Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

“It makes zero sense.” Less jobs = more homelessness = more police state-ism! GM shuts down U.S. factories! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 22 – 23 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: In Huntsville, after 20 years the Tai Pan Palace restaurant shutting down on Sunday.

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; San Louis Obispo based e-commerce company Kibo (Shopatron) suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of people (reports vary from eight to 25), blaming it on Kibo’s merger with two other e-commerce companies.  The A-Hole nazi Oceanside city administrators want to shutdown iconic Municipal Pier at night, claiming it’s because of ‘security’ issues caused by the increasing number of homeless people using the pier as a place to sleep.  Local fisherman Roger Adams calls bullshit on the city’s plans saying “It makes zero sense. I come here everyday. There is nothing that bad that it warrants closing the pier.”  Here’s an idea for Oceanside, why not create a better economy so there aren’t so many homeless people?   In North Oakland, after 90 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Genova Delicatessen shutting down by the end of the month, due to disagreements over the rent: “We’ve always felt the prices should be reasonable and the food really good quality which we have been able to manage, but the cost of doing business is to the point now where it became uncomfortable.”-Patti DeVincenzi

Idaho: Yet another hospital manager is condemning Idaho’s version of ObamaCare; Your Health Idaho.  Michael Baumann, of the Mountain Division of the Hospital Corporation of America, said “…those who are not getting the care that they need, by the time they show up, it’s even more costly. So why don’t we provide the access up front through Medicaid expansion?     ….You know I’m actually fairly conservative, but when it comes to healthcare…..I’m just really open to the fact we need change.”

Louisiana:  Oklahoma based Helmerich & Payne shutting down Gulf of Mexico oil rig operations after contracts were canceled, 50 jobs lost. 

Michigan:  What automotive industry recovery?  Detroit based General Motors (GM) announced it will shutdown three U.S. factories and one Canadian factory starting Monday, using the excuse that there’s going to be a parts shortage caused by the recent earthquake in Japan.  Thousands of people ‘temporarily’ laid off (furloughed).

Nebraska: Downsizing by the world’s largest uranium mining company, British empire Canada based Cameco, will result in 85 layoffs at the Crow Butte uranium mine.  It’s blamed on five years of low commodity prices for the radioactive rock.

New Jersey: The Clifton Board of Education approved the outright elimination of 49 jobs and also notified 5-hundred non-tenured employees that they will not be considered for re-hire next school year!

New York: In Lower Manhattan NYC, ‘tasting-menu’ restaurant Recette shutting down.  The owner is consolidating the concept with one of his other restaurants, in an attempt to save money on escalating rents.

North Carolina:  The 3rd largest cigarette maker in the U.S. International Textile Group (ITG Brands) confirmed it will layoff 375 employees in Greensboro, in June!  It’s blamed on crashing cigarette sales.

North Dakota: In Williston (a place I remember to be a true ‘Mayberry RFD’, but now a hell-hole no thanks to the oil boom), less than three years after opening, the Home Depot shutdown due to the oil bust.  The oil bust is so bad for Williston that the Home Depot was down to just five employees before they shut it down!

Oklahoma: The state Department of Human Services warning of layoffs and “catastrophic cuts” to services due to $150-million USD shortage in tax funding!

Texas: Dallas based AT&T is now offering poor families internet service for as little as $5 per month!  This is because the federal government (FCC Lifeline program) is finally recognizing that there are now more poor people than ever before and that the overwhelming majority of employers now do hiring through the internet only (no more walk-ins like when I was younger).

South Carolina: What housing market recovery?  In Fort Mills, California based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo eliminating 91 mortgage jobs, blaming crashing demand for home loans.  In North Charleston, Boeing is pushing 2-hundred employees to take bribes to voluntarily quit!

Wisconsin: Texas based oil-gas fracker EOG Resources eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs without warning, blaming “market conditions”.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

20-21 April 2016: “We are in a battle with our landlord”

Sears Kmart update 21 April 2016 : “A lot of customers don’t even believe this” 

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“We are in a battle with our landlord” “We have to be realistic” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 20 – 21 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: In Auburn, after 20 years The Chocolate Shoppe & Gift Emporium (and art gallery) shutting down by the end of May, the owners want to retire.  In San Francisco, clothier San Franpsycho shutting down their brick-n-mortar store this weekend.  Rent is too high in the Golden Gate city so the store owners are shifting to events and internet sales only.

Florida: In Ave Maria, Beckner Jewelry and Repair shutting down in May.  The owners say they love their community so much that they are shifting to much needed “social work”.

Georgia: In Hephzibah, a Food Lion grocery store suddenly shutdown this past weekend, administrators say they couldn’t renew the lease.  In Augusta, a Kroger grocery store shutting down soon.  Kroger reps blame the shutdown on crashing sales, 110 Kroger employees will become jobless by June!   Kim Hines of G.R.O.W. Harrisburg has an ominous warning: “A ‘food desert’ is a lack of access to fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy foods. So it’s a dependency on a community on convenience store foods and processed foods, or in some cases no food at all.”  

Illinois:  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign warning of mass layoffs due to the incompetent ‘elected’ state lawmakers.  The mass layoffs would take place by the end of August.  OfficeMax shutting down their store in Crestwood, by mid-May.

Iowa: Button maker Blumenthal Lansing shutting down their Lansing factory, 80 jobs gone by July.  It’s the result of the company being taken over by Pennsylvania based greeting card and novelty maker CSS Industries.

Kentucky: Jefferson Community and Technical College eliminating 101 jobs (61 ’employees’ & 40 ‘instructors’) due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS)!  Since 2010 student enrollment has crashed by 4-thousand 3-hundred!  What automotive industry recovery? Powertrain maker Dana Corporation shutting down their Glasgow ops, 203 jobs lost by mid-2017!

Louisiana:  Oil contractor Gulf Island eliminating 227 jobs by the end of June, due to lack of oil contracts!  After 29 years fracking supplier Carbo Ceramics shutting down, 61 jobs gone by mid-June.   Despite reporting a $23-million USD profit last year Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino began laying off 2-hundred people!  That’s according to state politician Dustin Miller as the administrators of the race track (Boyd Gaming) refuse to give any info, in fact administrators downplayed the whole thing.  Boyd Gaming says the mass layoffs are not due to the economy but is their attempt at “fine tuning the operations”, which is code for greatly increasing their profits. In Baton Rouge, after seven years Truly Free Bakery & Deli suddenly shutdown by greedy landlord who refuses to properly fix the sewage system: “We are in a battle with our landlord over a very serious and quite frankly, disgusting issue. We have had major sewer problems for over 3 years, and to our frustration, this problem was never fully fixed—only temporary ‘band aides’ were attempted. This issue has persisted and has been more problematic over the last year.”– Erick and Ainsley Coughlin, owners

Maryland: In College Park, after 42 years Pianoman Superstore shutting down due to crashing sales: “It’d be great if there was enough interest to keep it going, but there isn’t.”– Nick Margaritas, owner

Michigan: Pittsford Area Schools Board of Education approved the layoff of five employees.  It’s blamed on what I call DSS, the school board even stated that families are moving away from the state of Michigan.

New York: Japan based Too Big to Jail Nomura Holdings issued mass layoff WARNs,  235 people jobless in July!  It’s because Nomura was tricked into buying the already failed Lehman Brothers.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Amazon halting its clothing line, 94 MyHabit jobs lost in NYC and Brooklyn, in July.  In Sidney, tax-sucking military contractor Amphenol Aerospace suddenly laid off 1-hundred people when the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) suddenly cancelled an order for electronics parts!  A-Hole politician Charles Schumer blames it on Pentagon “red tape”, however, there are indications from the DoD that the parts are faulty. After four years the Fort Greene General Store shutting down by the end of the month, due to outrageous rent: “When I sat down and really looked hard at the numbers, I just couldn’t deny the effects of rising costs…. We have to be realistic and focus on other businesses with less overhead….”-Adriana Spence, owner

North Carolina: In Charlotte, after 19 years expensive Italian shoe store Via Veteto shutting down, the owners say they’re retiring.

Ohio: Iron foundry Columbus Castings about to go outta business, 799 jobs lost due to debts, and fines caused by violations of state and federal pollution regulations!   After announcing the shutdown of their Youngstown ops (137 jobs killed), Parker Hannifin now says it will also shutdown its Akron pneumatic cylinder factory, 75 jobs lost. 

Washington: In Tacoma, Cablecraft Motion Controls issued a WARN, 39 jobs lost starting mid-June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

19 April 2016: “Sometimes we have to pull the Band-Aid off quickly.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 21 April 2016 : “A lot of customers don’t even believe this” New shutdowns, thousands jobless by Summer!

In Canada, Sears Canada shutting down its Sears Outlet stores in London and Whitehorse.  The franchise owner of the Whitehorse store says sheeple customers are in shock: “It’s Sears’ decision, it’s not our decision.  They are saying the main cause would be the shipping, which is really expensive to ship up to the North… they’re not making much profit…. A lot of customers don’t even believe this, that we’re going to close the store.”-Arun Ramalingam

In the U.S., Eddie Lampert’s Sears Holdings released a new list of stores being shutdown by July 2016.

06 April 2016 :  “Slap in the face!” as Sears shuts down another profit making stores! 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011, new closing revelations in BOLD:

Alabama: Oxford Sears, 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 by the end of 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).

Arkansas: Little Rock Sears.

Arizona: Nogales Kmart. The Prescott Valley Kmart shutting down by April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Local news reports say there is a Now Hiring sign posted on the Kmart store front. 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!

California: Dinuba Kmart, 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 shutting down, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutting down 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:  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: 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: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Jacksonville Sears and Kmart.  Neptune Beach Kmart, Perry Kmart.  The Lutz Kmart shutting down by March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutting down by 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 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016. Dublin Kmart will 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: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutting down 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: Boise Kmart on Fairview shutting down by mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutting down by 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: Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski.  Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart, Rock Island Kmart.  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: Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart.  Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutting down by mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutting down in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart by April, 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: Sears Holdings shutting down their West Des Moines call center by June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutting down by 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), 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Tewksbury Kmart.  Fairhaven Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by mid-April. 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 shuts down 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: Midland Sears, Houghton Lake Kmart, Taylor Kmart.  The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart will be shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutting down by mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart by 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: Dundas Kmart by April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutting down 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: Corinth Kmart.  The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutting down 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: 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: 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: Hastings Kmart.  Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lodi Kmart will 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: 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. SearsLas Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart.  Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will 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: 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: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: Marion Sears, 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 shutting down 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 shutting down by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutting down 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: 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 (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: 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: Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts.   Reading Kmart, Uniontown Kmart.  Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall shutting down by June 2016, 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: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Camden Kmart.  61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutting down 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: Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart.  The Pierre Kmart shutting down by the end of March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart.  The Murfreesboro Kmart shutting down by the end of April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutting down in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutting down in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutting down 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: 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: Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart.  35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutting down by 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 Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virginia:  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 shutting down between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper shutting down by the end of the month. 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: 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: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: Hartford Kmart.  Superior Kmart shutting down 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).

In April 2015, Sears Holdings (through Seritage Growth Properties) and General Growth Properties (GGP) became 50/50 joint owners of 12 Sears stores.

Here’s a list of 11 Sears stores 100% owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics

“Sometimes we have to pull the Band-Aid off quickly.” Intel kills 12,000 jobs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 19 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: The Tax Foundation ranks California’s income tax rate at 7th highest in the United States.  In Livermore, the decades old Applebee’s restaurant suddenly shutdown because, according to the manager, “It just was not economically feasible anymore.”   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Santa Clara based Intel confirmed it is about to eliminate 12-thousand jobs, blaming it on crashing computer sales! 

Connecticut: University of Connecticut Health Center eliminating 89 jobs at the Farmington prison medical unit.  It’s blamed on the Gov’na.   bfresh issued a shutdown WARN for its Fairfield grocery store, 84 jobs lost by mid-June.

Florida: In Dania, Cohen Dania Beach Hotel-Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Hotel eliminating 112 hospitality jobs by June, supposedly for remodeling that will take more than a year!

Idaho:  The Tax Foundation ranks Idaho’s income tax rate as the 11th highest in the 50 U.S. states.

Iowa: In Williamsburg, Kinze Manufacturing eliminating 121 jobs, blaming low crop prices for killing its farm equipment sales!

Michigan:  Monroe Multi-Sports Complex shutting down in June due to the city’s budget problems: “Sometimes we have to pull the Band-Aid off quickly. It’s costing taxpayers’ money.”-John Iacoangeli, city councilman

Missouri:  Solar panel and windmill maker SunEdison now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The company was called the fastest growing green energy company in the U.S., but that was because it was using debt to finance its growth, now it can’t pay up.

New Jersey: NJ Transit warned it must “further identify cost efficiencies” to deal with a $45-million USD hole!

New York:  The Tax Foundation ranks New York as the highest income tax rate in the United States.  GE (General Electric) Capital issued a layoff WARN for its NYC operations, at least 27 people laid off by July.  Also in NYC, TGI Friday’s Restaurant on 677 Lexington Avenue shutting down, 36 jobs lost by mid-July.  In Galway, after 59 years Chuck’s Store restaurant shutting down so the original owners can retire.

Oklahoma: OIl industry contractor Seventy Seven Energy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Pennsylvania: Metals producer Allegheny Technologies eliminating 250 jobs, blaming low commodity prices! The former employees will get severance, so their layoffs won’t adversely affect the official unemployment numbers.

Washington DC:  The Tax Foundation reporting on what I’ve been telling people for a long time, we already pay too much in taxes, and we get diddly squat in return.

Wisconsin: In Madison, after 22 years restaurant Bluephies being shutdown, supposedly a new restaurant will take its place.  Despite the greedy owners claiming Bluephies is “doing great”, they’re concerned they need something that will create more ‘growth’ (higher profits) over the next 20 years.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

17-18 April 2016: “substantial rent increases”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“substantial rent increases” God officially abandons Colorado homeless! No fuel in New York? Yellen lies about “full employment”! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 17 – 18 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Colorado: Baxter International shutting down its Douglas County medical device factory, 106 jobs gone by March 2017!  In Colorado Springs, God powerless to stop ‘his’ British empire Salvation Army from shutting down the Cold Weather Shelter.  Administrators said their shelter was a temporary short term fix requested by the county, but the homeless situation has become so bad that it “…needs to be addressed as a community.”

Connecticut: Meridian based Vestis Retail Group now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  They are the owners of Eastern Mountain Sports, Bob’s Stores and Sport Chalet (which I reported on Saturday is now dead).

Georgia: The Ivy Preparatory Academy’s Young Men’s Leadership Academy shutting down by next school year.  This is the second Ivy Prep school to be shutdown by state education administrators, supposedly due to weak finances and academic performance (but I wonder if it really has something to do with the plurality of the students and employees being ‘black’).

Illinois: Propane tank maker Trinity Containers shutting down their Quincy operations, 72 jobs lost in May.   ARTCO sold-off their soybean processing in Lemont, 40 jobs lost by mid-May.  Meijer finally revealed how many people in Niles will become jobless when they shutdown their grocery store, 118 by June!  In Chicago, Parkers Sanitation issued a layoff WARN, 54 jobs lost next week.  WestRock issued a layoff WARN for their Chicago cardboard ops, 49 people unemployed by the end of May.  Glazer Stoller Wholesale shutting down their booze distribution operations in Elk Grove Village, 170 jobs gone by the end of May!  Germany based Siemens Medical shutting down their Wood Dale location by March 2017, at least 29 jobs lost.  Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase shutting down their Elgin credit card office, 44 jobs lost starting in May.  Assembled Products shutting down their factory in Buffalo Grove, 81 jobs lost between May and October.  Grace Davison Discovery Sciences shutting down their Deerfield paving operations due to lack of business, 41 jobs lost at the start of May.  “Financial” issues forcing Pioneer Center for Human Services to issue shutdown WARNs for its Woodstock and McHenry locations, 103 jobs lost by mid-May!  Nathan Health Care shutting down their East Saint Louis nursing home, 87 jobs gone by the end of this month.

Michigan: In Midland, God refuses to stop ‘his’ Lutheran church owned Journeys Coffee House, on Main Street, from shutting down in June.  God was powerless against greedy landlords as senior pastor Ed Doerner blamed “…substantial rent increases and other stipulations from our landlord.”

Minnesota: In Duluth, after 131 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Bagley & Company jewelry shutting down due to lack of sales and lack of family members who want to continue the business.

Missouri: The owner of a Saint Joseph McDonald’s is so desperate to increase customer traffic that he’s offering all you can eat french fries. But wait, there’s more!  The Saint Joseph Mickey-D’s is also eliminating human cashiers and replacing them with automated kiosks!

New York:  In Latham, Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry shutting down due to “Mainly the economy, high cost of seafood, demand. And to be honest there is no way we could pay the high minimum wage that is coming and mandatory 3 months paid sick leave…”  In White Plains, The Esplanade nursing home shutting down due to renovations of the building, 55 jobs lost by mid-July.  In elitist Manhattan NYC, local news reported that the burrow is now a fuel desert as the last gas station shutdown. The British empire owned BP (British Petroleum) gas station on Lafayette and East Houston Streets shutdown last week, leaving many taxi drivers stranded!  The last fuel station in Manhattan was sold to a developer who will build yet another skyscraper.

North Carolina: In Durham, after nine years Triangle Brewing Company shutting down in May, due to a sudden increase in competition.

Ohio:  The county of Warren is privatizing its employment service for disabled people, known as Production Services Unlimited, 60 county jobs will be lost.  County administrators blame ObamaCare saying they’re following orders from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Texas: British empire controlled, Bermuda based Seadrill Americas issued a layoff WARN, 112 oil jobs in Houston gone by May!

Washington DC: Janet Yellen, head of the Federal Reserve, has proven herself to be a liar.  She recently stated that the U.S. economy was “near full employment” which is not true when you look at U.S. Bureau of Labor data.  According to the Bureau of labor the U.S. employment situation is similar to that of the late 1970s.  U.S. labor participation peaked in 1996.  If the peak was in 1996, and the current participation rate is at 1970s levels then how can we be “near full employment”?

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“you have to leave…there’s no choice.” Idaho Christian leaders ration Food for the Poor while selling evil Right to Work unemployment program! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 16 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: It’s been revealed that Waste Management is offshoring 120 U.S. jobs to India!

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; after 57 years La Cañada Flintridge based Sport Chalet announced it is dead!   Not only are they shutting down all 67 brick-n-mortar stores across nine states, but they’re halting all internet sales!  Santa Clara based Intel is about to conduct another round of massive tech layoffs.

Idaho: Despite boasting of a recovering economy the self proclaimed ‘christian’ leaders of Idaho have decided they must ration the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, incorrectly called Food Stamps).  Starting in July instead of getting all their food assistance on a single day, it will be spread over a ten days period, affecting 82-thousand of Idaho’s 1.5-million residents.  It was revealed that this rationing of food assistance was actually ordered by state ‘elected christian lawmakers’ back in 2014!   The British empire created christian Salvation Army protested the SNAP rationing by pointing out that poor Idahoans have been screwed so much by state ‘christian lawmakers’ that up to 90% of people coming into Salvation Army food banks are there to supplement the meager scraps given to them by Idaho’s SNAP!  (as a single healthy unemployed adult male I can confirm that there are plenty of poor people in Idaho who don’t qualify for state controlled social programs)

This comes as Gem State ‘christian’ led Department of Labor sold its Right to Work Internet Unemployment System (ius) to the states of Iowa and Vermont!   The Gem State’s version of ObamaCare, Your Health Idaho, strikes again!  A Twin Falls woman is in desperate need of brain surgery but doesn’t have enough money to pay for insurance herself, yet also does not qualify for ObamaCare under Your Health Idaho!  But wait, that’s not all!  It turns out that when she first went to doctors they ignorantly told her she was crazy and didn’t have a physical problem!  Finally, after several MRIs she was diagnosed with   Chiari malformation: “If it goes untreated, then I will slowly become paralyzed, and from there I will end up on machines. That is something that is a reality for me if I don’t get it taken care of.”-Brittany Long

Illinois: In Decatur, after 114 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) the Haines & Essick store shutdown.   Store manager Sue Miller said they can’t compete in today’s volatile market using the business model that got them through one hundred years of sales: “It’s a hard model to have a big retail store. It’s a lot of staff, it’s a lot of expense, and it’s an old building.”

Kansas: Mission Group Kansas owned Wright Career College ceased to exist this past Friday.  The chapter 7 bankruptcy shuts down campuses in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.  Administrators said “From our beginning in 1921 until our closure, we have always operated with the focus of putting the interests of our students first. It is unfortunate our students cannot complete their programs at Wright Career College.”  However, in 2013 students sued the college saying it “purposefully enticed prospective students to enroll and apply for student loans they cannot pay back through a systematic, deceptive marketing scheme.”

Michigan:  The iron ore Empire Mine shutting down, more than 3-hundred jobs lost between May and August!

New Jersey:  In South Amboy, after more than 1-hundred years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Sacred Heart Elementary School because “…enrollment has decreased by 40 students and the subsidy required to sustain the school’s operation has risen to over a half-million dollars annually…”

New York:  Presbyterian/Agnostic Warren Buffett controlled NYC based American Express began massive layoffs as part of plans to cut $1-billion USD in operating costs!

Ohio: Motion control company Parker Hannifin shutting down their Youngstown ops, 137 jobs lost to global competition and the oil industry BS!

Oregon:  Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their Portland Safeway grocery store, on SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, 53 jobs lost in May.  It’s because the store is within one mile of an Albertsons.

Puerto Rico: The economy is so bad that CNN reported that one doctor per day is fleeing the U.S. territory!  National Public Radio reporting that 50-thousand people flee Puerto Rico every year!   You must note that Puerto Rico has true socialized healthcare, and the lack of taxpayer funding, caused by crashing tex revenues, is forcing most doctors to go to Plan B: “Plan B is you have to leave the island because there’s no other way, there’s no choice.”-Antonio Peraza, doctor interviewed for NPR

Texas: What housing market recovery?  Local news reports discovered that Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  For some reason Fannie Mae administrators are refusing to say how many people are now unemployed.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

15 April 2016: “the cuts aren’t deep enough”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“the cuts aren’t deep enough” Idaho economy hit by Oregon pot & Wyoming booze! ObamaCare ‘correction’ underway! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 15 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  after 17 years internet based GameFront announced it will shutdown by the end of the month, no reason was given.

California:  In San Louis Obispo, two years after a grand re-opening Coverings boutique shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone.   Local news reports said no reason was officially given.  More proof ObamaCare is a failure: “Something has to give. Either insurers will drop out or insurers will raise premiums. The industry is clearly setting the stage for bigger premium increases in 2017”-Larry Levitt, Kaiser Family Foundation commenting on the ObamaCare “correction”

Colorado: Centennial based tax-sucker United Launch Alliance (created by Lockheed Martin and Boeing) will eliminate 875 jobs due to competition from private space race efforts led by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos!

Connecticut:  “We continue to have serious concerns about the sustainability of the public exchanges.”-Mark Bertolini, Aetna CEO referring to the ‘correction’ of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare)

Idaho: In Boise, after 31 years backpacking store The Benchmark shutting down so the owner can return “…to the Idaho mountains.”  Emil Hutton said it’s time to quit due to the rise of what he calls “point-n-click” shopping.

Indiana: In Union City, British empire Canada owned Applegate Livestock Equipment shutting down and laying off 80 people.

Michigan: Kalkaska Public Schools ending its lease on its Northside Alternative High School.  It’ll save the struggling school district $3-thousand 8-hundred USD per month.  The district is in trouble after a check of accounting books showed that it had been overpaid by 900-thousand tax dollars over three years.  It’s suspected certain administrators within district knew of the overpayment, but never said anything.  Now the state is taking $29-thousand per month away from the district, until the overpayment is corrected.

Minnesota: In Duluth, after 20 years Timber Lodge Steakhouse shutting down, about 50 jobs lost due to crashing sales.

Montana: In Great Falls, after 28 years One Stop Video finally shutting down.

New Jersey:  Precision Motor Transport issued a WARN, 69 Jersey City jobs lost by the end of June.

New York:   SFX Entertainment bankrupt busted and shutting down their NYC operations, 54 jobs gone by July. Lighthouse Guild issued a shutdown WARN for their The Ethel and Samuel J. Lefrak School, 32 jobs lost between July and August. The Four Seasons Restaurant issued a shutdown WARN, 130 jobs lost by the end of July!  McKinsey & Company reports that health insurers lost money in 41 states in 2014!  

In Bronx NYC,  Saint Barnabas Rehabilitation & Continuing Care Center has been sold to a vulture capitalist, a shutdown WARN has been issued, 254 jobs lost in July!

North Dakota:  Propane tank maker Trinity Containers shutting down their West Fargo operations, 91 jobs lost in June.

Oregon:   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; California based software company Symantec resumed mass layoffs at its Springfield operations. Exact numbers were not released.    Marijuana use is legal in Oregon, except for most cities along the border with Idaho.  The only boarder town that went along with pot legalization is Huntington, and ganja stores there are reporting boo-koo sales, to Idahoans.   The owner of 420ville reports that 80% of his daily customers buy marijuana, however, state law forbids him to track exactly how many customers are coming from other states.   Scott Matthews says even residents of The Empire State of New York have shown up.

Tennessee:  After 25 years Rogersville Recycling shutting down due to low prices for recyclables: “Scrap and precious metals are traded on various commodity-based stock exchanges. With fluctuations in the market, any profit can be wiped out in a matter of minutes. The volatility of the markets has resulted in low scrap prices and in combination with the decline of scrap metal being recycled, has taken its toll on the metals industry as a whole. In 2015, two other recycling companies in Hawkins County closed their doors.”–Linda Jones, owner in correspondence to The Rogersville  Review

Texas: Houston based 21 years old Goodrich Petroleum chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Virginia: Too Big to Jail Capital One shutting down two offices in Fredericksburg, by the end of July.   Rock Bottom Brewery shutting down its Ballston Common Mall location next month. Local news reports said corporate administrators ignored inquiries as to why they’re shutting it down.

Washington: After prodding by local news, health insurance company Premera Blue Cross admitted it eliminated 165 jobs since November 2015!  Employees are pissed because they say corporate administrators never told anybody there were going to be mass layoffs: “Layoffs are handled poorly, allowing rumors to spread like wildfire, creating a horribly negative atmosphere. And instead of owning it and calling it layoffs, it’s referred to as restructuring and the cuts aren’t deep enough the first time around, so everyone knows they’ll be coming again…”-unnamed employee to local news media

West Virginia: Another example of  what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL); local news reports say Carter Machinery suddenly laid off more than 30 people, blaming the crashing coal industry.

Wisconsin: Fairmont Santrol joins other suppliers of sand for fracking ops and will layoff 55 people due to the petroleum industry’s cutbacks.

Wyoming: The state rejected a plan to give away $2.9-million USD in tax money to Grand Teton Distillery, to build a new operation in Alpine.  The plan was opposed by other distillers and local farmers.  Several distillers pointed out that they have not received state grants for their operations, and the Grand Teton Distillery plans to buy all its vodka potatoes from Idaho, instead of local farmers.  

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.” 

Business/Economics

“eventually you run out of money” Paychecks stolen by city council! We now know where all the money went! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 14 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

What makes the economy go round? Simply, spending of cash.  Anything that takes cash out of the spending ring slows down the economy, and one thing can actually crash the domestic economy; offshoring cash to avoid paying taxes.  British empire social research group Oxfam has revealed that the top 50 U.S. corporations have off-shored $1.4-trillion USD to other countries to avoid paying their fair share of U.S. taxes (Oxfam estimates that would equal to about $100-billion in lost taxes, each year, to fund your government services. Now you know why government services are being cut.).  Three of those 50 unAmerican corporations are Apple, Microsoft and Google.  Think about that, $1.4-trillion has been sucked out of the U.S. economy by U.S. corporations!

British empire Australia based Too Big to Jail ‘investor’ McQuarie Group laid off at least 15% of its U.S. employees, according to unnamed whistleblowers.

California: In Isle Vista, after two years Jimmy John’s suddenly shutdown their sandwich shop.  Apparently the franchise owner wanted out and tried to sell it, but nobody wanted to buy.

Connecticut:  Danbury based IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics is reporting that for the second year in a row, since ObamaCare went into effect, U.S. residents will be paying more for their prescription drug fix, and it will continue going up until at least 2020.

Illinois: Western Illinois University laying off 110 employees: “Despite the ongoing furlough/voluntary pay reduction program and the drastic reductions to spending, these layoffs are necessary to protect the university’s cash resources. In spite of our best efforts to conserve financial resources, without an appropriation from our state government, the university will face even greater financial challenges.”–Jack Thomas, president

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, Komet Kuarters shutting down: “After 23 years, with the marketplace for hockey equipment and things changing so drastically over the last 10, 15 years we just felt this as an appropriate time to close the store….  There aren’t as many people in the youth programs today as there were in 1993 when we opened the store, and there’s not that kind of demand any more. It wasn’t a difficult decision.”-Micheal Frank

Kansas: God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 46 years old Shawnee Presbyterian Preschool.  The Rapture, I mean what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome is forcing them to shutdown by the end of the year.

Louisiana: GE (General Electric) eliminating 77 jobs (the majority of positions) at its Brossard petroleum drilling ops, between now and the end of June.

Maryland: In Laurel, after 25 years the Silver Diner shutting down because “from an economic standpoint, it didn’t make sense to renew” the lease.

Massachusetts: In Malden, after 50 years the Lamson and Davis hardware store shutting down because of low sales and the landlord wants more money.

Michigan:  In Okemos, Cravings Gourmet Popcorn shutting down their operations and consolidating ops to Lansing.

New York:  In Staten Island NYC, telecommunications company Midtown Express shutting down, 45 jobs gone in May.  Illinois based CME Group exodusing the NYC stock markets by the end of the year, blaming crashing energy and metals trading volumes.

North Carolina: In Asheville, after reporting a 900% (!) increase in engagement ring sales,  90 years old (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Wick & Greene’s jewelers shutting down, the owners saying “We see an opportunity for change. Millennials are buying bigger rings, but the environment in which they are buying them is changing. We basically need to reinvigorate what’s going on in the business. Legacy businesses have a very hard time thriving in our jewelry industry today. If you don’t change with the times, you can get left in the dust really quick.”

Oklahoma: The city of Yukon is so broke that city employees are not getting paid!  Not only did the city council admit it “misspent” $1.3-million USD, but the city is short $4-million due to not being prudent and cutting back on spending when the tax revenues were crashing: “When you spend more than what comes in, eventually you run out of money…..”-Jim Crosby, city (mis)manager

Pennsylvania: Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall shutting down by June, 62 jobs lost.

Texas: In Houston, yet another debt financed oil company, Energy XXI, chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Three years ago the CEO actually boasted they were going to expand to the South China Sea (now you know one reason why the Obama regime joined the saber rattling over that area of the world).   In Dallas the A-Hole city council prepping to tear down the homeless tent city under I-45.  City crews put up No Trespassing signs where there were none before.  Local news reports say the local homeless population doubled by the end of 2015, and the A-Hole city officials are not giving the homeless an optional place to live!  Dallas A-Holes also forcing a local ‘black’ owned auto-shop, Hinga Automotive, to shutdown by changing the property zoning: “…one of the most pressing abuses of property rights happening right now.  What’s wrong here is that the city took a perfectly legal business, and made it illegal by changing the zoning laws that apply to the business.”-Bill Maurer, Institute of Justice.

Virginia: Sears Holdings announced the shutdown of the Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July.

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve and the FDIC (both government created but privately operated) are accusing Too Big to Jails JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Bank of New York Mellon and State Street of failing to meet the 2010 Dodd-Frank banking rules.  Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are also under suspicion.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Thousands of millionaires flee for their lives! Drivers now taxed by the mile! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 13 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Several failed states across the United States are conducting ‘experiments’ taxing drivers by the mile, known as VMT (vehicle miles traveled); California, Illinois and Oregon.  Another 16 states have been considering such new taxes. The concept has been pushed since at least 2014 by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.  At the state level the excuse is being used that taxes collected from fuel purchases are decreasing (due to people being more conservative with fuel usage), but the true reason could be preparation of forcing people to switch to remotely controllable vehicles that do not use petroleum based fuels (which renders the fuel tax useless).

California:  In Los Angeles, union reps are reporting that bankrupt American Apparel has laid off more than 5-hundred people in the past week!  All former employees are getting severance, which means they will not be included in official unemployment numbers.   University California Berkeley announced it will eliminate 5-hundred jobs (not counting the 60 people being laid off now) over the next two years, due to lack of taxpayer funding!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; New York based IBM laying off 109 people at its San Jose ops, by the end of May!

Florida:  In Fort Myers, after 15 years 3 Fisherman Seafood Restaurant shutting down on Saturday.  The owner actually blames it on the success of his second 3 Fisherman location: “For five years now I’ve been saying I would close that location, but it’s easier said than done.”-John Browning, who says he’s thinking about consolidating his other restaurants as well

Illinois:  The Chicago Tribune revealed how bad it is in Obama’s  homie town: “About 3,000 individuals with net assets of $1 million or more, not including their primary residence, moved from the city last year, with many citing rising racial tensions and worries about crime as factors in the decision, according to research firm New World Wealth.” 

Maine: In Brunswick, after seven years Summer Island Studio and Gallery of Fine Artisans shutting down.  The owner can’t afford to rent a storefront anymore so she’s continuing jewelry making in her house.

Michigan: In Shields, restaurant Bob Evans (on Gratiot) suddenly announced today that they’re shutting down next week, blaming lack of sales.  44 jobs lost.   What automotive industry recovery? Another perfect example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) Cedar Rapids Plastics shutting down on Friday due to Fiat Chrysler’s decision to end production of the Chrysler 200.  It was revealed that 85 employees were laid off back at the end of February, a second round of layoffs will take place by May.

Missouri: As predicted, Saint Louis based coal company Peabody Energy chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Missouri University eliminating 54 jobs due to $5.4-million USD in taxpayer funding cuts, caused by what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.

Nebraska: Natural gas supplier Black Hills Energy shutting down their Lincoln call center, at least 50 jobs lost.  Administrators of the utility claim it’s the only way to prevent rate increases!

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, after six years furniture store Zing shutting down next month, no explanation, can’t blame the internet because they sell online as well (and will continue after the brick-n-mortar shop shuts down).

Texas: More oil industry BS; Houston based natural gas storage company Peregrine Midstream Partners chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  This comes after a 2013 Oil & Gas Financial Journal interview revealed the company was created, and operated, with debt financing for the sole purpose of “…the market will decide when it’s time to sell or maybe create an MLP or implement whatever exit strategy makes the most sense.” Automotive oil and fuel additive maker Lubizol shutting down their Latexo factory by 2017, 40 jobs lost.  The company is joining the rest of unAmerican corporate America in consolidating operations to “improve profitability”.

Virginia: Augusta Health shutting down two Convenient Care clinics located inside Walmarts, by May.  Administrators say ObamaCare is pushing people to go to Urgent Care clinics instead.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“Maybe we overestimated…” Alcoa income crashes 92%! Los Angeles hit hard! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 12 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: In Montgomery, after six years Charlotte’s Jewelry shutting down on my B-Day in May.   The owner wants more time with her new granddaughter.

California:  In San Francisco, British empire owned BAE continues with mass layoffs, this time BAE revealed they laid off 155 people at the end of March!  Also in San Francisco, New York based Too Big to Jail rip-off artist, I mean investment company BlackRock eliminating 64 jobs by June.  Standard Parking shutting down their Los Angeles ops, 430 people jobless starting at the end of May!  Triangle Brass Manufacturing shutting down their Los Angeles factory, 55 jobs lost by the start of May.  Too Big to Jail British empire Royal Bank of Canada owned City National Bank shutting down one of their LA offices by mid-June.  The largest grocery wholesaler in the United States, United Grocers, announced they’re shutting down their Los Angeles ops, 132 jobs lost by June!  Live Nation Entertainment shutting down their Anaheim ops, 3-hundred people jobless starting at the end of May!  Schenker Logistics shutting down their Ontario distribution center, 52 jobs lost by the beginning of June.  Tax-sucking Northrop Grumman issued yet another WARN for Fort Irwin, 483 jobs gone at the end of May!  Also at Fort Irwin, tax-sucker PULAU eliminating 91 jobs by the end of the month, one of the military contractor’s double-speak slogans is “PULAU leads the way in fostering peace and stability across the world. “   Tax-sucking Lockheed-Martin shutting down their San Jose location, 59 jobs gone in June.  Japan based Sony Pictures shutting down their Culver City ops, 59 jobs gone by May.   For-profit ICDC College shutting down their Huntington Park campus, 244 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Temecula, Abbott Vascular continues with its medical device layoffs, this time 131 people laid off without warning at the beginning of this month!   Chevron issued yet another layoff WARN for its Bakersfield ops, 98 jobs lost by mid-June.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Oakland software maker APN (Ask Partner Network) issued a layoff WARN, 19 employees unemployed by the end of May.   Mindspark Interactive Network revealed it too will eliminate jobs.  Internet company IAC (InterActiveCorp) issued layoff WARNs for 15 employees, effective at the end of May.

Florida:  In Saint Petersburg, America’s Auction Network shutting down, 192 jobs gone by June!

Illinois:  Barnes & Noble shutting down three bookstores by the end of May; one in the Arlington Shopping Center, the Woodfield Plaza Shopping Center and in Deer Park Town Center!  No word on how many jobs will be lost, some news reports indicate employees have yet to officially be told.

New York:  Buffalo Cardiology and Pulmonary Associates issued a shutdown WARN for its Williamsville location, 119 jobs gone by mid-May!  After ten years P.S. Bookstore forced to shutdown because it can’t pay its NYC (Brooklyn) property taxes.   The bookstore operator  says he never got a tax bill for the first three years of operations (the fault of the landlord, in NYC evil landlord’s collect property taxes from their tenants), then he suddenly got a massive bill in 2014 which he just could not pay.  He even tried raising the money through internet crowdfunding but failed.  Also in Brooklyn, record store Deadly Dragon Sound shutting down this weekend.  After 11 years the evil landlord kicked them out. The world’s 3rd biggest aluminum maker, NYC based Alcoa, reported its 1st quarter 2016 net income crashed by 92%!  It is now eliminating 2-thousand jobs and splitting itself into two companies!

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  Arlington based software company Opower laid off 25 U.S. employees as “…part of an effort to cut back on our overall spending….”  

Virginia: In Richmond not even two years after opening an upscale grocery store-restaurant Southern Season-Southerly shutting down, 115 people forced to transfer or become jobless!  Administrators say the location is too expensive to operate because they built it too big: “We had hoped to do more volume in the store. Maybe we overestimated….Most retailers are downsizing….”-Dave Herman, president

Wisconsin: Oil industry manufacturer Miller Electric laid off 75 employees without warning, blaming the oil industry BS.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”