Sweetbay Supermarket in Florida, shutting down 33 of its 105 grocery stores!  Parent company officials, Delhaize Group in Belgium, say the stores are not making enough money, but, a Sweetbay official admitted most of the stores just happen to be at the end of their leases (letting leases expire, a growing trend within the U.S. retail industry).  2,000 people will be affected!

Two Food Lion grocery stores in North Carolina will close. Company officials say the stores are not making enough money.

Kroger to shut down Du Quoin, Illinois, grocery store in March. Company officials blame competition. 60 employees affected.

The nearly 100 years old Ray’s Food Place, in Crescent City, California, will shut down on 03 February.  Owners blame increased competition.

California Redwood Company to layoff 45 employees at its Krobel, California, factory. Blames it on a big decrease in demand for redwood lumber.

In Sacramento, California, the local school district is proposing closing down 11 elementary schools!  School officials say they need to save $11 million USD over the next four years. They will vote on the closures on 21 February.

Also in Sacramento, the Gap, and next door Gap Kids, clothing stores going down. This is part of the country wide trend for Gap.  Company officials claim these are the final closings that were outlined in their 2007 real estate plans.

350 people are losing their jobs in Kentucky! The Gap clothing business is closing down two distribution centers. The layoffs begin in April.

The Brattleboro Food Co-op, in Vermont, let go 11 people.  Delays in construction of a new Co-op building is being blamed for the layoffs.

Level 3 Communications, in Colorado, announced hundreds of layoffs worldwide!  Company officials say it is a direct result of their take over of competitor Global Crossing.

The Prickly Pear women’s clothing store in Monument, Colorado, shutting down. Owner wants to retire.

Berry Plastics in Easthampton, Massachusetts, laid off 20 people.  Their remaining 315 employees could have their hours reduced. Company officials blamed the bad economy for a huge reduction in demand for their products.

Despite North Dakota‘s booming oil industry, Sanford Health is shutting down its Underwood Continuing Care Center in March. It’s the result of last year’s merger between Sanford Health and Medcenter.  38 residents, and 62 employees affected!

The Upper Dublin School District, in Pennsylvania,  warned of pending layoffs and pay reductions.  They blame a $2.7 million USD budget shortfall.

The owner of furniture store, C.A. Hoitt in New Hampshire, is retiring and closing down the 133 years old business.

Corpus Christie, Texas, losing two stores.  A Abercrombie, and a Abercrombie & Fitch, shut down in the La Palmera mall.  It’s part of the 180 store closings announced by company officials last year.

Back Yard Burgers in Tupelo, Mississippi, closed for good. Owner refused comment, but the franchise went bankrupt in October 2012.  16 people out-o-work.

Pandolfi gift shop shutting down in Edina, Minnesota. The owner said she wants to focus on caring for her family.

The College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota, shutting down!  School officials blame declining enrollment due to the bad economy.  They will close after the spring semester ends.

Chinese company, Zhongding Sealing Parts, will shut down its Ohio factory.  At least 117 jobs lost by the end of June!  The company makes rubber parts for the U.S. automotive industry. Company officials said the closure is due to rapidly changing economic environment within the U.S. (which could be code for they don’t like the way the U.S. government is coming down on Chinese companies).  Production at the Ohio factory will be moved to China as a result!

In Texarkana, Texas, 400 people will become unemployed starting in February!   It’s happening at the Red River Army Depot, in anticipation of the 2014 Afghanistan pullout.

In El Paso, Texas, electrical switch/outlet maker Leviton Manufacturing closing down.  339 people to be out-o-work!   The New York based company said it’s consolidating manufacturing operations throughout the country.

New Jersey’s Star Ledger announced it will let go 34 employees.  Company officials blamed the bad economy and the slow recovery from Hurricane Sandy.  The layoffs are also part of the 60 total layoffs announced by parent company Advance Publications.  Advance Publications is itself owned by the Newhouse family.

In Simi Valley, California, Bank of America said it will lay off 51 employees.  The too big to fail bank said the jobs lost are in connection to a reduction in mortgage defaults.

The San Francisco, California, based web content discovery company, StumbleUpon, laying off 35 people.  Company officials say they’re not in trouble, they just want “to become more streamlined” in order to bring the company  “into a profitable situation”.

The internet social commerce/photo sharing service, Lockerz, is closing down its San Diego, California, office.  They’ve also laid off 30% of their Seattle, Washington, staff.  Company officials said the layoffs are necessary to realign the company, also the exact number of people being let go will not be made public: “I will not comment on how many individuals were effected or any specific individual.”-Leilani Augustine, CMO

Tuscan Gardens gift store closing in Petaluma, California. The owner wants to focus on ceramics.

Saint Louis, Missouri‘s, Express Scripts laying off 332 people across the U.S.!  This come after the country’s largest pharmacy benefits manager spent $29.1 billion USD to take over Medco.  103 former Medco employees have so far been let go as well!

Only a day after laying off 200 employees, Atmel lays off another 140!  It’s another round of layoffs at their Colorado Springs, Colorado, factory. Company officials blame the bad economy. Last year Colorado Springs officials gave the California based microcontroller company about $339,000 in tax breaks.

Corn based ethanol fuel plants in Nebraska are shutting down. Abengoa Bioenergy says the alternative fuel market is not doing well for corn based gas, so they’re temporarily closing two refineries.  They make the 4th and 5th corn based fuel refineries to shut down in the Cornhusker State.

Mormon run Dillard’s department store is shutting down two stores in the Cache Valley Mall in Logan, Utah.  About 50 employees affected.   It’s all part of Dillard’s “strategic store closures”.

The New Castle Youth Development Center closing in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. 223 jobs lost!  Some officials say the center for troubled youths saw a huge decline in juveniles being housed there, with only 31 currently staying in the 100 bed facility (at one time there were 250 beds at the juvi jail).  State Representative, Jaret Gibbons, said it was all part of the governor’s conspiracy to close down publicly funded prisons, possibly to make way for private for profit prisons.

Windber Medical Center in Pennsylvania closing its obstetrician wing in March. Hospital officials said they’re having such a hard time finding replacements for the four obstetricians who’re leaving, that they just decided to close down the obstetrician wing!

Conifer Health Solutions closing its Alpharetta, Georgia, call center.  About 90 people out-o-work.  The Texas based health care revenue outsourcing company is consolidating operations with other call centers.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, women’s clothing store Susanne’s is closing.  The owner said it is for personal reasons.

After 121 years the Associated Bank in Hammond, Wisconsin, is no more. It was the only bank in the town of 1,100 households. Bank officials say it’s part of their closing of 11 branches, due to the bad economy.

An update from 15 January: Cirque du Soleil will lay off 400 people around the world, but said the majority of the cuts will be in Canada.

International Veneer Company announced layoffs for 100 employees! The company is ending production in South Hill, Virginia. The company has been involved with criminal activity and the end of operations could be linked to the federal fines they’ve had to pay.  Back in February 2012 the veneer maker was charged with smuggling illegal wood products into Syria, and accused of doing the same in Iran.

Charleston, South Carolina, software company, Blackbaud, will lay off 150 employees across the country!  They blame stiff competition and the bad economy.

Missouri’s Saint Louis Post Dispatch laying off two people.  The owners did not respond to media inquiries.  In July 2012, 23 people were laid off.

International news service, Reuters, confirmed they were laying off employees around the world, but refused to give any details.

U.S. jet engine maker, Pratt & Whitney, announced the layoffs of 350 employees!  200 of those people are in Connecticut. Company officials say they’re trying to control their costs.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, ProQuest laid off 40 people, despite advertising 75 open positions. In 2012 the company was claimed to be one of the best employers to work for.  When pressed about the layoffs a company rep said the laid off workers could apply for any of the 75 open positions!

Battery maker, Energizer, notified the North Carolina Department of Commerce that they will be laying off at least 100 employees. Layoffs will start in March.  Company officials say they trying to make Energizer more efficient.

Semiconductor manufacturer, Atmel, laid off 200 people at their Colorado Springs, Colorado, factory!  They blame “weak economic conditions”.

State officials in Maryland have been notified that 78 people will lose their jobs with Veolia Transportation.  It’s because of a contract that ends in March.

Military contractor General Dynamics notified its employees that 139 of them will lose their jobs in Anniston, Alabama. They blame it on a reduction in purchases of their Stryker armored vehicle.

Brookstone notified the New Hampshire Department of Labor, that 71 people are now unemployed.  Some reports say the official 71 layoffs are less than the actual amount of layoffs.  The company says they need to “streamline”.

Hawaii’s Island Air airlines revealed they will lay off 245 people by March!  The new owners said they are “right sizing” the company.

Too big to fail bank, Morgan Stanely, is planning the layoffs of 15% of it’s Asia division, unnamed sources said.  It’s already known that Morgan Stanely wants to lay off 1,600 people around the world.

A Books-a-Million store will close in Charleston, South Carolina, in February.   Company officials did not respond to media inquiries.

A Blockbuster video store in Portage Park, Illinois, will close in February.

Design & Interiors of Los Gatos, California, closing.  Advertisements said it was due to consolidation of stores.

Crate & Barrel, in San Diego, California, closed.  Local media could not get a response from company officials as to why.   A San Diego State professor said unAmerican corporate America is closing down stores to become even more profitable, not necessarily because they aren’t making enough money: “Places like Best Buy, Crate & Barrel, they’re reducing the number of stores. In many cases they’re trying to be much more strategic, in terms of their location, in many cases they’re downsizing the stores.”-George Belch

Pastaworks specialty grocery store in Oregon, closing their North Portland operation.  They blame bad economy, saying that even a new condo complex in the area did nothing to increase sales.

The Weir Oil & Gas facility outside Washington DC, shutting down. Company officials blame drop in demand.

Brooklyn Public Libraries announced the possibility of closing branches in New York City.  It’s part of their strategic streamlining plans.

The largest publisher of law books in the United States, announced they are finished.  Matthew Bender is now in the process of closing down their New York factory, and laying off 220 people by the end of 2014!

The Wissahickon School Board, in Pennsylvania, will close the Mattison Avenue Elementary School in Ambler. Schools officials blame ongoing problems with the school.

Unnamed sources said a 130 years old grocery store chain in the Washington DC area (mainly Virginia and Maryland), could go out of business. Officials with Magruder’s Supermarkets deny such claims, however local media have revealed stores with empty shelves and employees who stated the stores were being closed down.

Save-A-Lot grocery store in Clifton Forge, Virginia, going out of business. The company is up for sale, and if they can sell soon enough the store might be saved.

Without warning, Pardon My French Bakery suddenly closed two Minnesota stores.  Company officials responded to angry customers by saying “Due to circumstances that are outside of our reach we are closing and we were just notified of the situation less then 48hrs ago.”

Cafe Polonia closed in Salem, Massachusetts. The owner says he must sell it.

Two Winn-Dixie grocery stores will close by March in Albany, Georgia.  Company officials cryptically said: “Business conditions occasionally force companies like ours to make tough strategic decision.” 

Canadian based Cirque du Soleil confirmed that major layoffs could be coming for their operations worldwide.  They blame the bad economy: “…Cirque is currently reviewing all its operations to ensure viable and controlled costs. As any other company would do. We have adjusted our production schedules and are operating close to 20 shows worldwide. Now we are adapting our workflow to this new reality.”-Renée-Claude Ménard

The largest polysilicon supplier in the United States will lay off 400 people in Tennessee and Michigan. Polysilicon is used in solar power projects. Hemlock Semiconductor blamed too much polysilicon on the market and that “The unresolved trade disputes among the U.S., China and Europe are a major factor.”

United Airlines announced layoffs for 472 employees in Newark, New Jersey.  It’s an attempt to cut costs since their merger with Continental.

C.J. Banks women’s clothing store closed in Victor, New York.

Also in New York, Rowe Photo, Video and Audio’s Greece store is closing after 114 years in business. The owner blames the bad economy, which is forcing him to consolidate his various stores.

Book Ends Gently Used & Collectible Books to close on 31 January. The owner of the Kearney, Nebraska, store blamed digital media.

Miller Floral in Terre Haute, Indiana, will close at the end of January, after 101 years in business.  The owner, and grandson of the store’s founder, said they’ve seen a 50% drop in business since 2007.

Also in Indiana, Chromcraft Revington is closing its distribution center in Delphi. 16 jobs lost. Work is being moved to Mississippi.

After 25 years a media outlet for aspiring young journalists in California, is going out of business. The publisher of L.A. Youth said: “Tough economic times, foundation cuts and moving our office by March 1, 2013, have overburdened our budget and placed an undue amount of financial strain on the L.A. Youth family. While we celebrate our 25th anniversary this month we are regrettably closing the doors on this extraordinary organization at the end of February. This is our last edition of L.A. Youth.”

Beautopia supply store closing in Mountain View, California.

The Franz Bakery outlet in Tillamook, Oregon, will close on 09 February.  Corporate officials blamed the bad economy: “They said sales were down and the store wasn’t making money.”-Terri Ann Staver, store manager

The Mez and EpiCentre Theaters will close in Charlotte, North Carolina.  It’s over legal wrangling involving the new property owners.

U.S. Postal Service announced the closing of the Manasota Processing & Distribution Center, in Florida. More than 300 jobs lost. The thing is, back in October 2011 Postal officials announced they were not going to close the center, after they had conducted a feasibility study: “This was a careful review. We have determined that there will be no significant changes made….”-David Patterson, USPS District Manager

The 85 year old H.L. Keay & Son general store, in Albion, Maine, will close. The family owners said the economy is just too bad to continue: “We just decided we’d had enough of running it and wanted to get done. Business weren’t that good.”-Kevin Keay, store manager

School officials in Bristol, Virginia, said it looks like they have to shut down some schools.  Problems involve outdated school buildings (some built in 1938) to constant redistricting which leaves some schools with too few students and others overcrowded. As Superintendent Mark Lineburg said “…we have some issues.” 

After 46 years in business, Heights Toy Center in Little rock, Arkansas, is closing.  The owner is switching to wholesale only.

A Big Lots in Lithonia, Georgia, is closed for good.   The building has been taken over by Walmart, and will be used for Walmart’s experimental grocery only store: Neighborhood Market.

Christopher’s Antiques, furniture refinishing, closing after 44 years in business.  A couple of factors led to the owner of the Nyack, New York, store deciding to retire; the business property was sold, and he is just tired of working seven days a week.

In Montclair, New Jersey, a children’s boutique is closing by mid-February.  Back in October 2012 the owners of Lili, Meili and Beau simply said on Facebook “store space is up for rent.. if anyone knows someone looking for a lovely location please let me know…its time to move on…..sadly”

Late in the day, on 13 January 2013, oil company, Halliburton, began laying off 130 people at their Duncan Manufacturing Center in Oklahoma.  Tara Mullee-Agard, Halliburton Public Relations Supervisor, called the downsizing an upgrade: “We are making a strategic investment in our test well infrastructure in Duncan, and the upgrade is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2013.”