Category Archives: Business/Economics

29 DEC 2017 (13:11 UTC-07 Tango 06) 08 Dey 1396/10 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1439/12 Ren-Zi (11th month) 4715

“Is the fate of banks that they will eventually disappear? Yes. The answer is yes. Does it need to happen tomorrow? And do we need to do it through Bitcoin? That’s a question mark.”-Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel

According to The Cointelegraph, the puppet master of the United States is jumping on the ‘bitcoin’ bandwagon by creating its own cryptocurrency.

Israeli politicians are considering a digital shekel as a way to stop the growing black (illegal) market, and to prevent tax evasion, which is a sign their economy sucks.

On top of that, Israeli politicians want to restrict the use of cash, even considering banning the payment of wages in cash!

“And that no one should be able to buy or to sell except the one having the tav [mark], the name of the Chayyah (Beast, Anti-Moshiach) or the number of its name.”-Revelation 13:17, Orthodox Jewish Bible

DESTROY U.S. DOLLAR: U.S. ALLY PHILIPPINES GOES OVER TO CHINA!

Business/Economics, Idaho

More Decline: No more Xmas lights for Chubbuck? The truth about Gentrification

December 25, 2017 Hutchins AAron

25 DEC 2017 (05:37 UTC-07 Tango 06) 04 Dey 1396/06 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1439/08 Ren-Zi (11th month) 4715

Xmas morn, Tahoe Place, Chubbuck, Idaho

What’s wrong with this pic? Where are all the Xmas lights in the Cotant Park area of ‘christian’ dominated Chubbuck, Idaho?

About 15 years ago 90-95% of the homes around Cotant Park were blazing with Xmas decorations, now 90-95% are dim throughout the end-of-year holiday season.

Most people can’t afford the electric bill, and many residents today are recent arrivals with most of the neighborhood homes now being owned by absentee landlords. About 15 years ago most of the homes were owned by the people living in them. This is called gentrification.

The ‘elected’ leaders of Chubbuck, and neighboring Pocatello, constantly claim economic growth, this is because officially gentrification is considered a sign of growth. According to Wikipedia: “Gentrification is a process of renovation of deteriorated urban neighborhoods by means of the influx of more affluent residents.”

In the United States home ownership was long touted as a sign of economic prosperity, but when most of the homes in your neighborhood become rental units you know the economy is in trouble. The reality of gentrification, for most neighborhoods throughout the United States, is that rents get jacked-up so high that most Middle Class workers can barely afford to rent them (let alone buy them in competition with elite minority buyers whose sole purpose is to use them as rentals), belying the claim that the average American has become more ‘affluent’.

Here’s some more examples of Chubbuck Gentrification at the hands of ‘elected’ leaders: In 1997 (when I moved here) the deposit for city utilities was $30. In Summer 2016 I was told by city employees it’s now $350, that’s a 1066% increase!

In the late 1990s the average residential basic water/sewer/trash rate (not including the per thousand gallons water usage rate) was $38 per month. Now it’s about $98 per month, a 158% increase, and we got no improvement in services (in fact, one year we had to petition the city, twice, over sloppy trash collections)!

Things are only going to get more expensive as in 2017 the city started a Property Improvement Project paid for by $3-million USD in bonds (debt financing), which will be paid back by all you happy taxpayers (somehow).

Small sample of Idaho news sources proving most Idahoans are not ‘affluent’;

Idaho State Journal: Pocatello family of five survives boiler explosion, now homeless

KMVT: Idaho Housing and Finance Association trying to raise half-a-million-dollars in 20 days, to deal with growing homelessness

KIFI: Help save homeless East Idaho animals with your pocket change

Coeur d’Alene Press: “Nationally, transitional housing is going away. Our transitional program has been cut down, so we’re trying to get people into permanent housing so they can have independence. I’d rather deal with a cure than deal with a Band-Aid.”-Jeff Conroy, Saint Vincent de Paul North Idaho homeless program

Idaho Press-Tribune: Boise Rescue Mission prepares to serve nearly 2K meals at Christmas

Idaho Foodbank reports it needs at least 3-million meals this end-of-year holiday season! Interesting as Idaho’s official population is 1.6-million, proving that most people in Idaho don’t have enough money to buy food!

Idaho Statesman: Boise’s vets home needs more women’s items for its clothing drive

Small sample of news sources proving ‘gentrification’ is a scam to take your property and create a massive poverty class;

Bridge Michigan: What gentrification? Much of Detroit is getting worse.

Forbes: “Gentrification has two faces. There’s an upside that brings in new business, people, and energy, and a higher quality of life, including improved public services. But it’s impossible to overlook the invasive cloud that forces up rents and marginalizes and pushes out locals…”

The Atlantic: The Criminalization of Gentrifying Neighborhoods, “police actions have coincided with increased gentrification.”

Wall Street Journal: Gentrification Provokes a Coffee Clash in Denver’s Five Points

The Denver Post: “Gentrification moves fast”: A hard look at economic displacement

Cleveland Scene Weekly: Gentrification: What it Means in the Context of the Rust Belt

PRI: Miami residents fear ‘climate gentrification’ as investors seek higher ground

The Guardian: Nomad stores: the latest sign of gentrification

BlindBatNews;

IDAHO’S ECONOMIC DESTRUCTION 2016: “WE PLAN TO SELL IT DOWN TO THE BONES.”

MY IMMIGRANT IDAHO: FEDERALES (pronounced the Spanish way) SAY IDAHO DOMINATED BY POOR IMMIGRANTS!

Business/Economics

“THE DREAM HAS ENDED….The good guys don’t always win.”: U.S. Retail/Banking/Service sector collapse, November 2017

December 9, 2017 Hutchins AAron

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!

Business/Economics

“Our effort to find a financial future…has not succeeded.”: U.S. Industrial/Mining/Logistics layoffs, November 2017

December 7, 2017 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss/shutdown announcements made in November 2017.

U.S. layoffs as of May 2017

California: APS West Coast issued a shutdown WARN for Oxnard, 46 jobs gone by the end of January 2018. Clothing maker Burleigh Point shutting down its Billabong operations in Irvine, 50 jobs gone by August 2018. Clothing maker United Denim issued a shutdown WARN for its Los Angeles factory, 164 jobs gone by mid-December! Universal Alloy finally notified the state that it laid off 111 people in Anaheim, in October! F&S Distributing shutting down its industrial warehouse in Vernon, 11 jobs gone after Xmas. Boeing eliminating another 15 jobs by January 2018. Aircraft interior maker C&D Zodiac issued a shutdown WARN for its La Palma factory, 177 jobs gone by mid-January 2018! What automotive industry recovery? Zodiac Seats issued a shutdown WARN for its San Bernardino County location, 23 jobs gone by January 2018. Tire maker Bridgestone issued a shutdown WARN for its re-tread ops in Long Beach, 65 jobs gone after Xmas. Irvine based Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted saying “The U.S. Powersports market has been in persistent decline for the past few years. In response, MAG has been working diligently to adjust to the changing landscape and has implemented many initiatives to parallel today’s market. Unfortunately, the Company’s long-term debt continues to be an impediment to success.”

Florida: Saint Johns River Power Plant eliminating 89 jobs by January 2018. Saddle Creek Logistic Services eliminating 47 jobs by the end of January 2018.

Georgia: Dart Container Corporation shutting down its factory in Augusta, 160 jobs gone by 2019 as production is shifted to the British empire’s Canada!

Illinois: Elite Staffing/Menasha Packaging eliminating 125 jobs in Rock Island, due to “discontinue operations”. Paint company Wagner Systems issued a shutdown WARN for its Elgin location, 27 jobs gone after Xmas due to “relocation”. What automotive industry recovery? Wabtec issued a shutdown WARN for its Bensenville location, 45 jobs gone by the end of January 2018.

Indiana: Jeffboat eliminating 278 jobs in Jeffersonville, due to crashing sales! Arizona based paint tech company Carlisle Fluid Technologies shutting down its ops in Angola, 31 jobs gone after Xmas, due to increasing company expenses like taking over rival Accella Performance Materials for $670-million USD.

Massachusetts: Gun maker Smith & Wesson laid off 180 people at its Springfield factory! Local news media reported that Smith & Wesson is the biggest employer in the city.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? China based Yanfeng Automotive Interiors issued a mass layoff WARN, 345 jobs in Highland Park gone starting at the end of January 2018, due to lack of orders! Midland based DowDuPont cutting $3-additional-billion USD in expenses, meaning more massive layoffs are in the works!

Minnesota: What automotive industry recovery? Polaris Industries suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of people in Medina and Plymouth, as part of a global plan to shutdown existing jobs and eliminate vacant positions.

Missouri: HM Dunn AeroSystems shutting down its factory in Saint Louis, 53 jobs gone by March 2018 due to consolidation of production. Also in Saint Louis, Switzerland based ABB shutting down its electrical transformer factory, 120 jobs gone!

New Jersey: Bankrupt shoe maker Aerosoles (AeroGroup International) eliminating 141 jobs by January 2018!

New York: Rochester based Kodak eliminating 425 additional jobs due to continued crashing sales! Wig maker Shake-N-Go Fashion eliminating 92 jobs in Long Island by moving warehouse ops to Georgia. Promotional product wholesaler Lanco Corporation issued a shutdown WARN for its Ronkonkoma location, 130 jobs gone by December! Casabella Holdings eliminating 43 jobs at its warehouse ops in Congers.

North Carolina: Porter’s Group issued a shutdown WARN for its metal-fab factory in Kings Mountain, 133 jobs gone by the end of January 2018 due to lack of sales, forcing the company to consolidate production! Charlotte based coal energy company Babcock & Wilcox suddenly laid off 70 people across the U.S. National Spinning Company shutting down its textile factory, 152 jobs gone due to “ongoing challenges”!

Ohio: Switzerland based measurement instruments maker Mettler-Toledo announced at least 69 layoffs at its Dryden Hi-Speed factory, starting July 2018. The Hi-Speed factory will be shutdown by January 2019, in connection to moving production to new factories in Lutz, Florida, and a third new factory for Changzhou, China! Mettler-Toledo spent more than 60-million USD on building the new factories. Steel distributor TMS International shutting down its ops in Middletown, 99 jobs gone due to loss of contract.

Oregon: Pacific Crest Transformers halting ops in White City, about 1-hundred jobs gone!

Pennsylvania: Excel-DHL Supply Chain eliminating 116 jobs in Palmyra, by the end of December! GenOn Energy Services halting ops in New Florence, 107 jobs gone by February 2018!

Tennessee: What automotive industry recovery? Automotive interior parts maker FuturiS shutting down its factory in Milan, 140 jobs gone after Xmas possibly due to being taken over by Ireland based competitor Adient! Local news media reported that local businesses are warning of a domino effect as most of their customers are FuturiS employees.

Texas: Exelon’s ExGen Texas Power now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Wichita Falls based fuel cell maker and taxpayer funded U.S. Department of Defense contractor Amfuel now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, despite recently getting a $10-million USD taxpayer funded contract with the U.S. Air Force! Midland based Xcor Aerospace now chapter 7 bankrupt dead, affecting its taxpayer funded rocket engine operations in California: “Today it is my sad duty to inform you that Xcor has failed. Our effort to find a financial future for Xcor has not succeeded.”-Michael Blum, ceoElectricity maker Luminant issued a massive shutdown WARN for its coal operations across The Lone Star State, 6-hundred jobs gone starting in January 2018!

Vermont: Clothing maker Ibex Outdoor Clothing suddenly laid off 12 people due to canceling retail sales through two brick-n-mortar chain stores, and shifting focus to direct online sales and company owned brick-n-mortar stores.

Virginia: What construction industry recovery? Shaw Flooring shutting down its factory in Stuart, 160 jobs gone after Xmas due to consolidation of production to other factories! A town official was pissed-off: “It really makes you sick! I’ve been with the Town for 39 years and I’ve seen companies come and go but this one was one that really was detrimental to the town. But my main concern was the employees, that’s what really hurts.”-Terry Tilley

Washington: Georgia-Pacific shutting down its paper mill in Camas, as many as 3-hundred jobs gone by mid-2018! Tax-sucker Northrop Grumman shutting down its Lakewood ops, 43 jobs gone in January. ABM Aviation issued a shutdown WARN for its SeaTac ops, 171 jobs gone by January 2018!

Wisconsin: Bankrupt Appvion eliminating 2-hundred jobs in Appleton by shifting the specialty/industrial paper work to Pennsylvania! In Greenville, Ryder Integrated Logistics shutting down, 159 jobs gone after Xmas!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, October 2017: “THERE WAS NO SEVERANCE…WE WERE JUST FIRED!”

Business/Economics

“The last thing we want to see is the mall fail and this thing go south!”: Sears Kmart death spiral, December 2017

December 5, 2017 Hutchins AAron

KTNV Las Vegas: Kmart sold a mom a used electric scooter, but charged her for a new one.

Reuters: “Kmart…has agreed to pay $32.3 million to settle allegations that its pharmacies failed to report discounted prescription drug prices to federal health programs…”

It’s been revealed that the maker of DieHard batteries, EnerSys Energy Products, failed to reimburse Sears for $9-million USD worth of old car batteries!

East Idaho News reports that local law enforcers are so upset by the approaching Ammon Kmart shutdown that they swarmed the building , forcing shoppers to the front of the store: “This is quite possibly the last and final blue light special here at Kmart.”-Sergeant Bryan Lovell, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Department, upset that the local Shop with a Cop program is losing a major supporter with the shutdown of the Ammon Kmart

Business Insider: “Sears just gave its customers one more reason not to shop in its stores…..selling its DieHard-branded products….on Amazon.”

Post Analyst: 28 hedge funds sold their entire positions in Sears Hometown

In North Carolina, a vacant (and literally decomposing) Kmart is threatening to shutdown an entire shopping mall. Earlier this year the vacant Kmart was condemned due to a failed roof which caused major water damage to the building. The building is part of the struggling Mayberry Mall. Mount Airy city leaders warned that the New York based mall owner has yet to comply with orders issued by the Surry County Inspections Department, which means the entire mall could be condemned and shutdown by February 2018. Mandated repairs are estimated to cost $1.6-million USD, which might be why the owner hasn’t complied, it might be cheaper to shutdown the mall. This has mall tenants upset as some have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars upgrading their retail operations: “The last thing we want to see is the mall fail and this thing go south!”– David Clark, representing department store Belk, which spent $600-thousand upgrading its Mayberry Mall location

Despite making a profit for the first time in the past two years, Sears Holdings owned Land’s End shutting down at least 14 additional stores in 2018. In the past 12 months Land’s End shutdown 31 stores. Land’s End’s recent profitability is helped by new contracts to provide clothing to Delta Airlines and The Weather Channel.

CNBC: “historical patterns of alarming short-selling activity”

In Xenia, Ohio, the owner of the Xenia Towne Square Shopping Center, where a vacant Kmart once sat, is now suing the city over its taxpayer funded demolition of the Kmart building, claiming that demolition crews ended up taking out portions of a nextdoor grocery store building!

Sears Holdings reported a $588-million USD loss for its 3rd quarter 2017, CEO Eddie Lampert is calling the news an ‘improvement’.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores reported “Comparable store sales in our Hometown segment decreased 9.9%”.

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

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears-Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011, new shutdown and taxpayer rip-off announcements in bold:

Alabama: 35 years old Albertville Kmart, local news media reported it is the last Kmart in the entire state. Tuscaloosa Sears, leaving only two full-sized Sears stores in the state. Athens and Tuscaloosa Kmarts in October 2017. Dothan and Muscle Shoals Kmarts. Taxpayers in the city of Oxford could become the new owners of the vacant Sears store in the Quintard Mall. Oxford mayor Alton Craft loves the plan, but admitted to local news media “We don’t know exactly what the plan is yet.” But wait there’s more! Oxford city council already approved the purchase of the dead Sears, and then in anticipation of competition passed a new law restricting the number of yard sales cash strapped taxpaying residents can have (and requiring a yard sale permit)! Reports that the Pell City Kmart will shutdown. Taxpayers in the city of Oxford forced to pay for the former Sears building at the Quintard Mall. The mayor of Oxford recently announced that in an effort to save the local economy they’re willing to buy the property, which has been up for sale since November 2016. 38 years old Florence Sears store and Auto Center shutdown in April 2017. Jasper Mall Kmart. Phenix City Kmart on US 280. Sears Hometown Store in Prattville shutting down in January 2017. The Madison Square Mall Sears store & Auto Center shutdown in January 2017, but only because the leaders of Huntsville want to redevelop the mall property. Supposedly a new, and much smaller, contractor operated Sears appliance only store will be part of the mall redevelopment. Taxpayers of Huntsville are expected to spend at least $12-million USD on the redevelopment! Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Cullman is shutting down. 27 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! After 16 years the Troy Sears Hometown Store suddenly shutdown, the contracted owners said they couldn’t find anybody willing to take over the contract. Oxford Sears (local news reports said the Oxford Sears opened in 1985 with 225 employees!), Birmingham Kmart on Chalkville Mountain, Decatur Kmart on Beltline Road, Homewood Kmart, Mobile Kmart on Z Schillingers Road. The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost in June 2016. City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

Alaska: The Anchorage Sears Store & Auto Center, the Wasilla Sears Store, the Fairbanks Sears Store & Auto Center made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

Arizona: Casa Grande Kmart. Mesa Sears store and Auto Center at Fiesta Mall. The Mesa Kmart shutting down in time for Thanksgiving. Kingman Kmart and a Phoenix Kmart in October 2017. Bullhead City Kmart. In Tucson, Sears Holdings spin-off Seritage Growth says it will shutdown and lease out half of the floor space in the Park Place Sears store. Sierra Vista Kmart shutting down in December 2016. 42 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Nogales Kmart shutdown by July 2016, despite the fact that it’s a profit making store (many of its cash paying customers cross the border from Mexico). The Prescott Valley Kmart shutdown April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

Arkansas: Sears operations in Fayetteville and Fort Smith. The Jonesboro Sears Auto Center suddenly shutdown on 14 OCT 2017, without warning. Sears Holdings stated they were not willing to renew the lease. The Jonesboro Sears store shutdown earlier this year, but at that time Sears Holdings claimed they had no intentions of shutting down the Auto Center. Little Rock Kmart. Jonesboro Sears store. 17 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Sears store and Auto Center in Pine Bluff shutting down in August 2016. Little Rock Sears shutdown in July 2016.

California: Taxpayers of Humboldt County could become the new owners of the abandoned (and increasingly vandalized) Kmart property in Eureka. Local news reports say the county wants to make it the new home for Planning and Building Department, the Public Works Department and the Division of Environmental Health, yet there was no indication as to how much taxpayer funding the county was willing to spend on the proposal. The Santa Rosa Kmart was shutdown by being burned down during the recent wildfires. Kmarts in Valencia, Jackson/Martell, Bellflower and Hesperia (where I attended junior and senior high school) shutting down mid-November. Sears Holdings sold its store and Auto Center at the northeast end of South Coast Plaza to the owners of the plaza. the selling price was not disclosed. When asked if the Sears store and Auto Center were shutting down South Coast Plaza owners stated “We look forward to continuing that relationship with Sears…” It’s been revealed that Sears Holdings notified Bishop Police that local Kmart employees had stolen at least $50-thousand USD worth of merchandise in the past few months. After police investigated six people were arrested. In Costa Mesa, the upscale South Coast Plaza mall bought the 50 years old Sears store for $187-million USD, local news media said the mall owners refused to say what their plans are for the still active store. More proof the shutdowns are part of a REIT conspiracy; the new property owner of the land currently occupied by the Santa Rosa Kmart revealed plans to city officials to force the still active Kmart to shutdown! Eureka Kmart and a Riverside Kmart, 116 jobs lost in October 2017! By September 2017 the 29 years old Chico Sears store, Blyth Kmart, a Sacramento Kmart, Manteca Kmart, the Sears store on La Jolla Village Drive in San Diego, the Sears Hometown Store in Oroville, all resulting in at least 4-hundred jobs lost! San Louis Obispo Sears shutting down in July, after 89 years of local sales. Local news media asked one resident why she thought they were shutting down and she replied “I just went in there and they don’t have crap!” The Chico Sears Auto Center shutdown in May 2017. When asked about Sears Holdings’ claim that displaced workers can get work at other Sears-Kmarts, Rhonda Shaffer, the manager of the Chico location, told local news media “The other stores are full up. There’s nowhere for them to go.” The last Kmart in Anaheim (home city to Disneyland) is shutdown. The Westfield University Towne Center Sears in San Diego shutdown. WARN filings revealed the Sears Hometown store in San Leandro shutdown at the end of December 2016, and the historic Santa Monica Sears shutdown, 80 jobs lost in April 2017. In North Hollywood, local news media reporting that a very profitable Sears store suddenly began a ‘remodeling’ project by ripping up the flooring. Loyal, and apparently plentiful, customers were afraid the store was being shutdown. But Sears reps told the local press that they are making improvements as the store because “This store is a very successful store for Sears. We are very busy and very profitable.” In Carson, the Southbay Pavillion Sears shutting down, 105 jobs lost by July 2017! Santa Cruz Sears Auto Center. The old Santa Monica Sears store on Colorado Boulevard shutdown in April 2017 due to the property being sold to a developer. Carson Town Center Kmart (supposedly the last Kmart in the South Bay area), local news reports say the building is being chopped up into smaller retail shops, one third of which has already been leased to a restaurant. Bakersfield Kmart, Coalinga Kmart, Kingsburg Kmart. Taxpayers in the city of Covina forced to pay to re-develop a former Kmart property into a housing project and bus terminal! A Kmart near the UC-Riverside campus shutdown in March 2017. The Town & Country Center Kmart in Indio shutdown right before Xmas 2016. The GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Bakersfield Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. Fontana Kmart, 133 jobs gone before Xmas 2016! Another Los Angeles Kmart, 234 jobs gone right before Xmas 2016! 233 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!!! Sears Holdings shutdown a Los Angeles Kmart, 132 jobs lost in May 2016! Dinuba Kmart 68 jobs lost, Lodi Kmart, Tulare Kmart, Wasco Kmart. Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento. Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings. On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart on Katella Avenue shutdown, 107 jobs lost in March 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutdown between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”

Two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Colorado: In Denver, local news media revealed that Sears Holdings is refusing to sell a vacant Kmart building, it is now a illegal trash dump according to city leaders. Council woman Kendra Black questions the reports that Sears Holdings is in financial trouble because “Kmart, which is now owned by Sears, is continuing to pay the rent on it, even though they’re in financial trouble. Go figure.” This isn’t the first time Sears-Kmart was paying rent on vacant properties (see Banning Kmart in California section, Chubbuck Sears in Idaho section, a North Shores Kmart in Michigan, Columbus Westland Mall Sears in Ohio). Greeley Sears. The Aurora and Englewood Kmarts shutting down by Thanksgiving. The last Denver Kmart. Grand Junction Kmart. The Craig Kmart shutdown, about 30 jobs lost a couple weeks before Xmas 2016. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Thornton is shutting down. 40 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Employees of the Sears Appliance & Hardware in Shelton told customers the store was being shutdown right after Xmas. Local news media confirmed when a hand written sign appeared at the entrance of the store a week later, but no comment from store management. The Southbury Kmart by thanksgiving 2017. Enfield Sears store. Cromwell Kmart shutdown by April 2017. 113 jobs lost as the West Hartford GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Sears store and Auto Center shutdown by the end of January 2017! Local news media pointed out that every remaining Sears and Kmart store in the state is on the new Sears Holdings Real Estate “opportunities” list! Putnam Kmart. Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Seven Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Kmarts in Clearwater, Milton and Sebring. Local taxpayers in Titusville getting stuck with the redevelopment bill for a vacant Kmart. The property has been vacant since 2009, a property developer told the North Brevard Economic Development Zone that the only way it would take on the job of redeveloping the vacant Kmart was if it got ten years worth of tax breaks! Sears Holdings lackey Seritage Growth Properties announced it will shutdown its huge Sears store and Auto Center at the Westfield Broward (aka Broward Mall) in Plantation. It’s part of a $20-million USD plan to turn the 55-thousand square meters (180-thousand square feet) store into smaller retail and restaurant spaces, which will include a much smaller Sears operation (the Auto Center will not return). North Miami Beach Kmart shutting down right before Xmas. A Kmart in Miami, Tampa, Hudson and Lakeland by October 2017. Sears Outlet in East Naples suddenly shutdown at the end of June 2017: “That’s the end of the game. I’m out of work.”-Allan Stearns, former employee

Sears store on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota by September 2017. Sears will not renew the lease on a massive warehouse in Jacksonville. The lease expires at the beginning of 2018, the $28.8-million USD warehouse was built specifically for Sears in 2008, it’s considered the largest warehouse in Florida. Hialeah Kmart shutting down, about 67 jobs lost by mid-July. Aventura Sears store and Auto Center shutting down by Sears Holdings spin-off Seritage Growth, who owns the property. Seritage Growth will re-develop the property into smaller retail spaces, 118 jobs lost by the end of July 2017! The property that the Milton Kmart (on US90) sits on is now for sale. The California based owner says he is not going to wait for Sears Holdings to shut the Kmart down, he’s selling the property while there is still an active Kmart on it. Volusia Mall Sears Auto Center sold to CBL & Associates Properties who has plans to shut it down in the next two to four years. Lake Wales Sears store. Fort Myers McGregor Point Shopping Center Kmart. Fort Pierce Kmart on Federal Highway. Sarasota Kmart on North Beneva Road. Port Charlotte Kmart on Cochran. Jacksonville Kmart on Normandy Village Parkway (local news reports say it’s the last Kmart in the city). Kissimmee Kmart on Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. Naples Kmart on Golden Gate Highway. Palatka Kmart on Town & Country Drive. It’s been revealed that Santa Rosa County School District is spending $1.45-million tax dollars to buy a property now owned by Sears Holdings (via Kmart)! The sale of the property is delayed because only now has it been revealed that Kmart is the new owner of the former Food World property! The GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Pembroke Pines Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. WARNs issued for the Saint Petersburg Sears store and Auto Center, 126 jobs gone by the end of January 2017! 173 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! In Orlando, the 50 years old Fashion Square Mall Sears & Auto Center shutting down, 101 jobs lost by mid-November! Inverness Sears Hometown suddenly shutdown due to disagreements with the landlord. Jacksonville Sears. Mandarin (Jacksonville) Kmart, Neptune Beach Kmart and Perry Kmart shutting down between July-September. The Lutz Kmart shutdown March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutdown mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: The Kmart on West Walnut Avenue in Dalton shutting down by March 2018, making it the last Dalton Kmart to go down. And for more proof that the excuse that brick-n-mortar stores are being killed by online retail, it was revealed that the property owner of the West Walnut Avenue Kmart location had worked for two and a half years to create a plan to replace the Kmart with more smaller retail stores! Kmart on Glenwood Avenue in Dalton shutting down in January 2018. Kmarts in Macon and Tifton. Sears operations in Lithonia and Valdosta (ending 76 years of Sears ops in Valdosta). The Mableton Kmart, 90 jobs gone right before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, 2017. Columbus and Douglas Kmarts in October 2017. The Dalton Sears store, Fort Oglethorpe Kmart, Calhoun Kmart by September 2017. Local news media reported that the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority essentially said the state’s bad economy is to blame. A Savannah Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Cornelia Kmart, Kingsland Kmart, Albany Sears, Columbus Sears. Yet another Augusta Kmart shutting down, this time the one on Deans Bridge Road. 63 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutdown in August 2016, 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area! The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutdown April 2016. Dublin Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Tamuning Kmart made the Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Local news media reporting that the last remaining Kmart on Oahu will shutdown in October. Officially the Kapolei Kmart is shutting down because it’s “unprofitable” but KHON interviewed a real estate analysts who confirmed what I’ve been saying since 2012, it’s a REIT conspiracy: “Smaller stores will be coming and the bigger stores will go away…”-Stephany Sofos

Kahului Kmart shutting down, 125 jobs lost by mid-June! Don’t blame the internet, the store manager told local news media that ever since a Target opened nearby sales have declined by 50%. Honolulu Kmart near Aloha Stadium (on Salt Lake Boulevard) shutdown mid-March 2017. 14 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutdown in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: The Ammon Kmart. In Lewiston, the Sears Hometown is for sale because the franchise owners say they can’t afford to renew the license to operate it. Coeur d’Alene Kmart in October 2017. Lewiston Kmart, Boise Town Square Mall Sears Store & Auto Center, Boise Kmart Auto Center, the Nampa Kmart Store & Auto Center, the Coeur d’Alene Sears Store & Auto Center, the Twin Falls Sears Store & Auto Center and Kmart, the Ammon Kmart, the Idaho Falls Sears Store & Auto Center, the abandoned but still owned by Sears Holdings Chubbuck (the“opportunities” listing incorrectly says Pocatello) Sears Store (esentially all remaining Sears & Kmarts in Idaho) made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Boise Kmart on Fairview shutdown mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutdown April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois: Taxpayers of Lake Zurich Unit District 95 forced to pay for an abandoned Sears Hardware store as the school district wants to use the building to consolidate its administrative offices, IT operation and teacher training spaces. Effingham Kmart, 33 jobs gone by February 2018. The Pekin Sears Hometown Store shutting down before Xmas. The city of Pekin has convinced the state to include the vacant Kmart property in the taxpayer funded Southern Tazewell County Enterprise Zone, which gives businesses a five years tax break for setting up shop ‘in the zone’. Kmarts in Oaklawn, Elmhurst and Belleville right before Thanksgiving 2017. Sears operations in Peru between July and October 2017. The Peoria Oakbrook Center Sears store shutting down in September 2017. It will be reduced in size to about 30% of its current proportions, the remaining space will be leased out. Then the Oakbrook Center Sears Auto Center will shutdown in March 2018. Bloomingdale Kmart, 96 jobs lost in July 2017. The Sears store on North Harlem Avenue in Chicago. Associated Press reporting that Sears Holdings eliminated 4-hundred corporate level jobs! Local news media reminded local taxpayers about the massive 2011 tax break deal ‘lawmakers’ gave Sears Holdings in order to prevent layoffs. Chicago Sears store on West Irving Park Road listed as available for lease by Sears Holdings’ evil spawn Seritage Growth Properties. Alton Kmart, Granite City Kmart. $1-million USD loss as Mount Vernon Sears Hometown Store mysteriously burns to the ground. The nine years old Sears Hometown Store in Beloit shutting down in January 2017. Du Quoin Sears Hometown Store shutting down in January 2017. Another update for the abandoned Rock Island Kmart; looks like Augustana College found a fool to buy the Kmart property that was dumped on the college (in the form of a tax avoiding donation) and then vacated in July 2016, it was sold to a company called Rock Island KM. The GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Oak Brook Sears store being reduced by half and the Auto Center being shutdown between 2017 & 2018. Sears Hardware in Edwardsville shutting down right before Thanksgiving, 21 jobs lost. A local TV station reported that Sears Hardware in Collinsville is shutting down, no comment from store management. Shutdown WARNs issued for Kmarts in Tinley Park and South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, 275 jobs gone by Xmas! News reports out of Tinley say a total of six Kmarts will shutdown by Xmas! Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties confirmed that two ‘Sears’ properties, in Chicago and Springfield, are shutting down. 116 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! An update for the abandoned Rock Island Kmart; the recently vacated property was ‘donated’ to Augustana College, but now college administrators are looking to sell the property to anybody foolish enough to buy it. The real reason the college is trying to dump the vacant Kmart is that the property tax is about $92-thousand per year, indicating the ‘donation’ was actually a screw-job (lets not forget that local news media pointed out that city officials spent $15-million tax dollars attracting Walmart to town, but spent zilch on trying to keep Kmart from leaving!). The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutdown, 125 jobs lost! Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Bradley Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money. After 90 years Chicago Sears on Lawrence Avenue shutting down by August 2016, local news says its the oldest Sears store still operating. The last Decatur Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 61 jobs lost, administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say there are no more Sears Holdings stores in the immediate area! Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski. Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart, Eddie Lampert eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: After 20 years the owner of the Sears Hometown Store in Linton says every effort he made to keep the store open failed, without elaborating Vic Brown stated “I want to announce that Dec. 30 will end my partnership with Sears Hometown Stores. This decision is mine…..it is one I have to do.” Anderson Kmart in October 2017. Sears operations in Clarksville, Elkhart and Schererville between July and October 2017. Mishawaka Kmart. Sears Auto Centers at the Honey Creek Mall and the Green Tree Mall shutdown at the end of May 2017. Chesterton Kmart, La Porte Kmart, Kokomo Sears. In Indianapolis, Sears Home Appliance Showroom on North Michigan Road and Sears Appliance & Hardware on Thompson Road shutdown in January 2017. Sears Appliance & Hardware in Fishers shutdown in January 2017. Local news media discovered that a Sears Appliance & Hardware store in Avon quietly shutdown in October 2016. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ properties in Elkhart and Merrillville are shutting down. A WARN revealed that 99 Kmart employees in Merrillville will lose their jobs right before Xmas. 67 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart. Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutdown mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutdown in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart April 2016, 62 jobs lost. Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Iowa City and Marshalltown Kmarts, at least 99 jobs lost by September 2017. In Storm Lake, Sears Hometown Store shutting down by the end of July 2017. The Le Mars Sears Hometown Store shutting down by the end of July, the franchise owners said the shutdown was unexplainedly ordered by Sears Holdings: “We have downsized to no employees. We gave it the best shot… …Their [Sears Holdings] reasoning [for the shutdown], I don’t know.”-Deb Fuller, co-owner

Carroll Kmart shutting down, 46 jobs lost in July 2017. The Council Bluffs Sears Auto Center shutdown on 27 May 2017. In Waterloo the 48 years old Sears Auto Center shutting down by the end of May. A Dubuque Kmart, Sioux City Kmart, Waterloo Kmart. 22 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutdown in August 2016, the store was in the process of dying anyway, only 37 employees left. Sears Holdings shutdown their West Des Moines call center in June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutdown April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Council Bluffs Sears store in 2012, Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost). Davenport Kmart (59 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Kansas: Topeka Kmart shutting down by Thanksgiving. Garden City Sears by October 2017. Sears store on Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park. Topeka Kmart suddenly shutdown its pharmacy ops, it was revealed by an unnamed Kmart employee who called local news media. Topeka Sears Auto Center shutting down by the end of May. A Wichita Kmart, Leavenworth Kmart, Salina Sears. 18 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. In El Dorado, a contracted Sears store suddenly shutdown due to Sears Holdings continually changing the contract: “We had a contract that we had to follow to a ‘T’ while they changed it at will. They changed our commission bonuses and percentages and that hurt us.”-Russ Christy, contracted Sears store operator

Hutchison Kmart. North Topeka Kmart shutting down in 2016, 49 jobs lost. Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Kmarts in Henderson, Glasgow, Versailles and Frankfort. In Louisville, the Sears store in the Oxmoor Center shutting down by mid-January 2018. Lexington and Owensboro Kmarts in October 2017. Glascow Kmart suddenly shutdown its pharmacy, Sears Holdings’ communications director Howard Riefs stated “prescription files and the inventory will be sold to another pharmacy”. Jefferson Mall Sears store sold to CBL & Associates Properties who has plans to shut it down in the next two to four years. Corbin Kmart. London Kmart. Hopkinsville Kmart. Bowling Green Kmart. The Georgetown BigKmart shutting down by mid-April 2017. Paducah Sears store and Auto Center shutting down by mid-March 2017. In Owensboro, the Kmart on West Parrish Avenue shutting down by mid-March 2017. Pikeville Kmart shutting down right before Xmas. 31 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Two Kmarts in Louisville. Elizabethtown Kmart, Maysville Kmart, Paintsville Kmart. Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Sears operations on Johnston Street in Lafayette between mid-July and mid-September 2017. Gonzales Kmart, a New Orleans Kmart on South Clearview Parkway, the Cortana Mall Sears, Gretna Sears. The New Iberia Kmart shutdown on 11 December 2016. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Houma shutting down. 36 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Houma Sears, Pineville Kmart. Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Augusta Sears shutting down. Bangor Kmart shutdown in mid-April 2017. 13 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Kmart shutting down by August 2016, more than 50 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: The Baltimore-Dundalk Sears at Eastpoint Mall. Elkton Kmart. Sears stores in Cockeysville and Hagerstown. Sears Holdings sold its Bethesda Sears store to Montgomery Mall owner Westfield in a package deal worth $105-million USD. Westfield claims the Bethesda Sears will remain open. Two other Sears stores, in California, were sold to Westfield in the package deal. Baltimore Kmart on North Point Boulevard. Eastpoint Mall Kmart, in Dundalk, shutdown mid-April 2017. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Columbia Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. 54 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), California Kmart (71 jobs lost), Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

Massachusetts: Sears in Lanesboro-Pittsfield’s Berkshire Mall. The operator of the nine years old Hadley Sears Hometown Store laid off his two employees and put the store, and the land, up-for-sale. Local news reports say the franchise owner/operator once had ten Sears Hometown stores across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but the Hadley location is his last one. After less than seven years the Sears Hometown Store in Gloucester suddenly shutdown, however, the new owner is blaming the shutdown on the landlord who wants to jack up the rent. Fitchburg and Springfield Kmarts in October 2017. Newburyport Kmart. Local news media warned of the eventual shutdown of the Sears in in Springfield’s Eastfield Mall, as the mall is officially dead, the mall’s owner confirmed what I’ve been writing about (that these brick-n-mortar shutdowns are part of a REIT conspiracy) by revealing their plans to “de-mall” the mall! Dedham Sears store paid for newspaper “store closing” advertising revealing they are shutting down, local news media pointed out there was no other announcement or notification. South Attleboro Kmart. The Enfield Square Mall Sears store shutdown mid-April 2017 (supposedly the Auto Center will remain open). The Sears store and Auto Center in Swansea shutdown by mid-April 2017. In Fairhaven, the Shaw’s Plaza BigKmart shutdown by mid-April 2017. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Natick Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. 64 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Tewksbury Kmart. Fairhaven Sears Appliance & Hardware shutdown mid-April 2016. Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News. 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shutdown in May 2016. North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: Saint Clair Shores Kmart shutting down, 127 jobs gone in January 2018, after the lease was transferred to grocery store operator Kroger, who plans on redeveloping the property! Kmarts in Battle Creek, Clinton and Mount Pleasant. Kmarts in Utica/Shelby, Bay City and Sandusky. Escanaba and Monroe Kmarts in October 2017. Traverse City, West Branch and Cheboygan Kmarts. Macomb Mall Sears store in Roseville. Livonia Kmart was shutdown by mid-April 2017. Gaylord Sears Hometown Store suddenly shutdown. 26 years old Detroit Lakes Kmart shutdown by April 2017, despite still posting a “Now Hiring” sign! In Garden City, the iconic first ever Kmart store in the World is shutting down on its 55th birthday, by the end of March 2017. Lansing Kmart, Muskegon Kmart, Plymouth Kmart, Roseville Kmart, Waterford Kmart, Westland Kmart, Acme Kmart. 48 years old Grand Rapids Woodland Mall Sears, 84 jobs lost in March 2017: “We figured we were safe, so yeah, it was kind of a shock to everybody today. One guy’s been there for 20 years-plus and that’s what he knows best, hard to change from there, so I feel sorry for him.”-Marty Kruizenga, Sears Auto Center employee

Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ properties in Alpena, Manistee and Sault Saint Marie are shutting down. WARNs filed with the state revealed that on top of the Seritage Growth shutdowns the Kmarts in Jackson, Grand Rapids, Byron Center and Fenton will also shutdown. A total of 390 Kmart jobs will be killed right before Xmas! 113 Sears and Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! The Holland Sears Appliance & Hardware shutdown, the manager of the francise store refused to say why. Plymouth Township Super Kmart shutting down in November 2017 (that’s when the lease expires), according to Plymouth’s Planning Commission, Sears Holdings is selling the property to a developer. A Kmart on Groesbeck Highway, Clinton Township, shutdown, 82 jobs lost in October 2016. The Farmington Hills Kmart shutdown mid-July 2016, 61 jobs lost. Midland Sears, Houghton Lake Kmart, Taylor Kmart. The new owner of the Bradley Kmart shut it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutdown in mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart in mid-April, 47 jobs lost. Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: It’s now official, the taxpayers of Minneapolis are the new owners of an active Kmart for $8-million USD, on top of about $8-million tax dollars already spent on the Nicollet Avenue South at Lake Street road project. The city decided that the only way they can create a true intersection is to force Kmart to move, and the only way they can do that is to buy the property the Kmart sits on. Thief River Falls Kmart. The 50 years old Sears store in the Crossroads Center shutting down by mid-January 2018, ending 90 years of Sears in Saint Cloud. Sears store in Burnsville and a franchised Sears in Fairmont shutdown. The franchise owners of the Fairmont Sears warned that other franchise stores are on the growing hit list: “Every six months, they review stores. Over the last 12 months, my store had lost too much money. They even took into consideration that before I bought the store, it wasn’t making any money at all…..”-Jennifer Bolden, co-owner

47 years old Med City Kmart is shutdown its pharmacy operations. The Crossroads Center Sears Auto Center in Saint Cloud shutdown. Local news media reporting that the city of Minneapolis is about to become the new landlord of the Kmart on Nicolette Avenue, at taxpayer expense of course. It’s being blamed on the ‘re-connect’ scandal. The $7-million USD proposal will be discussed in June. Local news media also revealed the city made an $8-million offer to buy the Kmart on West Lake Street, last year. Coon Rapids Sears, Mankato Sears, Detroit Lakes Kmart on Highway 10 West. After 14 years the Montevideo Sears Hometown Store shutdown by the end of January 2017. The local owners of the franchise store says the decision by Sears Holdings to shutdown the store is also forcing them to sell their property. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Minnetonka Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. The Dundas Planning Commission met with CJB II Real Estate to discuss the future of the abandoned Kmart. ‘Elected’ leaders expressed a willingness to throw $100-thousand tax dollars at the redevelopment project. The Dundas Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 32 jobs lost. West Saint Paul Kmart shutting down by Xmas. 32 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The 40 years old Eden Prairie Center Sears store shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Eddie Lampert sold the store to the mall owner for $16-million! The owner of the mall wants to carve up the Sears into smaller stores. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Biloxi Sears. 14 Kmart & Sears properties made the Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Corinth Kmart. The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutdown in April, no word on job losses. Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Kmarts in Independence, Popular Bluff, Sedalia and Saint Louis. 44 years old Kansas City Sears store on Antioch Road shutting down in July 2017. The Sears Auto Center in Cape Girardeau shutdown on 27 May 2017 (Happy B-day to me!). The 20 years old Independence Kmart on Noland Road shutdown. Saint Joseph Sears, Branson Kmart, Jefferson Kmart & Sears, Rolla Kmart, a Springfield Kmart, a Saint Louis Kmart. 48 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Bridgeton Kmart, Springfield Kmart. Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: The Sears Hometown Store in Great Falls suddenly shutdown, it was discovered by customers who tried to pick-up already paid for appliances, local news media has so far been unable to get a comment from the store manager or Sears Holdings, three days later the franchised store re-opened with the explanation that it was now being operated directly by Sears Holdings. Glendive and Great Falls Kmarts in October 2017. The Hamilton Kmart, Havre Kmart, Helena Kmart, Glendive Kmart, Billings Sears Store & Auto Center, Butte Kmart, Great Falls Kmart Store & Auto Center, Kalispell Kmart Store & Auto Center (essentially all remaining stores) made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Billings Kmart. Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Local news media reporting that the franchise owner-operator of the North Platte Sears Hometown Store suddenly quit after the landlord refused to renew the lease, Sears Holdings took over the store and claims they will find a new location. In Omaha, the Kmart on 50th and L Streets shutting down right after Xmas 2017, local news media say it’s the last Kmart in the city, and apparently there’s now only one other Kmart in the state. Seritage Growth Properties says its Kmart property in Kearney is shutting down by Xmas. Six Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. 40 years old Hastings Kmart. Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Another Las Vegas Kmart (East Sahara Avenue) in October 2017. Las Vegas (East Sunset Road), Henderson and Sparks Kmarts. Henderson Kmart. 22 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: The West Lebanon Kmart suddenly shutdown its pharmacy, refuses to comment to local news media. Claremont losing their Sears Hometown, not because it’s shutting down, it’s moving to the town of Newport! Upper Valley Mall Sears in West Lebanon. 23 Kmart & Sears properties made the Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Kmarts in Moorestown and Parsippany shutting down mid-November. Manahawkin and Mantua Kmarts, the Watchung (126 jobs lost) and Vineland Sears shutting down by September 2017. Sears Holdings-Seritage Growth are tearing down the Watchung Sears store and Auto Center. The Auto Center space has already been leased to Cinemark and the Sears store will be chopped up into smaller retail spaces. Rio Grande Kmart, Clementon Kmart, East Brunswick Kmart, Pleasantville Kmart. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Paramus Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. 53 Kmart and Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Nearly one acre of the Rockaway Townsquare Mall Sears (which is still in operation) is now rented out to a furniture dealer. Lodi Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

New Mexico: Las Cruses and Alamogordo Kmarts. Santa Fe Sears Auto Center shutting down in June and the Santa Fe Sears store shutting down in July 2017, local news media reported that employees were threatened by Sears Holdings not to talk to news media. Alamogordo Sears shutting down by June 2017. Roswell Sears shutting down. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Albuquerque Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Deming is shutting down. 21 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Back in May local news reports said the Artesia Kmart was shutting down, in July Sears Holdings finally confirmed it. Albuquerque’s Coronado Center Sears suddenly shutdown their Auto Center, and will reduce the size of the main store by 50% within two months. Sears goon Howard Riefs stated “We will rightsize the labor…”, but gave no numbers. The ‘rightsizing’ of the Coronado Center store is in partnership with one of my evil former employers, mall owner GGP. Sears Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Taxpayers might be footing the bill for the redevelopment of the vacant East Greenbush Kmart, town leaders offering a Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes (PILOT) deal to a developer who hopes to hock it as a state taxpayer funded ‘training facility’, among other things. In Johnson City the decades old Oakdale Mall Sears store shutdown (the Auto Center shutdown in July), 50 jobs lost in september 2017. Kmarts in Rochester(Chili), Victor and Vails Gate(New Windsor) shutting down mid-November. Herkimer Kmart, 46 jobs lost mid-October 2017. The Albany and East Northport Sears stores and Auto Centers, 210 jobs gone by September 2017! Liverpool, Malone, Cortland, Olean and Watertown Kmarts, more than 300 jobs lost by September 2017! Webster Kmart, 62 jobs lost by the end of July 2017. New Dorp-Staten Island Kmart (in the Hylan Plaza) shutting down, 164 jobs lost by mid-July! Local news reports say the property is being redeveloped into a $150-million USD “multi-level shopping complex”. Gee, didn’t they used to call multi-level shopping complexes a ‘Mall’? (in 2012 I warned that all these store shutdowns were part of a False Flag operation by Real Estate Investment Trusts: ALL PART OF REIT PLAN TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU SHOP, AND THEY BLAME YOU THE SHOPPER!) The massive Rego Park Center Sears shutting down, 2-hundred jobs lost starting the first week of April 2017! In Wallkill, the Galleria at Crystal Run Sears store and Auto Center shutting down, 96 jobs lost starting the first week of April 2017. New Hartford Kmart. In Cheektowaga, the Walden Galleria Sears store and Auto Center shutting down, 76 jobs lost starting the first week of April 2017. In Amherst, the Sears store and Auto Center shutting down, 105 jobs lost by April 2017! In Syracuse, after four years the Sears Outlet store in the Destiny USA mall is shutting down. The Queensbury Super Kmart is being reduced to just a Kmart, ending 24 hour grocery sales by January 2017. Shutdown WARN issued for the Binghamton Kmart, 69 jobs gone by Xmas. Shutdown WARN issued for the Cheektowaga Kmart, 101 jobs gone by Xmas! The second level of the GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Staten Island Sears shutting down right before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, 44 jobs killed, it’s been leased to Ireland’s clothier Primark. 104 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! The 50 years old Sears Auto Center in the Colonie Center Mall shutdown by Sears Holdings subsidiary Seritage Growth Properties, so the space could be rented out to Avis-Budget Car Rental Group. In Brooklyn, the Kings Plaza Sears shutting down, 210 jobs gone by mid-September 2016! Eddie Lampert is renting the space to a couple of European clothing retailers. Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. New York Post says Sears is shutting down their NYC clothing design office, 40 jobs moved to California, another 154 jobs gone by July! Rotterdam Mall Sears and Auto Center shutting down by August 2016 (67 jobs lost). Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 Rochester Kmart employees losing their jobs by mid-July 2016. Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart. Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford (Sangertown Mall) Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown. Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Jacksonville Kmart. Asheboro Sears. 23 years old Sears Hometown Store on Julian R. Allsbrook Highway. Surry County condemned the now vacant Kmart building at the Mayberry Mall. The condemnation prevents the property owner from finding a new tenant, until the structural problems are fixed. On top of that, local news media report the property owner is back due on county level property taxes. The action by the county opens the door for use of taxpayer funding to deal with the problem. Monroe Sears shutting down by the end of June 2017. Cross Creek Mall Sears store sold to CBL & Associates Properties who has plans to shut it down in the next two to four years. Concord Kmart, Fayetteville Kmart, Goldsboro Kmart, Madison Kmart, Wilmington Kmart. High Point Sears Hometown Store shutting down after four years, 325 jobs will be lost by February 2017! Mount Airy Kmart (in the Mayberry Mall) shutdown right before Xmas 2016. Burlington Kmart shutting down right before Xmas, local news reports said nobody was surprised. 71 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! 40 years old Thomasville Kmart shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Brevard Kmart, Gastonia Kmart, Lumberton Kmart, Pineville Kmart, Rocky Mount Kmart. Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: Minot Sears. Bismarck Sears Auto Center shutdown in May 2017. South Fargo Sears shutting down. 18 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: A local employee union revealed that the Kmart distribution warehouse in Bazetta Township has eliminated 150 jobs, or 50% of positions, as a result of ongoing store shutdowns! Kmarts in Austintown, Cleveland (69 jobs gone), Hillsboro, Oregon and Saint Marys. Massilion Kmart shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. A Kmart in Toledo, Dayton and Garfield Heights, more than 2-hundred jobs gone between September and October 2017! Sears Hometown Store in the Salem Plaza, in Salem. Wooster and Streetsboro Kmarts. Sears operations in Mentor, Middleburg Heights and on Central Avenue in Toledo. Toledo’s Westgate Village Sears shutting down. Eastland Mall Sears locations in Columbus and one Sears & Auto Center in Elyria and one Sears in Franklin. Westland Mall Sears, Columbus news media reported that Sears Holdings was forcing the mall owner to payout an estimated $400-thousand USD per year in property taxes on an otherwise vacant mall. Beavercreek (Dayton) Kmart shutting down by mid-July 2017. Eastgate Mall Sears store sold to CBL & Associates Properties who has plans to shut it down in the next two to four years. Akron Sears, Chillicothe Sears, Lancaster Sears, Richmond Heights Sears, Mount Vernon Kmart, Gallipolis Kmart, Kenton Kmart, New Boston Kmart, Clairsville Kmart, Zanesville Kmart, Reynoldsburg Kmart. The Fairborn and Springfield Kmart stores shutting down, 134 jobs gone right before Xmas! Reports that a Knox County Kmart is shutting down its pharmacy operations. Employees confirmed to local news media that the 21 years old Austintown Sears Appliance and Hardware will shutdown by Xmas. Mentor Kmart shutting down by Xmas, local news reports say in the 1990s the store employed 2-hundred people! 124 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! 18 years old Defiance Sears shutting down by August 2016. Marion Sears store (the Auto Center was shutdown in 2014), Ashtabula Kmart, Eaton Kmart, Fremont Kmart, Lima Kmart, Lorain Kmart, Springboro Kmart. Englewood Kmart, 57 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June 2016. Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June 2016. 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutdown in May 2016. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Hardware shuts down this Friday. The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutdown by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutdown mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutdown by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: Bartlesville and Shawnee Kmarts in October 2017, local news media said store managers refused to say how many people will lose their jobs. Midwest City Sears & Auto Center (according to local news reports the Heritage Park Mall, where Sears is located, is “already-dead” as it officially shutdown in 2010) and the last Kmart in Tulsa. Muskogee Kmart, Lawton Sears. In Tulsa the Sears store on 21st Street and Yale shutting down mid-April 2017, supposedly (according to news reports) the Auto Center will remain open. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Norman Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. 23 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears store and Auto Center (60 jobs lost in November 2014), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Salem Kmart shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Roseburg Kmart shutting down in September 2017. Local news reports revealed the Lloyd Center Sears store was sold and will shutdown sometime in the future, the space will be re-purposed into smaller storefronts. 23 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! A Blind Bat News reader warning that the Beaverton Kmart has replaced its permanent signage with temporary ones, and the store is looking empty. There’s been no public reports of the store shutting down. Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Kmarts in Clarion, Coraopolis-Moon, Moosic and Shamokin Dam. Sears ops in Indiana, Muncy-Pennsdale and State College. The Whitehall Kmart in the MacArthur Towne Center shutdown right after after Thanksgiving 2017, the property was sold to a retailer called At Home Stores. Kmarts in Allentown and Willow Grove shutting down mid-November. Erie Kmart in October 2017. Sears operations in Cranberry between July and October 2017. Butler, Belle Vernon, Indiana and Springettsbury Township Kmarts. The East End Centre Sears Outlet store in Wilkes-Barre, and the Sears Outlet in Phoenixville, were both shutdown without warning on 23 JUN 2017. Dickson City-Scranton Kmart shutting down by the end of July 2017. Bensalem and Feasterville-Trevose (Lower Southampton) Kmarts are shutting down. In Moon Township, local news media discovered the Moon Kmart property is under new management; Union Real Estate. A Union Real Estate agent admitted that they are conducting “exploratory work” to sell the property for redevelopment, but insists that until then the Kmart will remain open. Bald Eagle Township (Mill Hall) Kmart is shutting down by mid-June, when the lease expires. Local news reports say in 2003 a public campaign stopped plans to shutdown the Kmart then, but that was before Kmart and Sears were merged by Eddie Lampert. Meadville Kmart is shutting down by mid-July 2017. Kmart in East Stroudsburg shutting down by Summer, local shoppers say it was the last Kmart in the area and now the only retailer left is Walmart. Selinsgrove Sears, Uniontown Sears, Lower Allen Township-Camp Hill Sears, Dubois Kmart, Erie Kmart, Lancaster Kmart, Hampden Township-Mechanicsburg Kmart, Monroeville Kmart, Mount Pleasant Kmart. Shenango Valley Mall Sears store shutting down by mid-April, less than 1-hundred jobs affected. 168 Sears and Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! In July, Sears Holdings shutdown the Uniontown Kmart, killing at least 73 jobs. But the shutdown is also affecting a locally owned restaurant (Mark C’s Diner) still on the property, whose owners say their sales have crashed-n-burned since the shutdown. Now Sears Holdings say they are about to sell the Uniontown property in an effort to “realize shareholder value from the property”. Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts. Reading Kmart. Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall, 62 jobs lost. Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July 2016. Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: 31 Sears & Kmart properties made the Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

Rhode Island: Cranston Kmart shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, it’s the last remaining Kmart in the state. Middletown Sears Hometown by the end of July 2017. Warwick Sears by September 2017. Woonsocket Sears shutting down. Rhode Island Mall Sears Auto Center shutdown right before Thanksgiving. Five Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

South Carolina: Conway Kmart. Florence Kmart in October 2017. Sears & Auto Center in Columbia and the Seneca and Summerville Kmarts. Northwoods Mall Sears in North Charleston shutting down by June 2017, Seritage Growth Properties has already submitted plans to chop up the store into smaller spaces starting in July. The Auto Center will shutdown by the end of April, and the store will shutdown by mid-June 2017. Local news media discovered the Auto Center is already scheduled for subdivision. The lease expired and Sears Holdings will not renew it, saying “…we are working to actively manage our real estate portfolio to identify additional opportunities for reconfiguration and reduction of capital obligations.” Florence Sears, Anderson Kmart, Greenwood Kmart, North Charleston Kmart. The new owner of a Kmart on the boundaries of Anderson, Seritage KMT Finance, announced it will cut the Kmart store to half its size and is requesting the city of Anderson annex the land (probably in exchange for some taxpayer funded incentives for Seritage). 37 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The 44 years old Orangeburg Kmart shutting down in August 2016. Camden Kmart. 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutdown by May 2016. Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: Aberdeen Kmart. Sioux Falls Kmart. 11 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart. The Pierre Kmart shutdown March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost). Marshall Kmart in 2014.

Tennessee: Kmarts in Cookeville (by mid-February 2018), Nashville and Tullahoma. Taxpayers are being raped of $7.45-million USD as Nashville Metro is buying a vacant Kmart for the purpose of creating a massive police-state police precinct! A Jackson Kmart in October 2017. Madison and Johnson City Kmarts. The city of Bristol officially condemned the vacant Kmart building (vacant since August 2016), opening up the use of taxpayer dollars to tear it down. Hamilton Place Mall Sears store and the Northgate Mall Sears Auto Center were sold to CBL & Associates Properties who has plans to shut them down in the next two to four years. Morristown Kmart, Kingsport Sears. Sears Hometown Store in Columbia’s Campbell Shopping Plaza suddenly shutdown by the franchise owner who told local news media that he essentially saw the writing on the wall. After 30 years the Sears Hometown Store in Dyersburg shutdown. Local news reports say the shutdown was no surprise to the store’s manager. 58 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Local news reports say Sears Holdings has posted “Going out of business!” signs on the North Knoxville Kmart, however they could not get any confirmation of shutdown from corporate administrators. Bristol Kmart shutdown in August 2016. Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart. The Murfreesboro Kmart shutdown April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutdown in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutdown in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutdown by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: In Dallas, taxpayers get to pay for a massive 23 acre redevelopment of land which includes a now vacant Sears store, and to prove that the claim that brick-n-mortar stores are a-thing-of-the-past is bullshit, the massively expensive development project will have even more brick-n-mortar stores than what was on the old Sears-Valley View Mall site! The last Kmart in El Paso, on Sunland Park Drive, shutting down in January 2018 (apparently this store is not officially part of the latest round of mass shutdowns), at one time there were six Kmart stores in El Paso. The Kmart in Texarkana. Sears operations in Lufkin and San Angelo’s Sunset Mall. Local news media reported earlier in the year that the Sunset Mall Sears store was actually experiencing increased sales: “Sales in tools have grown 5% year-over-year. Mattress sales have grown 34% year-over-year. We’re one of the best stores in our market!”-Anthony Rollwitz, Sears hardline supervisor

The active Richardson Square Sears store was just sold to re-developer ATRCorinth, who plans on shutting it down when the short-term lease expires. In Houston, the iconic Sears at 4201 Main Street shutting down by the end of January 2018. The Sears Home Appliance Showrooom in Flower Mound suddenly shutdown, the confused manager saying “I’m not sure what we did wrong!” Sears operations in Paris, more than 40 jobs lost between July and October 2017. Two Kmarts in El Paso, as well as the 39 years old Sears & Auto Center in Texarkana and Sears Auto Center in Sherman. Baybrook Mall Sears stores in Freindswood and on Southwest Freeway in Houston. Dallas ‘Midtown’ Valley View Mall Sears store and Auto Center shutting down between the end of May and July 2017. The property is being redeveloped. Taxpayers in the city of Abilene might be forced to pay for the abandoned Kmart as “…funds would be used to acquire, renovate and equip buildings for a new police station, municipal court, water utilities billing, collection and meter-reading offices, and record storage. The cost is estimated at $9 million.” In Austin, Seritage Growth Properties just listed two Sears locations as available for lease; the Sears store at Barton Creek Square Mall, which is apparently co-owned by the mall’s owner Indiana based Simon Property Group, and the Sears Auto Center on North Interstate 35 are now available for lease. Odessa Sears, two Kmarts in El Paso. Kileen Kmart, Lufkin Kmart. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Frisco Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Harlingen is shutting down. Local news reports confirmed the Lubbock Kmart is shutting down right before Xmas. 134 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! Fort Stockton Sears Hometown Store was ‘re-branded’ the America’s Appliance Experts outlet. Sears Holdings revealed the Brownsville Kmart is shutting down by August. El Paso Kmart, Mission Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart. Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: A Salt Lake City Sears store and Auto Center on State Street. The Cedar City Sears Hardware and Appliance Store suddenly shutdown, local news media indicated it was the fault of Sears Holdings, not the franchise owner. A Salt Lake City Kmart in October 2017. Saint George Sears & Auto Center and Spanish Fork Kmart. Provo Towne Centre Sears store shutting down by the end of July, the Auto Center shutdown by the end of May 2017. The owner of the mall, Brixton Capitol, admitted that Sears shutdowns were part of the REIT plan to change the way you shop (which I first warned about in 2012). It has nothing to do with internet competition as Brixton Capitol stated “…150 planned Sears/K-Mart closures nationwide, Brixton Capital has already begun plans to redevelop the store as part of a larger vision to reposition Provo Towne Centre as a premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination.” Vernal Kmart, Layton Kmart. 16 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart. West Valley City Kmart in 2016. 35 years old Richfield Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutdown April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: The small Milton Sears shutdown. Five Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virgin Islands: Three Kmarts made the Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

Virginia: Kmarts in Abingdon, Danville and Lynchburg. Colonial Heights Sears. A Roanoke Kmart in October 2017. Sears & Auto Center in Richmond and two Virginia Beach Kmarts. The South Boston Sears Hometown Store. 50 years old Charlottesville Kmart shutting down, 62 jobs lost in July 2017. Local news media reporting that the Herndon Kmart suddenly displayed “store closing” signs. Mall developer Core Property Capital is demanding taxpayers pay-up to fund the redevelopment of the vacant Christiansburg Kmart property! They want Montgomery County to declare a special property tax district to raise taxes to pay for the redevelopment of privately owned commercial property! Bristol Sears, Roanoke Kmart, Fredericksburg Kmart, Norfolk Kmart, Salem Kmart. 63 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Christiansburg Kmart and the Hampton Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July 2016. The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutdown between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper. Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: The owner of the Sequim Sears Hometown Store wants to retire so he sold it off to rival Sears Hometown Store owners from another city, however, local news media report the Sequim store is shutting down on 30DEC2017. Seattle news media reporting that two active Puget Sound area Sears stores have just been sold for $27-million USD. Bellingham Sears Hometown & Outlet Store shutting down at the end of July, 2017, just months after a grand re-opening. Tacoma Kmart, 67 jobs lost by September 2017. Spanaway Kmart on Pacific Avenue South shutting down by mid-June 2017. 36 years old Lynnwood Sears shutdown by the end of March 2017, local news media reported access to the upper level of the store was already blocked. Tacoma Kmart on 6th Avenue. GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Lynwood Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says a ‘Sears’ property in Yakima is shutting down. 46 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! After officially denying that their Marysville Kmart was shutting down, calling it a “a bad rumor” and swearing to local news media that “the store will remain open”, guess what? Local news media reporting that the Marysville Kmart is now plastered with “store closing” signs, 47 jobs lost by by mid-July. Arrogantly Sears Holdings said the employees can apply at other Sears/Kmart stores, however, local news reports say it’s the last Kmart in all of Snohomish County. Eatonville Sears Hometown store. Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Kmarts in Beckley, Martinsburg and Vienna. Lewisburg Kmart. The Hocking Mall Sears Hometown Store suddenly shutdown, with only a weeks notice to employees. The Charleston Town Center Mall Sears store and Auto Center shutting down mid-April 2017. The Bridgeport Meadowbrook Mall Sears store shutting down “within the next 90 days”, supposedly the Auto center will remain open. The Elkins Kmart shutting down during the 1st quarter of 2017. In Parkersburg, the Kmart on Division Street shutting down by mid-April 2017. The Weirton BigKmart shutting down mid-April 2017. 34 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: It’s now official, city taxpayers of Brookfield forced to shell out at least $6-million USD in grant money (meaning it won’t be paid back) to repurpose the now vacant Sears store at Brookfield Square. Stevens Point Kmart, 45 jobs gone in January 2018, the city is considering plans to turn the property into student housing. The Caledonia (Racine) Kmart made the ‘for sale’ list. Local news media discovered the property is being offered at two-thirds less than the assessed value! Sears operations in Kenosha between July and October 2017. West Allis, La Crosse and Medford Kmarts shutdown, 239 jobs lost in September 2017! The Greendale Sears in the Southridge Mall. 50+ years old Brookfield Sears Auto Center shutdown, local news media revealed that Brookfield city administrators spent taxpayer money on a five years study to justify creating a taxpayer owned conference center near the Sears Auto Center location. In La Crosse, without warning the Sears Auto Center and the Kmart pharmacy were shutdown. In Appleton, questions from frustrated residents to local news media about the Fox River Mall Sears Auto Center revealed that it was quietly and suddenly shutdown overnight. Local news media confirmed it was open on 08 MAY 2017, but that according to the Sears it is now closed (except for warranty work)! The Economic Development Commission of Fort Atkinson has revealed plans to spend taxpayer money on the now vacant Kmart property. Local news media reported the city Fort Atkinson asked Sears Holdings how much they wanted to sell it for! It’s been revealed that nearly 40 cities are pushing for a new state law that will prevent taxpayers from being forced to pay the property taxes on vacated stores like Target and Sears. It’s a complicated mess, but because of current laws and recent court decisions local Wisconsin taxpayers are being forced to foot the property tax bill on vacated retail spaces! This has led to municipalities using taxpayer funding to sue retailers (most recently Target and Sears) for creating what’s called Dark Stores. Brookfield Square Sears store sold to CBL & Associates Properties who has plans to shut it down in the next two to four years. Platteville Kmart, Racine Kmart. Oshkosh Sears Hometown Store on Witzel Avenue shutting down. The city of Wausau just put the local taxpayers into debt by at least $650-thousand USD, buying the former Sears location at the Wausau Center. The Wausau Sears shutdown on June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.” The Land’s End outlet in the Madison West Towne Mall Sears store suddenly shutdown. It was also revealed that Sears connected Land’s End has shutdown at least five stores since 2015, due to crashing sales. 36 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Seritage Growth Properties is ‘downsizing’ the Sears store in the West Towne Mall, according to plans filed with the city of Madison. Those plans show a new restaurant taking up more than half of the space of the Sears store. Administrators refused to answer questions from the local news media. Hartford Kmart. Superior Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

Wyoming: Cheyenne Sears in January 2018. Rock Springs Kmart in October 2017. Sheridan Kmart. Cheyenne Kmart shutting down. Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties confirmed a ‘Sears’ property in Riverton is shutting down. Sheridan Kmart, Rock Springs Kmart, Riverton Kmart, Cody Kmart & Auto Center, Laramie Kmart, Jackson Kmart, Gillette Kmart, and in Casper and Cheyenne the Sears Stores & Auto Centers and Kmarts (essentially all remaining stores) made the Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!

Business/Economics, International

Students & Tourists used as slave labor? More proof immigration is about denying you a job!

November 21, 2017 Hutchins AAron

21 NOV 2017 (00:42 UTC-07 Tango 06) 30 Aban 1396/02 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1439/04 Xin-Hai (10th month) 4715

“They’re sending people overseas to work as slaves.”-Andy Rim, South Korean who’s wife was tricked into ‘backbacker’ slavery work

“After that I went to Mildura to pick grapes. The pay looked good, but after two weeks working nine-hour days I received my pay slip. It was $300 [AUD, about $226 USD]. I was sleeping in my car. I decided to leave. I couldn’t do that.”-Andrea Argiolas, migrant worker from Italy

A new study shows that a form of migrant worker, tourists who work their way through a ‘vacation’, and students are victims of Wage Theft.

The law study by University of Technology-Sydney, and University of New South Wales, was conducted in the British empire country (Commonwealth of Nations) of Australia. The study discovered that one in three tourist workers (called ‘backbacker’ workers in The Land Down Under) and foreign student workers were paid less than the legal minimum wage. Not only that, but many foreign workers are actually forced to pay a ‘deposit’ to get a job, as well as pay for transportation and rent for bare-bones living conditions, leaving many with next to nothing when the job is done! 86% of tourist and student workers have been led to believe that they are legally not allowed to be paid minimum wage, which is not true under Aussie law! (Note: In the United States it is legal to pay foreign migrant workers less than minimum wage, not just at federal level but at state level. Here in Idaho many foreign farm workers, and even U.S. citizens, can legally be paid far less than the state minimum wage. Entertainment workers [mainly movie theaters] in Idaho, both foreign and citizens, can legally be forced to work without breaks and without overtime pay!)

Some backbacker workers reported sexual harassment: “I came to Australia after I finished school for a new experience, to travel, to see as much of this country as possible. The farmer was really inappropriate with all the girls. He would come up behind me and rub against me, or hold my hands while I was packing.”-Alex Bell, from British empire member United Kingdom, forced to pick sweet potatoes in Australia

The study also found that some foreign workers refused to complain because they felt it was a privilege to work in Australia!

The study is called Wage Theft in Australia, which also revealed that 900-thousand backbacker and student workers in Australia are coming from at least 107 countries!

Tourist ‘backbacker’ slave wage workers in Australia

PARADISE IN THE EMPIRE AS BRITS GET RAPED HARD BY THE QUEEN!

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

CLANDESTINE IMMIGRATION: GERMAN ‘REFUGEE’ BOAT SEIZED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING!

VACCINE FAIL: 156% INCREASE IN AUSTRALIAN ‘HORROR FLU’! EXPERTS FALSELY BLAME SUPER SPREADER CHILDREN!

FRACKING SETS AUSTRALIAN RIVER ON FIRE!

MORE PROOF GOVERNMENTS & CORPORATIONS ARE BEHIND HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNDER THE GUISE OF RESCUING REFUGEES IN ORDER TO TAKE YOUR JOB!

WHY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE BAD: THANKSGIVING, CHRISTIANITY’S OPEN HUNTING SEASON ON NATIVE AMERICANS!

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PROTECTED IN RED STATE IDAHO?

OBAMA REGIME SECRET REFUGEE DEAL WITH AUSTRALIA!

MY IMMIGRANT IDAHO: FEDERALES (pronounce that the Spanish way) SAY IDAHO DOMINATED BY POOR IMMIGRANTS!

GERMAN NEWS MEDIA REVEAL WEALTHY MIGRANTS CONTROL NEW YORK CITY!

FALSE FLAG: ‘WAR REFUGEES’, THE GREATEST & MOST PROFITABLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING OP EVER!

“IT’S NOT LIKE THEY’RE TAKING JOBS FROM AMERICANS” 5-MILLION MIGRANTS REFUSE TO LEAVE!

FALSE FLAG: DENMARK REPORTS 50,000 MIGRANTS “DISAPPEARING”!

TOTAL GUN BAN TOTAL FAILURE, AUSTRALIA: YET ANOTHER GUN RELATED INCIDENT IN COUNTRY THAT TOTALLY BANS GUNS!

HISTORY SHOWS IMMIGRANTS ARE GREATEST SELF-INFLICTED THREAT TO EMPIRES!

Business/Economics

“Retail is not a job or a career…” “this year…would be our last year”: U.S. Retail/Banking/Service sector collapse, October 2017

November 10, 2017 Hutchins AAron

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

Alabama: In Homewood, kids clothier Sash & Beau shutdown. In Vestavia Hills, after five years Fancy Goods Variety shutdown.

Arizona: In Mesa, after 38 years Bubbles of Joy-Groovie Ghoulie’s Costumes shutdown: “Last year was not good. It was not the best so we decided this year that it would be our last year.”-Mary Faber, owner

Arkansas: In Fort Smith, after 77 years Midwest Sporting Goods due to the death of a co-owner.

California: Seven years old kitchen/bath fixture retailer PIRCH issued a shutdown WARN for its store in San Diego, 78 jobs gone a couple weeks before Xmas. It should be noted that PIRCH announced in September it would shutdown all its stores outside of California. Florida based SeaWorld eliminating 79 jobs in San Diego, right before Xmas. Solar power financing company Renovate America laid off 76 people in San Diego, and another 1-hundred nationwide! In May, Renovate America (the largest solar financing company in California) laid off 108 people. In Santa Rosa, an unprecidentedly fast wildfire destroyed several stores. Also, the Santa Rosa Plaza shutdown due to smoke from the fire, 120 retail shops shuttered until things clear out. Investment company National Planning Holdings laid off 163 people in El Segundo! Too Big to Jail Capital One issued a layoff WARN for its San Francisco ops, 132 jobs gone in January 2018! San Francisco based clothier GAP claims it had to shutdown at least four stores in the area due to smoke from the wildfires. In Kenwood wildfire destroyed the Fountaingrove Inn and a Hilton Sonoma Wine Country Hotel. In San Jose, after 62 years Mosher’s Men’s Clothing shutting down due to the owner’s health problems. In Orange, after 14 years Copperwood Artware shutting down so the owners can retire. In Bakersfield, the owner of Regency Lanes Bowling Center went chapter 11 bankrupt busted, however, management at the bowling alley claim they will be remodeling, not shutting down. France based clothier Louis Vuitton shutting down its store in Hollywood, right after Xmas. ATA Retail Services issued a shutdown WARN for its Hayward location, 74 jobs gone right before Xmas. Engineering services company Jacobs Field Services issued layoff WARNs for its Carson ops, 176 jobs gone right before Xmas! In Laguna Beach, Andersen Hotels shutting down its Hotel Laguna, 121 jobs gone right before Xmas! South Africa based Swissport ending airport operations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, 348 jobs gone in December!

Connecticut: Hotel operator Marriott eliminating 107 jobs in Stamford right after Xmas! British empire based Too Big to Jail RBS (Royal bank of Scotland) 43 jobs in Stamford right before Xmas.

Delaware: In Middletown, after 69 years W.D. Hatton Watch, Clock, and Jewelry Repair shutdown, the 94 years old owner said “It wasn’t because business was slowing. It was continuous. Sales were going up. I just got pretty old and got tired, too much repairs!”

Florida: In Winter Park, after 18 years the Doggie Door shutdown. Jacksonville based department chain store Stein Mart suddenly laid off 48 HQ employees, due to losing $9.3-million USD. Ritz-Carlton South Beach officially eliminating 281 jobs due to damage by Hurricane Irma, the hotel has been shutdown since 08 SEP 2017! Hawks Clay Resort officially laid off 260 people, blaming it on damage by Hurricane Irma! Since the hurricane hit the resort the employees had been receiving ‘hurricane pay’. After 72 years Burgess Paint Supply shutdown so the owner (who says his ‘wife’ is the store) can retire. Orlando based SeaWorld suddenly laid off 350 people across the U.S., as part of its plan to reduce costs by $40-million USD! ValueOptions Federal Services eliminating 115 jobs by May 2018! Professional Surveys of Pinellas eliminating 182 jobs by mid-November! Sitel Operating Corporation eliminating 178 jobs by December!

Illinois: Furniture seller Land of Nod eliminating 25 jobs as part of consolidation ops. OfficeMax shutting down its Springfield store on West Iles Avenue in time for Thanksgiving, “As part of the three-year strategic plan announced in August 2016”. In Jacksonville, after ten years sexist female only fitness center Curves suddenly shutdown and now for sale, to fund the co-owners’ retirement. Office services company Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions issued a layoff WARN, 34 jobs gone by November. Marketing consulting company Direct Energy issued a shutdown WARN for its Buffalo Grove location, 98 jobs gone by March 2018, due to consolidation ops. Too Big to Jail Capital One issued a mass-layoff WARN for its Rolling Meadows ops, 452 jobs gone between December 2017 and April 2018, no reason given!

Indiana: What construction/real estate industry recovery? House flipper Chart Properties now bankrupt busted, local news reports say more than 120 customers are ‘screwed’!

Iowa: Hotel operator Sheraton laying off 30 people in Iowa City right after Xmas.

Hawaii: Island Air now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to legal problems with the company that leases aircraft to the airlines.

Kansas: The Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Argonia failed, assets turned over to Conway Bank. In Shawnee, after almost 40 years Fun Party and Wedding Services shutdown so the owners can retire.

Kentucky: In Shelbyville, after 90 years Biagi’s Appliance shutdown. In Lexington, after 56 years Howard-Knight Tall & Big clothiers shutdown because the 85 years old owner wants to retire. Texas based Dignity Memorial suddenly shutdown its 1-hundred years old Barbour and Son Funeral Home in Tollesboro.

Louisiana: In Shreveport, after 66 years Toy Fair shutting down after Xmas, it’s for sale, the owner says he wants to focus on his other business. Pennsylvania based clothier David’s Bridal shutting down its ten years old store in Alexandria by mid-December, as part of plans to shutdown U.S. stores and open new stores in Canada. After 88 years Vermilion Oaks Golf Club suddenly shutdown, and as proof the economy has not recovered the operators said “Golf is a luxury income business, and not a lot of people have a luxury income right now.”

Maryland: In Hagerstown, after more than 40 years Charlene’s Hair Gallery shutting down right before Xmas, the Christian owner wants to spend more time volunteering at her church.

Massachusetts: After 61 years Country Curtains killed off by stockholders, all 19 stores shutting down, assets being sold-off due to millions of dollars in losses since 2015, 360 jobs gone!

Michigan: In Midland, after more than 50 years Meier Camera Shop shutdown, the owners moved back to Traverse City. Pennsylvania based clothier David’s Bridal shutting down its ten years old store in Fort Gratiot by mid-November, as part of plans to shutdown U.S. stores and open new stores in Canada. OfficeMax shutting down its store on east Columbia Avenue in Battle Creek, in time for Thanksgiving. Also in Battle Creek, after 66 years Jim Hazel’s Citgo & U-Haul shutdown and sold-off. In Dearborn, after more than 50 years iconic Wonderland Music shutdown.

Minnesota: In Duluth, without warning Lake Superior Zoo eliminated 12 jobs due to lack of cash. In Minneapolis, after 19 years music venue Triple Rock Social Club announced on Facebook it will shutdown in time for Thanksgiving. In Fairmount, after 53 years Enderson Clothing shutting down: “Retail is not a job or a career, it’s a lifestyle and I’m fortunate it’s been good to me and I’m capable of retiring and I’d like to take advantage of it.”-Brian Sandberg.

Missouri: After more than 50 years Ferguson True Value Hardware shutdown, blaming crashing sales dating back to 2010 and damage caused by riots in 2014. Central Bank of Boone County shutting down Columbia Mall branch by the end of January 2018, due to lack of business. In Saint Louis, after 86 years Oak Hill True Value Hardware shutdown, the building is being turned into apartments.

Montana: In Great Falls, after 22 years Lakota Woman Pawn & Trading Post shutting down at the beginning of November, due to the owner’s ongoing health problems.

Nebraska: In Omaha, the Shopko in the Frederick Square Shopping Center, as well as the OfficeMax at Shadow Lake Towne Center, both shutting down anytime between now and Xmas.

New Mexico: Los Alamos National Bank laid off 26 people, blaming it on high labor costs.

New Jersey: In Maplewood, after only two years Shenanigans Toys announced on Facebook it shutdown, the owner saying “Please shop locally. The extra trip it takes you around the parking lot means a store can last for another day and it’s employee’s will continue to have work.” In Chatham, after 34 years clothier D.J. Craters shutting down after Xmas.

New York: Bankrupt law firm Binder & Binder continues killing jobs, this time 190! Insurance and military law firm White Fleischner & Fino issued shutdown WARNs for its NYC offices, 59 jobs gone by the end of January 2018. Bath & Body Works issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC location, at least 56 jobs being consolidated to Ohio in Spring 2018. Furniture seller Ethan Allen shutting down its ten years old Staten Island store, no official reason given. Employment agency LaborTemps issued a shutdown WARN for its Jamaica location, 48 jobs gone right after Xmas.

North Carolina: Morganton Music Center announced on Facebook its shutdown. What automotive industry recovery? After 25 years Edenton Motors shutdown after failed attempts to sell the dealership, 27 jobs gone. In Asheville, after 45 years Kim’s Wig Center shutting down right before Xmas, supposedly to be replace with a beer joint sometime in 2018.

Ohio: In Dayton, a FedEx Office shutdown, no reason given.

Oregon: In Ashland, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival laid off an undisclosed number of employees due to having to reduce next year’s budget, which was the result of having to cancel several plays this year because of the smoke from all the wildfires. In Portland, after 127 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Helen’s Pacific Costumers shutdown.

Pennsylvania: BB&T shutting down the Susquehanna Bank HQ in Lititz, 82 jobs lost as a result of BB&T’s 2015 take-over of Susquehanna Bank. Too Big to jail California based Wells Fargo shutting down its Leigh Valley call center, 460 jobs gone! In Wyoming County, after 57 years Ken Mar Home Furnishings shutting down so the owners can retire. Christian founded Walmart shutting down its 14 years old store in Bristol Borough, an 197 jobs gone right before Xmas! In East Stroudsburg, after 33 years jewelry seller Liztech shutdown due to the death of the owner’s husband: “He designed a beautiful platform for me to dance on and in any direction that I wanted……without him, I just never get to make jewelry anymore.”-Jill Elizabeth

South Dakota: Bettor Racing now chapter 7 bankrupt busted due to failing to repay two Tribal Nations more than $10-million USD.

Texas: In Houston, after 67 years Frankel’s Costume announced on its website it is shutting down after Xmas, due to the property being sold to a developer. In Abilene, after 73 years Busch Jewelers shutting down when the inventory is gone. In Amarillo, after 90 years Buck’s Sporting Goods shutdown, the owners blaming competition with big box and online stores for causing “our retail business had been declining over the last 10 years.”

Vermont: In Belmains, Depression Era variety store Randolph’s shutdown, the owners blame increased competition for causing “the lack of good steady flow of foot traffic”.

Virginia: Magic Mart shutting down its decades old store in Abingdon, apparently the property where the store is located is co-owned by a property developer and the taxpayers of Abingdon. There are plans to turn the area into a mega shopping center-sports complex at taxpayer expense. In Arlington, after 75 years Belmont TV shutdown, officially because the owner retired, but he also revealed that “By 2008-09, so many electronic companies were going out of business. It was a deeper problem for all of us than the recession.”

Washington: The Bellingham Herald revealed that Whatcom County is in a retail death spiral. In normal years the county averages 90 new store openings, but since at least 2015 new store openings have been a little more than half that, and then you have to throw in all the shutdowns like JCPenney (pending), Kmart (pending), Macy’s (pending), Wet Seal, Teavana, Family Christian, Radio Shack, Rue21 and Sears Hometown. What real estate industry recovery? Mortgage insurer Northwest Trustee Services eliminating 25 Bellevue jobs right before Xmas. Foreclosure Expeditors Initiators issued a layoff WARN for its ops in Bellevue. Commercial real estate law firm RCO Legal eliminating 12 jobs in Bellevue right before Xmas. Also in Bellevue, Realty in Motion issued a layoff WARN, 27 jobs gone right before Xmas.

Wisconsin: In Madison, after more than 40 years shoe seller Cornblooms shutting down: “I’m not blaming the mall or the internet or construction. Like anything else it was a cascade. It’s a business and sadly we didn’t make our numbers.”-Jeanette Riechers, owner

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. RETAIL/BANKING/SERVICE SECTOR COLLAPSE, September 2017: “I’M GETTING OUT!” “WE JUST CAN’T MAKE IT, WE WON’T MAKE IT.”

SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, October 2017: “TRAGICALLY PATHETIC”

U.S. INDUSTRIAL/MINING/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS, October 2017: “THERE WAS NO SEVERANCE…WE WERE JUST FIRED!”

Dumbing Down the U.S.A., October 2017: “I’M BEING BULLIED!” “HE WAS SHOOTING AT TRUMP!”

U.S. HI-TECH/COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN, October 2017: “SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”

U.S. government shenanigans, October 2017:“WHO’S PROFITING…?”

U.S. food crisis, October 2017: “SHOCKINGLY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE”

ObamaCare ACA death spiral, October 2017:“BUSINESS AS USUAL.”

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

Business/Economics

“There was no severance…we were just fired!”: U.S. Industrial/Mining/Logistics layoffs, October 2017

November 9, 2017 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss/shutdown announcements made in October 2017.

Federal government data proves what truck drivers have been complaining about for years, the reason there’s a driver shortage is because trucking companies are paying less and less every year: “If you look at the federal data, a truck driver in 2006 was actually making more than he or she would be making in 2016 if you factor in the cost of living.”-Chip Cutter, LinkedIn, interviewed by CBSNews

California: Oil giant Chevron warning of yet more layoffs in the San Joaquin Valley, a 26% reduction by early 2018. In Berkeley, after 24 years furniture maker The Wooden Duck shutting down in time for Thanksgiving, blaming the landlord for doubling the rent. France owned Schneider Electric eliminating 15 jobs in Clovis, right before Xmas. Wholesale distributor Essendant shutting down its Whittier center, 123 jobs gone right before Xmas! Boeing issued yet more layoff WARNs, this time 84 people becoming jobless between Thanksgiving and Xmas. Pacific Steel Casting issued a shutdown WARN for its Berkeley ops, 106 jobs gone right before Xmas! Iron furniture maker Murray’s Iron Works issued a shutdown WARN for its City of Commerce location, 46 jobs gone three days before Xmas. St. john’s Knits issued another WARN, 72 jobs gone before Xmas as part of its plan to outsource the work to Mexico (on top of the 130 jobs already lost to Mexico during Summer). What automotive industry recovery? Pickup truck tonneau cover maker Laurmark Enterprises-BAK Industries issued shutdown WARNs for its Chatsworth and San Fernando operations, 261 jobs gone before Xmas! Electric car maker Tesla suddenly laid off as many as 7-hundred employees for lack of performance! Is it connected to the fact the hi-tech electric car maker is having major U.S. production problems with its latest vehicles, or that it’s focusing on production in China?

Colorado: Snowboard maker/seller Bomber Industries-Bomber Alpine Snowboard Outfitters now chapter 7 bankrupt dead, the new owners blamed too much debt financing and lack of sales.

Florida: West Coast Transport Service now chapter 7 bankrupt busted. Pre-Cast Specialties eliminating 252 jobs between December 2017 and January 2018!

Georgia: AR-15 maker Daniel Defense admitted it made a undisclosed number of “significant layoffs” due to crashing sales (before the Las Vegas shooting), one industry news report said 1-hundred people were let go without warning, an unnamed employee said “This was very unexpected. All of us were handed a blanket packet that explained everything. The paperwork didn’t even have my name on it. All they said about my job was that my position was being eliminated. There was no severance package, we were just fired!”

Idaho: The biggest electric utility company in The Gem State, Idaho Power, is demanding customers fork-over $220-million USD to pay for a new hydroelectric dam on the border with Oregon!

Illinois: Commercial printer Patterson Office Supplies issued a layoff WARN, 83 jobs gone by November. Neovia Logistics issued a shutdown WARN for its Des Plaines ops, 109 jobs gone right after Xmas! Fabick Machinery Company issued a shutdown WARN for its wholesale ops in Marion, 29 jobs gone by December due to crashing oil-mining industry sales.

Indiana: Connecticut based Harman International Industries shutting down its Crown Audio factory in Elkhart, 50 jobs gone three days before Xmas. What construction industry recovery? After 113 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions), demolition company Martin Enterprises shutting down in March 2018, blaming it on ten years of crashing business saying “We’ve never really bounced back from the recession and then finding drivers and the right people here in the office to fit has been rough. You add all those things together and it just doesn’t make for a good business.”

Iowa: Cedar Rapids based Rockwell Collins eliminated 124 Iowa jobs in the past 12 months, plus hundreds more outside the state! Those layoffs are not in connection with the current pending sale of Rockwell Collins to United Technologies, which is causing new layoffs, a lawsuit has been filed to stop the sale.

Louisiana: Netherlands owned Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) suddenly laid off 90 people, blaming a variety of things including Hurricane Harvey.

Massachusetts: In Westfield, after 60 years aerospace manufacturing contractor Berkshire Industries shutdown without warning, the remaining 80 (of the 150) employees suddenly unemployed, no reason was given!

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Penske-Automotive Component Carrier lost its contract with General Motors (GM), 60 jobs gone in time for Xmas. In Grand Rapids, automotive supply chain company Dematic issued a mass layoff WARN, 204 jobs gone by New Year’s, on top of the 255 jobs lost back in July! GST Autoleather now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Minnesota: Paper maker UPM Blandin shutting down a production line, 150 jobs gone by the 1st quarter of 2018 due to a global crash in sales! In Waseca, Quad Graphics (Brown Printing) shutting down its operations after Xmas, local news reports say at one time the operation employed 750 people!

Montana: Simms Fishing Products eliminating at least a dozen jobs as it outsources work to a contractor in Washington, administrators blame “the cost of land and building” in Montana.

New Mexico: Recently formed, Albuquerque based, ONE Aviation already warning of mass layoffs as it ends production of its EA550 personal jet. ONE Aviation is now focusing on developing a new personal jet called Project Canada.

New Jersey: In Union, jewelry maker Tessler & Weiss eliminating 150 jobs right after Xmas!

New York: Remington Arms announced that sales are so bad (pre Las Vegas shooting) that it will begin furloughing employees at its Ilion factory, in an attempt to keep inline with market trends. This is on top of the 55 jobs killed last month. AVX Corporation-Olean Advanced Products shutting down its factory in Olean, date “to be determined”. Global Brands issued a shutdown WARN for its fashion warehouse, 49 jobs gone right after Xmas.

North Carolina: Unnamed employees revealed Rockwell Collins plans to offshore at least 130 Winston-Salem jobs to the Philippines, it might be connected to the pending sale of Rockwell Collins to United Technologies! Hydro Extrusions-Sapa Extrusions warned of mass layoffs due to a drop in orders, but didn’t say how many people would lose their jobs. DuraFiber Technologies now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, already shutting down factories, more than 4-hundred jobs gone so far! Diverse manufacturer Lord Corporation announced it will begin eliminating jobs worldwide in 2018, due to global market conditions.

Ohio: Furniture maker American Signature issued a layoff WARN, 13 people jobless by December. Plastics maker Spartech-Polyone laying off 57 people in Greenville “due to a change in business circumstances”. Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems eliminating 55 jobs in Akron as part of its plan to move jobs to Mexico. Industrial mill service provider TMS International issued a shutdown WARN, 99 jobs in Middletown gone due to loss of contract. What automotive industry recovery? Fiat-Chrysler–FCA Transport shutting down its Toledo transportation terminal, at least 92 jobs affected by February 2018. Emission controls maker Faurecia Clean Mobility laying off eight people right after Xmas.

Oregon: After 128 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) the new owners of West Linn Paper Company decided to shut it down, no explanation to hundreds of employees ( except saying “due to unforeseen business circumstances”) who will become unemployed around Xmas time!

Pennsylvania: Dura-Bond eliminating 180 jobs in Steelton, by Thanksgiving, blaming it on crashing pipe orders from the oil industry! Germany owned Akustica issued a shutdown WARN for its Pittsburgh location, 54 jobs gone by October 2018. Johnson & Johnson issued a shutdown WARN for ops in West Chester and Wayne, 297 jobs gone right before Xmas! Japan owned but Switzerland based Metalor Technologies issued a shutdown WARN for its Export location, 121 jobs gone right after Xmas! What construction industry recovery? Deluxe Building Systems issued a shutdown WARN for its Berwick ops, 154 jobs gone right after Xmas!

Tennessee: Italy based eyewear maker/distributor Luxottica Retail North America issued a mass layoff WARN, 208 jobs in Memphis gone right after Xmas, due to crashing sales!

Texas: Vistra Energy shutting down two additional coal fired power plants, 650 jobs gone due to cheaper competition by natural gas power plants! Dynergy warning of massive layoffs, as a result of being taken over by Vistra Energy.

Washington: The new owners of Columbia River Logistics (same as West Linn Paper Company) decided to shut it down, no explanation to the employees ( except saying “due to unforeseen business circumstances”) who will become unemployed around Xmas time!

West Virginia: Italy owned plastics maker M&G Polymers now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Wisconsin: Johnson Controls announced it will eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs, local news media say unnamed sources put the number of people to be laid off at 150! Spartech-Polyone Designed Structures shutting down its factory in Ripon, 70 jobs gone in 2018 due to “a change in business circumstances”. U.S. Paper Converters shutting down its Appleton operations, 52 jobs gone by New Years due to state officials bringing in foreign operations with taxpayer money: “For the third time in less than two months, the Paper Valley has been hit hard. At a time when the state is set to spend billions to lure a foreign company, our heritage and core industries are being gutted without explanation or without concern from our state leadership. This is not just about the loss of fifty jobs, but fifty families, men, women and children being thrust into difficult times and during the holiday season. It is high time we focus our time, resources and money on Wisconsin industry and Wisconsin jobs. Paper is our heritage, and it must be our future.”-Tom Nelson, Outagamie County Executive

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, September 2017: “MARKET TURNDOWN, INDUSTRY-WIDE”

Business/Economics

“We’re one of the best stores in our market!”: Sears Kmart Death Spiral, November 2017

Video November 1, 2017 Hutchins AAron

Video of Black Friday brawl over a shopping cart in a Kmart, proof American shoppers are insane:

https://youtu.be/yrwcnJrOkt0

CentreDailyTimes: Nittany Mall Sears store will not honor Black Friday discounts.

CTV News: Sears Canada liquidation sale pricing under investigation

CBCNews: Sears shutdown in Thompson will force people to travel 800km (497 miles) to buy home appliances.

ChicagoTribune: State drags-on review of $15-million USD tax break for Sears Holdings

The Ledger Gazette: California state employee retirement fund dumps 84-thousand shares of Sears Holdings!

CNBC: Sears/Kmart puts the whole store on sale, everything up to 50% off!

Sears Holdings lost just under $600-million USD for its third quarter. Sales at Sears stores down 17%, down 13% at Kmarts. Eddie Lampert forced to admit (yet again) that shutting down stores is actually causing sales to crash!

After reporting yet another quarter of crashed sales, Sears Holdings was given the go-ahead to sell-off an additional 140 properties in order to provide cash to the failing Sears-Kmart retired employee’s fund! Remember, properties sold-off are not counted in the official Sears Holdings shutdown announcements.

A third round of mass Sears-Kmart shutdowns (45 Kmart, 18 Sears) announced, to take place by January 2018. News reports say at one time there were more than 5-thousand-6-hundred full-sized Sears-Kmart stores, but after this latest round of shutdowns they’ll be down to about 1-thousand-2-hundred. Sears Holdings officials continue to ignorantly tell local news media that affected employees can apply for a job at other Sears-Kmart stores!

Alabama: 35 years old Albertville Kmart, local news media reported it is the last Kmart in the entire state. Tuscaloosa Sears, leaving only two full-sized Sears stores in the state.

Arizona: Casa Grande Kmart. Mesa Sears store and Auto Center at Fiesta Mall.

Arkansas: Sears operations in Fayetteville and Fort Smith.

California: The abandoned Kmart in Manteca has become a an impromptu homeless shelter, and unsympathetic taxpaying residents are pissed! The owner of a local hardware store says his female employees have been harassed by the drug using bums.

Colorado: Greeley Sears.

Connecticut: Employees of the Sears Appliance & Hardware in Shelton told customers the store was being shutdown right after Xmas. Local news media confirmed when a hand written sign appeared at the entrance of the store a week later, but no comment from store management.

Florida: Kmarts in Clearwater, Milton and Sebring. Local taxpayers in Titusville getting stuck with the redevelopment bill for a vacant Kmart. The property has been vacant since 2009, a property developer told the North Brevard Economic Development Zone that the only way it would take on the job of redeveloping the vacant Kmart was if it got ten years worth of tax breaks!

Georgia: Kmarts in Dalton, Macon and Tifton. Sears operations in Lithonia and Valdosta (ending 76 years of Sears ops in Valdosta).

Idaho: The Ammon Kmart.

Illinois: Effingham Kmart. The Pekin Sears Hometown Store shutting down before Xmas.

Kentucky: Kmarts in Henderson, Glasgow, Versailles and Frankfort.

Maryland: The Baltimore-Dundalk Sears at Eastpoint Mall.

Massachusetts: Sears in Lanesboro-Pittsfield’s Berkshire Mall (local news reports say the mall has massive vacancies even before the Sears is supposed to shutdown, the value of the mall has dropped by $41-million USD since 2006) .

Michigan: Kmarts in Battle Creek, Clinton and Mount Pleasant.

Minnesota: Thief River Falls Kmart.

Missouri: Kmarts in Independence, Popular Bluff, Sedalia and Saint Louis.

Montana: In Great Falls, a Sears Hometown Store employee facing sentencing for stealing more than $3-thousand-7-hundred USD through fake merchandise returns, police say she confessed. But here’s the kicker, she was fired before she was arrested because her employee background check finally came through, which showed she lied about her lengthy criminal record.

New Jersey: Phillipsburg Sears.

New York: The owner of Viaport Rotterdam Square Mall suing Sears for $500-thousand USD in back due rent!

North Carolina: Jacksonville Kmart.

Ohio: Kmarts in Austintown, Cleveland (69 jobs gone), Hillsboro, Oregon and Saint Marys. Commercial property dealers are sounding a warning about the growing number of vacant retail space in Ohio: “That’ll take years for the market to absorb.”-Pete Shawaker, Reichle Klein Group

Oregon: A now former Kmart manager was arrested and accused of using underaged employees to provide ‘intimate’ pics of girls, as well as use a Kmart company credit card to set up meetings at hotels.

Pennsylvania: Kmarts in Clarion, Coraopolis-Moon, Moosic and Shamokin Dam. Sears ops in Indiana, Muncy-Pennsdale and State College.

South Dakota: Aberdeen Kmart.

Tennessee: Kmarts in Cookeville (by mid-February 2018), Nashville and Tullahoma.

Texas: The last Kmart in El Paso, on Sunland Park Drive, shutting down in January 2018 (apparently this store is not officially part of the latest round of mass shutdowns), at one time there were six Kmart stores in El Paso. The Kmart in Texarkana. Sears operations in Lufkin and San Angelo’s Sunset Mall. Local news media reported earlier in the year that the Sunset Mall Sears store was actually experiencing increased sales: “Sales in tools have grown 5% year-over-year. Mattress sales have grown 34% year-over-year. We’re one of the best stores in our market!”-Anthony Rollwitz, Sears hardline supervisor

Utah: A Salt Lake City Sears store and Auto Center on State Street.

Virginia: Kmarts in Abingdon, Danville and Lynchburg. Colonial Heights Sears.

Wisconsin: Stevens Point Kmart, 45 jobs gone by January 2018.

West Virginia: Kmarts in Beckley, Martinsburg and Vienna.

Wyoming: Cheyenne Sears.

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Business/Economics, Technology

Skyrocketing pork sales in China means skyrocketing prices in United States?

October 25, 2017 Hutchins AAron

25 OCT 2017 (01:52 UTC-07 Tango 06) 03 Aban 1396/04 Safar 1439/06 Geng-Xu (9th month) 4715

Virginia based, yet China owned, Smithfield Foods is about to get a huge boost in demand from its biggest buyer, China!

Smithfield Foods was taken over by Shuanghui Group (aka WH Group) in 2013. Smithfield has many slaughterhouses across the U.S. and sells pig products under many brands; Cook’s, Eckrich, Gwaltney, John Morrell, Krakus, and Smithfield.

WH Group is now boasting it is “The Largest Pork Company In The World.” In August it made a $25-million USD investment in U.S. online food seller Chef’d to sell Smithfield products. On 24 OCT 2017, WH Group announced a deal to provide China’s online food seller JD.com (aka JDFresh) with Smithfield pork.

JD.com is boasting that from 2016 to 2017 its online sales of pig meat exploded by more than 780%! And that’s pork sales just in China! That’s sounds good for Chinese consumers who love to shop online, but what does it imply for consumers in the U.S.?

The ‘law’ of supply and demand would say that if pork supplies in the U.S. declined due to increased demand from overseas buyers, then naturally the price for U.S. consumers will go up. U.S. price increases could be halted if another cheap source of pork could be found, probably in another country since the biggest pork producer in the U.S. is owned by China.

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Skyrocketing pork sales in China means skyrocketing prices in United States?

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