dining landscape”.
UTAH: McDonald’s soda spiked with synthetic heroin
VIRGINIA: In Richmond, after 22 years Nacho Mama’s shutting down in August, the property has been sold.
WASHINGTON: Farm equipment plows into Fairfield fitness center
Washington DC: financial aid offer to farmers criticized as tax-funded ‘welfare’
WEST VIRGINIA: CKE Restaurant Holdings shutdown its Hardee’s in Oceana due to lack of sales, local news media said local customers were interested only in the breakfast menu.
WISCONSIN: After less that two years of operations, New Jersey based Schuman Cheese suddenly laid off 51 people from its ‘new’ Imperia Foods factory in Fall Creek, local news media blames it on automation. The Fresh Market issued a shutdown WARN for its stores in Fox Point and Brookfield, 102 jobs gone in August!
U.S. FOOD CRISIS, JUNE 2018: “A THOUSAND PAPER CUTS”