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Business/Economics

SEARS KMART UPDATE, August 2016: Beware of Lamperts ‘donating’ property to colleges!

“Our lease expirations in the 1,178 stores provide us with significant option value with minimal commitments since more than half of the leases expire in less than five years.”-Rob Schriesheim, CFO Sears Holdings, basically saying stores will shutdown as leases expire

For their 2nd quarter 2016 sales at Sears fell 7.1% and sales at Kmart fell 5%.  Sears Holdings lost $395-million USD! The leasing of existing Sears stores to other retailers is ramping up: “During the last seven years…..we right-size our stores through leasing a portion of our real estate…..We have done this across the country with other retailers such as Primark, Whole Foods, DICK’s Sporting Goods, Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21, Corner Bakery, West Elm, ALDI and others.”-Howard Riefs, Sears Holdings

Eddie Lampert, CEO of Sears Holdings (but not the majority owner), just loaned Sears $300-million in yet another attempt to shore up the crashing -n-burning retailer.

And as I warned back in May, Lampert is selling off famous brands like Craftsman and Kenmore through “…potential partnerships or other transactions that could expand distribution of our brands and service offerings to realize significant growth…”.

In Rome, New York, a manager of a franchised Sears Outlet store turned himself over to law enforcement after being accused of stealing nearly $3-thousand by falsifying customer discounts and returns.

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

Alabama: After 16 years the Troy Sears Hometown Store suddenly shutdown, the contracted owners said they couldn’t find anybody willing to take over the contract. Oxford Sears (local news reports said the Oxford Sears opened in 1985 with 225 employees!), Birmingham Kmart on Chalkville Mountain, Decatur Kmart on Beltline Road, Homewood Kmart, Mobile Kmart on Z Schillingers Road. The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost in June 2016. City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

Arkansas: Sears store and Auto Center in Pine Bluff shutting down in August 2016. Little Rock Sears shutdown in July 2016.

Arizona: Nogales Kmart shutdown by July 2016, despite the fact that it’s a profit making store (many of its cash paying customers cross the border from Mexico). The Prescott Valley Kmart shutdown April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

California: Sears Holdings shutdown a Los Angeles Kmart, 132 jobs lost in May 2016! Dinuba Kmart 68 jobs lost, Lodi Kmart, Tulare Kmart, Wasco Kmart. Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento. Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings. On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart shutdown, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutdown between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”

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

Colorado: 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: In Orlando, the 50 years old Fashion Square Mall Sears & Auto Center shutting down, 101 jobs lost by mid-November!  Inverness Sears Hometown suddenly shutdown due to disagreements with the landlord. Jacksonville Sears. Mandarin (Jacksonville) Kmart, Neptune Beach Kmart and Perry Kmart shutting down between July-September. The Lutz Kmart shutdown March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutdown mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area! The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutdown April 2016. Dublin Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutdown in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Boise Kmart on Fairview shutdown mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutdown April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois: An update for the abandoned Rock Island Kmart; the recently vacated property was ‘donated’ to Augustana College, but now college adminitrators are looking to sell the property to anybody foolish enough to buy it.  The real reason the college is trying to dump the vacant Kmart is that the property tax is about $92-thousand per year, indicating the ‘donation’ was actually a screw-job (lets not forget that local news media pointed out that city officials spent $15-million tax dollars attracting Walmart to town, but spent zilch on trying to keep Kmart from leaving!).  The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutdown, 125 jobs lost! Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Bradley Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money. After 90 years Chicago Sears on Lawrence Avenue shutting down by August 2016, local news says its the oldest Sears store still operating. The last Decatur Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 61 jobs lost, administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say there are no more Sears Holdings stores in the immediate area! Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski. Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart,  Eddie Lampert eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart. Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutdown mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutdown in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart April 2016, 62 jobs lost. Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August 2016, the store was in the process of dying anyway, only 37 employees left. Sears Holdings shutdown their West Des Moines call center in June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutdown April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), 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: In El Dorado, a contracted Sears store suddenly shutdown due to Sears Holdings continually changing the contract: “We had a contract that we had to follow to a ‘T’ while they changed it at will. They changed our commission bonuses and percentages and that hurt us.”-Russ Christy, contracted Sears store operator

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

Kentucky: 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: The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Houma Sears, Pineville Kmart. Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Kmart shutting down by August 2016, more than 50 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: 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 shutdown mid-April 2016. Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News. 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shutdown in May 2016. North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: The Holland Sears Appliance & Hardware shutdown, the manager of the francise store refused to say why.  Plymouth Township Super Kmart shutting down by November 2017 (that’s when the lease expires). According to Plymouth’s Planning Commission, Sears Holdings is selling the property to a developer.   A Kmart on Groesbeck Highway, Clinton Township, shutting down, 82 jobs lost by October 2016. The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July 2016, 61 jobs lost. 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 shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutdown 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: The 40 years old Eden Prairie Center Sears store shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Eddie Lampert sold the store to the mall owner for $16-million! The owner of the mall wants to carve up the Sears into smaller stores.  Dundas Kmart in April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Corinth Kmart. The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutdown in April, no word on job losses. Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: 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: 40 years old 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: Nearly one acre of the Rockaway Townsquare Mall Sears (which is still in operation) is now rented out to a furniture dealer.  Lodi Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

New Mexico: Back in May local news reports said the Artesia Kmart was shutting down, in July Sears Holdings finally confirmed it. Albuquerque’s Coronado Center Sears suddenly shutdown their Auto Center, and will reduce the size of the main store by 50% within two months. Sears goon Howard Riefs stated “We will rightsize the labor…”, but gave no numbers. The ‘rightsizing’ of the Coronado Center store is in partnership with one of my evil former employers, mall owner GGP. SearsLas Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: The 50 years old Sears Auto Center in the Colonie Center Mall shutdown by Sears Holdings subsidiary Seritage Growth Properties, so the space could be rented out to Avis-Budget Car Rental Group. In Brooklyn, the Kings Plaza Sears shutting down, 210 jobs gone by mid-September 2016! Eddie Lampert is renting the space to a couple of European clothing retailers. Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. New York Post says Sears is shutting down their NYC clothing design office, 40 jobs moved to California, another 154 jobs gone by July! Rotterdam Mall Sears and Auto Center shutting down by August 2016 (67 jobs lost). Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 Rochester Kmart employees losing their jobs by mid-July 2016. Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart. Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center 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: 40 years old Thomasville Kmart shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.  Brevard Kmart, Gastonia Kmart, Lumberton Kmart, Pineville Kmart, Rocky Mount Kmart. Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: 18 years old Defiance Sears shutting down by August 2016. Marion Sears store (the Auto Center was shutdown in 2014), Ashtabula Kmart, Eaton Kmart, Fremont Kmart, Lima Kmart, Lorain Kmart, Springboro Kmart. Englewood Kmart, 57 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June 2016. Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June 2016. 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutdown in May 2016. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Hardware shuts down this Friday. The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutdown by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutdown mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutdown by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: 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: A Blind Bat News reader warning that the Beaverton Kmart has replaced its permanent signage with temporary ones, and the store is looking empty. There’s been no public reports of the store shutting down. Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: In July, Sears Holdings shutdown the Uniontown Kmart, killing at least 73 jobs.  But the shutdown is also affecting a locally owned restaurant (Mark C’s Diner) still on the property, whose owners say their sales have crashed-n-burned since the shutdown.  Now Sears Holdings say they are about to sell the Uniontown property in an effort to “realize shareholder value from the property”.  Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts. Reading Kmart. Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall, 62 jobs lost. Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July 2016. Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: The 44 years old Orangeburg Kmart shutting down in August 2016. Camden Kmart. 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutdown by May 2016. Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart. The Pierre Kmart shutdown March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Local news reports say Sears Holdings has posted “Going out of business!” signs on the North Knoxville Kmart, however they could not get any confirmation of shutdown from corporate administrators. Bristol Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart. The Murfreesboro Kmart shutdown April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutdown in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutdown in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutdown by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: Fort Stockton Sears Hometown Store was ‘re-branded’ the America’s Appliance Experts outlet. Sears Holdings revealed the Brownsville Kmart is shutting down by August. El Paso Kmart, Mission Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart. Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart. 35 years old Richfield Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutdown April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virginia: Christiansburg Kmart and the Hampton Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July 2016. The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutdown between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper. Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: After officially denying that their Marysville Kmart was shutting down, calling it a “a bad rumor” and swearing to local news media that “the store will remain open”, guess what? Local news media reporting that the Marysville Kmart is now plastered with “store closing” signs, 47 jobs lost by by mid-July. Arrogantly Sears Holdings said the employees can apply at other Sears/Kmart stores, however, local news reports say it’s the last Kmart in all of Snohomish County. Eatonville Sears Hometown store. Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: Seritage Growth Properties is ‘downsizing’ the Sears store in the West Towne Mall, according to plans filed with the city of Madison. Those plans show a new restaurant taking up more than half of the space of the Sears store. Administrators refused to answer questions from the local news media. The Wausau Center Sears shutting down, 35 remaining employees became unemployed June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.” Hartford Kmart. Superior Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

Business/Economics

After “soaring auto sales” General Motors shuts down 5-thousand jobs? Blames Brexit!

22 August 2016 / 21:21 UTC-07 Tango 01 (02 Shahrivar 1395/19 Dhu I-Qa’da 1437/21 Bing-Shen 4714)

U.S. vehicle maker General Motors (GM) ownes Deutschland car maker Opel.  In turn Opel sells (and builds) its cars in United Kingdom under the name Vauxhall.

GM administrators say the vote by U.K. residents to leave the European Union has caused a crash in Opel-Vauxhall sales (United Kingdom is second largest car market in European Union). GM bean counters expect sales to drop by $400-million USD!  As a result they’ve ordered shift reductions for 5-thousand Opel employees in Deutschland!

Spontaneously combusted Vauxhall

But wait, Opel actually made a profit between April and June of this year (after years of losses).  The move by GM is pure paranoia over the Brexit vote, in fact the real reason for any claimed declines in Vauxhall sales could be that some older cars are spontaneously combusting!  Also, U.K. news media have pointed out that this time of year is a natural slowdown for car sales in Britain, and that GM’s paranoid outlook is based on “interim results”.

And here’s something interesting; Northern Ireland news media report that the actual slowdown in new U.K. car sales was a negligable 0.1%, and Vauxhalls are the number 2 and 3 top selling cars (Ford was #1)!

And two weeks ago a report out of England stated “…Vauxhall…..made a major contribution to soaring auto sales.”

I think bean counters at GM are on drugs!

Business/Economics, Technology

“We’ll be hiring a ton of people!” Suddenly 70-thousand auto workers unemployed!

22 August 2016 / 19:36 UTC-07 Tango 01 (02 Shahrivar 1395/19 Dhu I-Qa’da 1437/21 Bing-Shen 4714)

Never ending techno-glitches, rebelious parts suppliers, crashing sales and more conspiratorial moves towards all-electric vehicles could kill-off a once iconic car brand; Volkswagen.

The latest tech propblem for VW is that its eletronic lock system can be easily hacked, according to research at United Kingdom’s University of Birmingham.   That means at least 100-million VW, Skoda and Seat vehicles are vunerable!  The study also found that Ford, Peugeot and Citroen vehicles are also screwed up.

Despite seemingly never ending techno-probs for VW, the Deutschland based car maker is ramping up plans to make more tech heavy electric cars.  Five new electric models are planned, with the prototype of one to be revealed next month at the Paris Auto Show.  To confirm my suspicions that the whole diesel scandal is a Rockefeller funded False Flag operation to push vehicle owners into cars they don’t want, VW says it will produce one million electric cars per year by 2025. 

In Deutschland, nearly 70-thousand automotive industry employees found themselves suddenly unemployed when vehicle production was halted at six VW factories, and worker strikes hit several independantly run parts factories!  For the past few weeks news reports said the looming shutdowns were to be blamed on disputes with parts suppliers. Parts suppliers (controlled by a company called Prevent) accuse VW of violating its own contracts and say VW hasn’t been paying them.  However, perhaps the real reason for the production halt is the fact that VW sales in the United States fell for a ninth straight month, an 8% decline in July.

Sales in the Fatherland of Deutschland fell 8.7%.  But that’s nothing compared to the 32% decline in Brazil (for the first half of 2016)!

Main stream anti-diesel news media keeps blaming the situation on the False Flag diesel scandal, but most VW diesel owners love their TDIs: “The irony is that Volkswagen Group has been a champion of diesel propulsion…the best in the industry… so good, they could convert most hardcore petrolheads.”-CarScoops

Interestingly Spain based Gestamp, a VW parts maker, says it can’t find enough employees for its factory in Tennessee to handle orders for VW’s new sport utility vehicle: “We’ll be hiring a ton of people!”-Madalyn Roberts, Gestamp HR

VICTORY FOR VW DIESEL LOVERS, OR VICTORY FOR ANTI-DIESEL NUTS?

RUSSIANS HAVE THE MONEY. …VW…MAKES THEIR MOVE

Technology

“It’s brutal…like standing in a line for a guillotine!” 10,000+ jobs killed in one month! : July 2016 U.S. Tech/Communications layoffs

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise. Incomplete list of U.S. internet/high-tech/communications job destruction announcements in July 2016:

Sweden based telecom company Ericsson warned of global layoffs, including in the United States, due to an 11% drop in sales and a 26% drop in profits.

Arizona: The Arizona Daily Star laid off nine poeple, reports say more newsroom employees could be let go.

California: Japan based Sony laid off as many as 1-hundred people in The Golden State, with insiders saying Sony’s Japan HQ is taking over direct control of their U.S. operations in an attempt to save money!  Once iconic Playboy magazine laid off employees at its Los Angeles operations as part of its plan to attract a “millennial audience”. Indie movie maker Broad Green Pictures laid off employees as part of its plan to become ‘mainstream’.   San Jose based ebay once again warned that its spin-off of paypal will result in at least 2-thousand 4-hundred jobs being killed, investors loved the news and jacked up the price of ebay stock!   ‘Christian’ Disney owned multi-channel network Maker Studios laid off 30 people.  Brisbane based digital lifestyle magazine Mode Media (Glam Media) laid off at least 30 people in the U.S.  It’s more proof that most tech startups are not truly successful with their product sales, as The Wall Street Journal said Mode Media is killing jobs due to a sudden decrease in investor funding.  Mountain View based Symantec issued yet another WARN, this time at least 77 people becoming jobless by mid-August.   Seagate also issued yet another layoff WARN, 70 people in Cupertino unemployed by September as part of their plan to eliminate 6-thousand 5-hundred jobs globally!   Maker of InfoTech systems and avionics Rockwell Collins issued a shutdown WARN for their Poway location.  Palo Alto based Google challenger Cyanogen (CyanogenMod) announced it will layoff some of its small staff.  The company raised a lot of money through foolhardy tech investors, but has failed to get smartphone makers to use its programing. In San Francisco, video game maker Kabam laid off at least 25 people. Mobile events company DoubleDutch 55 people despite raising a lot of money through crowdfunding, however, administrators admit that the layoffs are part of their plan to rely on profits instead of crowdfunding.

Delaware: Tech company SevOne announced massive layoff of 40% of its employees! Days later an unnamed employee was quoted by local news media as saying “It’s brutal! They are laying off so many people I had to wait hours to get my severance. It’s like standing in a line for a guillotine!”   In 2015 SevOne laid off 10% of its employees.

Florida: California founded but Tallahassee based fuel cell company Bing Energy now bankrupt dead due to former administrators spying and stealing data for a Chinese companies.  At one time the startup promised to employ more than 250 people within five years of production of fuel cells for cars, and even cell phone towers.  In Tampa, Convergys laying off 375 call center employees by the end of September!

Idaho: Boise based Micron announced it will eliminate 2-thousand 4-hundred jobs globally, due to crashing memory markets!  Micron’s 3rd quarter 2016 revenues were down 25% from the same quarter last year!

Massachusetts: Needham based video game maker Turbine forced by parent company Warner Brothers to layoff employees, as they shift to ‘free-to-play’ mobile gaming.

Minnesota: Minniapolis based Leadpages laid off 22 people despite claiming that sales were up.  Administrators say they must get smaller in order to continue growing, however, I believe the layoffs are actually the result of Leadpages’ take over of automation company Drip.

New York:  A leaked email revealed that for the first time Armonk based IBM will eliminate jobs with its Netherlands operations, the actual numbers will be made known in September.  NYC based Newsweek suddenly laid off “half a dozen” employees.  It’s connected to layoffs by parent company International Business Times.  Samson Technologies shutting down its Hauppauge operations, 26 jobs lost by October.  Another 55 jobs apparently being transfered to their Hicksville location. SHC Universal issued a shutdown WARN for their NYC call center, 508 jobs gone by Halloween!

North Carolina: Universal Cable-Suddenlink shutting down its Greenville call center, 81 jobs lost due to consolidation of ops.  Raleigh based WiFi company SignalShare now bankrupt busted due to lawsuits, including one by a former chief technology officer, and one by a major customer that claims “SignalShare would provide fake or forged invoices for the equipment it allegedly ordered, or provide fictitious serial numbers for items allegedly purchased and installed in the fraudulent contracts. Between May 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015, SignalShare conned NFS into advancing funds on 10 fraudulent lease transactions to the tune of $4.9 million.”

Pennsylvania:  LED light supplier Ledvance shutting down their Wellsboro operation, 64 jobs gone by the end of September.  Mobilex shutting down their Horsham location, 63 jobs gone by the end of September.

Utah: IM Flash (a joint venture between California’s Intel and Idaho’s Micron) eliminating 130 jobs in Lehi!   It’s blamed on crashing sales in the flash memory market.

Washington: Redmond based Microsoft announced it will eliminate 2-thousand 8-hundred jobs connected to smartphone hardware and international sales!  It was also revealed in SEC documents that Microsoft eliminated 1-thousand 850 jobs in connection to its take over of Finland based Nokia, which Microsoft administration now calls a mistake!  The take-over ‘mistake’ cost Microsoft at least $7.6-billion USD!  Seattle based ‘cloud’ company Socrata laid off 19 people and eliminated 10 vacant jobs.   It’s part of their Government 500 plan to focus sales on tax sucking federal, state and local governments.

June 2016: “IT’S LIKE A NEVER-ENDING FUNERAL.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

Business/Economics

1 company kills 40,000 jobs in 1 day! : July 2016 U.S. Retail/Banking/Service Sector Layoffs

Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns for July 2016:

After 23 years men’s clothing store Universal Gear shutdown its last two stores in New York and Washington DC!

California:   Team AMVETS Thrift Store forced to shutdown one of its Fresno locations saying “it was never a huge profit source for us.”  In Petaluma, after two years Toy B Ville shutdown due to sales not being enough to pay the rent.  At one time the owner had several toy stores spread through two counties, but now has only one store in Napa.  Tustin based direct seller Vivi Jewelry (Cookie Lee) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Comments on the company’s Facebook page indicate it has shutdown affecting 40-thousand people working as ‘direct sellers’ (6-thousand 4-hundred just in California)!  In Los Angeles, “legendary” stationary store Pulp Cards & Paper shutdown due to “We lost our lease!” In Stevenson Ranch after $2-million USD in remodeling costs, furniture seller Urban Home shutting down their  Westfield Valencia Town Center store by the end of August (they actually wanted to shut it down in July).

Colorado: In Grand Junction, after 31 years Crawford Boot & Western Wear shutting down by the end of August.

Connecticut: In Stamford, British empire based RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) laying off 21 people by mid-September.

Florida: Belk issued a shutdown WARN for their Jacksonville store, 52 jobs lost between Xmas and mid-January 2017.  Ameris Bank shutdown their Hawthorne office, local news media say it was the last bank office in the city and that the majority of residents are not willing to switch to electronic banking.  In Sarasota, clothier Brooks Brothers shutdown their Main Street store.

Idaho: After five years, the first locally franchised Flip Flop Shops (in Boise Towne Square Mall) shutdown, five jobs lost: “…we just had several years of decreasing sales, to the point where we can no longer finance the business.”-Dustin Preece, co-owner

Illinois:  Too Big to Jail Bank of America laying off 141 people in Rolling Meadows, due to consolidation ops!  In Ukrainian Village, Columbia Furniture shutdown due to selling the property: “Apparently our real estate is better than the furniture business.”-Wally Papciak, co-owner

In Chicago, National Opinion Research Center issued a shutdown WARN, 285 jobs gone in September!   After more than 20 years music venue Double Doors shutdown due to being evicted. Also in Chicago, the Ulta Beauty shop on South State Street shutdown permanently due to property damage caused by nearby construction projects.  Ulta administrators blame the property developer.  Convenience store Jiffi Stop shutting down multiple locations due to selling out to a competitor, at least 230 jobs lost by the end of September!  Management company Group O eliminating 48 jobs in Milan, no reason given.  ‘Christian’ Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down their Moline store by September. In Freeport, after 63 years DeGrote Television shutdown.  A co-owner lamented that at one time he was busy doing 20 repairs per day: “It’s time to close it down. In this day and age, nobody wants a business like this.”-Tom Moth

Indiana: In Clarksville, after 53 years Granpa’s Outdoor hardware store shutdown.  In Muncie, MC Sports shutting down by the end of Summer.  In Michigan City, after more than $90-thousand USD in high-tech upgrades Lakeshore Lanes (formerly Suburban Lanes) shutdown: “We tried our best but financially it just didn’t work out.”-Dave Backstrom, frustrated owner

Kansas:  Genesis Health Clubs shutdown three locations in Kansas City.  It’s connected to their takeover of rival 24 Hour Fitness last month.

Kentucky: In Bardstown, after 30 years Plantation Furniture shutdown.

Massachusetts: In Boston Weak, Boston Grand Prix now chapter 7 bankrupt busted due to IndyCar canceling the race, after ticket sales had already begun. The state Attorney General could file charges because ticket sales are not being refunded. IndyCar pulled out of the Boston race back in April because “The relationship between us and the city is not working.”, however Boston Grand Prix kept selling tickets in the hopes they could start a “Plan B” race.  In Cambridge, Stellabella Toys shutdown, the owner blamed competition from “iPods and iPads”. 

Michigan:  In Bay City, after 61 years Fabric Fair shutdown, the store is for sale as well as the property.

Minnesota: After 43 years Ganite City Pawn Shop shutting down in October.  The owner is selling the property so he can finally retire.

Mississippi: Jackson based All American Check Cashing shutting down stores in Alabama and Louisiana due to losing battles with state and federal regulators!

Missouri: Total Hockey now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and being sold-off due to crashing sales, 32 stores affected.  One of the last true variety stores Nagel’s shutting down after 44 years, the tired owners say they need to retire.  Too Big to Jail lender of rigged home loans NovaStar Financial getting what it deserves, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Montana: In Billings, after 23 years the once profitable Bead Depot shutting down due to internet competition.

Nebraska: The last roller rink in Lincoln shutting down in 2017, after 63 years the owners of Skate Zone said “It’s just too expensive a piece of property to operate as a roller skating rink” and are selling-out to a property developer.

New Hampshire: In Rochester the Starlite Cinemas shutdown due to crashing sales.

New Jersey: After 20 years Somerville Antiques Center shutdown due to crashing sales.  In Norwood, after 35 years successful Colonial Inn shutdown because the 70 years old owner’s children didn’t want to take over the business.

New Mexico: In Los Alamos, Nu2U Consignment and Gift Store shutting down by the end of September.

New York:  In Getzville, a shutdown WARN issued for University-Ramada Hotel & Conference Center, 72 jobs lost by the end of September.  Too Big to Jail KeyCorp (Keybank) eliminating 250 jobs and shutting down 18 offices as part of its take over of First Niagara Bank!  CRT Capital finally notified state employment administrators that they shutdown their NYC location, 84 jobs suddenly gone.   Visium Asset Management laying off at least 24 employees starting in October.   Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs issued yet another WARN (the evil money temple calling it a “4th round of layoffs”), 55 people becoming jobless in time for Xmas.  What housing market recovery?  In Elma, Seneca Mortgage laying off 43 people due to the sale of their mortgage ops to a competitor.  Direct marketer Trusted Media Brands (Reader’s Digest) issued a shutdown WARN for their White Plains location, 31 jobs gone starting in October. They’ll also shutdown their Studio Fun International operations.  In Brooklyn NYC, The Big Apple Circus laid off dozens of employees due to “insufficient funding”.

North Carolina: Charlotte based Too Big to Jail Bank of America revealed it eliminated 2-thousand 667 jobs in its 2nd quarter!   Since its 2nd quarter of 2015 Bank of America has killed more than 6-thousand 1-hundred jobs!  In Winston Salem, after only two years Camel City News & Gifts shutdown due to the landlord not renewing the lease.

Ohio: In Trotwood, the Hara Arena shopping center shutdown.  Local politicians, and property developers, are pushing cash strapped taxpayers to fund revitalization of the 1-hundred acre site.  What housing market recovery? Forest City Realty Trust eliminated an additional 25 jobs. Local news media say the realty company killed 150 jobs since the end of 2015!  In Aurora, after 34 years Chet Edwards General Home Refurnishings shutting down, the owners blame multiple factors.  In Mount Vernon, after 20 years antique seller Farley and Moore shutdown, after four failed years of trying to sell the business.

Oregon: North Carolina based Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a mass layoff WARN for their Hillsboro location, 109 jobs lost by September!  In Medford after surviving The Great Depression, Ead’s Furniture shutting down in August.  The owner said with the bad economy it was the only thing that “made sense”.  In Portland, yarn seller Yarnia announced it will shutdown its eight years old brick-n-mortar store and sell on the internet only.

Pennsylvania: In Palmyra, Royer’s Flowers and Gifts shutdown due to losing their lease.  In Dunmore, dress boutique Head To Toe shutdown, the owner saying “It’s time to have a life.”   Hippie and the Hound Vapor Store shutting down by September due to new tobacco taxes.  In East Vandergrift, after more than 44 years Henry’s TV & Appliance shutdown due to family illness.  In Chambersburg, after 32 years Elite Tattoo shutdown, due to the owner’s health problems.  In Bethlehem, after 35 years the owner of Play It Again music store shutting it down after being made an ‘un-refusable’ offer for the property. The owner of 1-hundred-plus years old West Washington Hardware announced they will shutdown by October, blaming the Big Box stores: “All mom-and-pop stores have been run out. There are no small businesses left in this town.”-Tom Rogers

Rhode Island: GUESS shutdown their clothing store in the Providence Place Mall.

Tennessee: What housing market recovery? In Nashville, Georgia based SunTrustBank shutdown their mortgage loan center, 83 jobs lost.  Like the rest of unAmerican corporate America, SunTrustBank is consolidating operations.

Texas: Too Big to Jail Comerica Bank eliminating 8-hundred jobs and shutting down 40 offices because “We are fundamentally changing the way we operate…”!  Amarillo based bankrupt video/music/bookstore chain Hastings announced “All Hastings stores, our e-Commerce business and our corporate office will all discontinue operations….”, thousands of jobs lost! 

Virginia: Too Big to Jail BB&T laying off 61 bank employees, but did not say when.  In Portsmouth, after more than 60 years Dail’s Hardware shutdown. Too Big to Jail Genworth Financial eliminated 27 jobs. According to local news media Genworth Financial has killed at least 6-hundred jobs since 2011!  After 32 years Lilies of Gent clothing store shutdown.

Washington: Too Big to Jail Capital One eliminating 187 internet based ING Online jobs by 2017!  Capital One is consolidating “nondigital product management” jobs.

Wisconsin: Saint Clair’s Menswear shutting down their Wausau store in August, blaming “A shift in clientele….”

“NO SIGNS OF FUTURE IMPROVEMENT” : JULY 2016 U.S. MINING/INDUSTRIAL/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS

JULY 2016 U.S. FEDERAL/STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHENANIGANS

June 2016: “People….never returned.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

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

Slow death spiral since 1961, “with no signs of future improvement”! : July 2016 U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics Layoffs

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss announcements and shutdowns for July 2016.

California:  Coty shutting down its OPI Products nail polish factory in North Hollywood, 408 jobs gone by September!   Warehouse leaser Brookvale International issued a shutdown WARN for its Carson ops, 107 jobs gone by September!  Ryder issued a shutdown WARN for its Fontana location.  Medical products distributor Owens & Minor issued layoff WARNs for Ontario and Tracy, 189 jobs gone by the end of August! Skywest Airlines issued a mass layoff WARN for their LAX ops, 325 jobs gone by the end of August! In Pittsburg, metal maker USS-POSCO issued a mass layoff WARN, 643 jobs gone by September (supposedly temporarily)!  Orange County based sunglass maker Oakely warned of layoffs due to consolidation of retail operations to Ohio.  Impact Logistics issued a shutdown WARN for the City of Industry, 61 jobs gone by the end of August.

Florida: A “leader in technology-enabled customer service, utilizing in-person and automated service delivery” Faneuil issued two WARNs, 426 jobs in Orlando and Boca Raton gone by the end of August!  Petroleum industry gas supplier Air Products laid off 30 people, despite getting taxpayer incentives to create new jobs.   WestRock Jax shutting down their Jacksonville paper & box factory, 127 jobs lost by September! 

Illinois:  It was revealed that Chicago based aerospace company Boeing eliminated 4-thousand 5-hundred jobs by the end of June!  Boeing administrators are warning of even more job cuts.  Peoria based maker of heavy vehicles, mainly for the mining industry, Caterpillar says their crashing sales continue and warned of even more layoffs for the second half of 2016.  To give you an example of how bad sales for Caterpillar are; in 2012 they made 1-thousand 7-hundred mining trucks, this year they’ll make less than 1-hundred!  Car parts maker Bergstrom issued a layoff WARN for its Joliet factory, 50 jobs lost due to relocation of production.   In Centralia, American Machine Company warned city government administrators that 30 jobs could be lost in connection with parent company Murray Energy’s massive country wide layoffs.  WSIL reported that massive coal industry layoffs are killing mom&pop businesses: “Clientele that we were seeing two and three times a week has dropped to once a week.”-Tyson Cummins, restaurant owner

“It just seems like, Saline County, we just hang on down here, that’s about all we do.”-Mike McKinnies, county board member

Indiana: Audio equipment maker Harman International shipping 125 Elkhart jobs to California and Mexico!  What housing market recovery? Door & window maker VT Industries shutting down their New Albany factory, 120 jobs gone by the end of October!

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? Commercial Vehicle Group shutting down its factory in Monona by March 2017, and moving 146 U.S. jobs to Mexico!  Terex shutdown their crane factory in Waverly, 175 jobs lost to consolidation.

Kentucky: After surviving The Great Depression CAT Whayne Supply (one of the oldest Caterpillar service companies) laying off 87 employees “Due to deterioration in our traditional markets in the eastern Kentucky area and coal industry with no signs of future improvement for some time…”

Louisiana: Oil industry contractor Blue Sky Innovations issued a WARN, at least 58 jobs lost between now and Xmas, due to loss of a contract.  GE (General Electric) Oil & Gas issued a shutdown WARN, almost all of its Pineville employees will be laid off, that’s 269 people unemployed by Xmas!

Maryland:  What housing market recovery? Baltimore based Development Design Group chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to the yet to be recovered housing market.  Administrators say for the first half of this year they’ve lost at least $500-thousand USD, 85 people have been laid off, so far.

Michigan: Dow Corning issued shutdown WARNs for two factories, 348 employees unemployed by the end of September!   PAE lost its USPS Postal Operations Mail Transport Equipment Service Centers contract, 58 jobs lost by November.  What automotive industry recovery? In Detroit, Martinrea Hot Stampings issued several WARNs with layoffs ranging from 32 to 122!   Commercial Vehicle Group shutting down its administrative office in Wixom by September 2016.  After being caught lying about car sales, Fiat-Chrysler announced it will halt all U.S. production of cars!  Chrysler brand cars will be made outside of the U.S.  Administrators claim they’ll shift U.S. car factories to SUVs and trucks production.  Here’s why; it costs about the same to build a truck as it does a car, yet stupid U.S. consumers are willing to pay out-the-ass for a truck, meaning the profit margin on a truck, or SUV, is much higher than a car.  Canada based Martinrea International laying off 68 people by the end of August, due to Fiat Chrysler halting production of the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart.   Ford shocked ‘investors’ when it reported that its 2nd quarter pre-tax profits fell by $400-million USD from the same time last year!  Administrators admitted the U.S. vehicle market is going down, and blamed part of their lower profits on increased customer incentives used to trick, I mean convince people to buy a new car they can’t afford.

Minnesota: Essar Steel Minnesota chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to the gov’na canceling the company’s lease on a taconite project. Gov’na Mark Dayton claims the steel company has repeatedly failed to pay sub-contractors.

New Jersey: Kenco Logistic Services shutting down in Robbinsville, 415 jobs gone by mid-September!  Morristown based aerospace company Honeywell says it will eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs due to declining demand.  Perfume maker Chanel eliminating 75 jobs in Piscataway, by the end of September.  Heyco Products eliminating 107 jobs in Toms River, by the end of September!   Jordan Transportation eliminating 81 jobs in Parsippany, by the end of August.

New York: Charter bus service Schoolman Transportation System (Classic Coach) chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down their Bohemia location, 56 jobs lost by the end of September.  In Dunkirk, Berry Plastics issued a shutdown WARN, 54 jobs gone due to consolidation of operations, by the end of October.  Sodium/lithium refiner Chemours issued a shutdown WARN for their Niagara Falls operation, 145 jobs gone by 2017!  Berry Plastics issued a shutdown WARN for their Dunkirk packaging ops, 54 jobs gone by Halloween.

North Carolina: FedEx owned reverse shipper Genco issued a WARN for their Charlotte location, 53 jobs gone by the end of August!

North Dakota: Great River Energy shutting down their 50 years old Stanton coal fired power plant, by 2017, saying they’re not being paid enough for the electricity they create.  At least 65 jobs lost.

Ohio: Saint Clairsville based coal giant Murray Energy is warning that it could layoff 4-thousand 4-hundred employees across six states in September! Administrators blame the Obama regime’s anti-coal policy, coal prices and deteriorating negotiations with employee’s union.  Newspaper The Blade revealed that Cleveland’s factory jobs have been in a slow death spiral since 1961!   What automotive industry recovery? Commercial Vehicle Group shutting down its stamping and assembly factory in Shadyside, 172 jobs gone by June 2017!  Belmont County Commissioner Ginny Favede warned the commercial Vehicle Group shutdown cause “a ripple effect from losing the jobs and the taxes.”

Oregon: Upper Columbia Mill in Boardman shutting down, 67 jobs gone by September. 

Pennsylvania: FedEx issued a shutdown WARN, 139 Pittsburgh jobs gone by August!  “Reclamation” service company Clover eliminating 65 jobs by the end of August.  In Monessen, Murray American Transportation eliminating 63 jobs by the end of August.  In Black Lick, C&J Well Services laying off 73 people in September.  British empire based aircraft interior maker Triumph Industries shutting down their Oakdale operations, 53 jobs lost by March 2017.

South Carolina:  The new owner of battery maker Duracell , agnostic Warren Buffet, shutting down their AA battery factory in Lancaster killing at least 430 local jobs!  Buffett is consolidating Duracell production.

Tennessee:  FedEx owned reverse shipper Genco issued a shutdown WARN for their Memphis location, 160 jobs gone by the end of August!

Texas: Houston based oil company Halcón Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming oil prices.  The bankrupt Sherwin Alumina Company being sold to a competitor and its factory in Gregory shutting down.  Houston based ConocoPhillips announced it will eliminate 1-thousand oil jobs by the end of the year!  Oilfield service company C&J Energy Services now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. DuPont shutting down its La Porte operations, local news media say at one time the factory employed 5-hundred people!

Virginia: Sweden based truck maker Volvo rendering 3-hundred people unemployed by September!  In February Volvo laid off 5-hundred employees, then warned in May that a second round of layoffs would take place.    Ongoing crashing demand for new trucks is blamed.  HVAC company Bristol Compressors laid off and additional 60 people due to crashing international sales.  In May, administrators laid off 120 people.

Washington: Electrical hardware company Minerallac issued a shutdown WARN for a Seattle location.  Triumph Group shutting down their decades old Triumph Structures ops in Everett, at least 99 jobs gone by the end of September. Spectrum Glass shutting down their Woodinville location in September.  In Tukwila, Jorgensen Forge shutting down, 111 jobs gone in September!

West Virginia: 66 years old CAT Walker Machinery laying off 78 people due to crashing demand for service.

Wisconsin:  Cascade Purchase Holdings-New Hampshire Industries issued a shutdown WARN for their Horicon hardware factory, 39 jobs gone by the end of September.  Hydraulic controls maker HUSCO International issued a layoff WARN, 97 Waukesha jobs gone by mid-September.

Wyoming: Ammonia nitrate (you know, fertilizer and bombs) maker Dyno Nobel laying off 15 people due to the coal industry BS.

Food Crisis July 2016: “VIRTUALLY NO SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE LEFT”

Sears Kmart July 2016: “WE ARE IN A BURNING BUILDING RIGHT NOW…”

Dumbing Down July 2016: “WE ARE GOING DOWN…”

JUNE 2016 : 76% CRASH IN FRIDGE SALES! NO MORE BIKES?

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

U.S.

July 2016 U.S. Federal/State/Local Government Shenanigans

Incomplete list of U.S. Federal/State/Local Government self-destruct announcements for July 2016:

Arizona:  Due to crashing tax funding the state Health Care Cost Containment System denied Medicaid to 3-thousand 5-hundred refugees and immigrants, as far back as October 2015!  The city of Scottsdale just spent $4-million tax-dollars buying a man’s property, then asking the man to continue living there rent free!  It’s all part of the city’s plan to ‘protect’ the world’s largest urban nature preserve.  The man who sold out is now basically a park ranger in exchange for somewhere to live.  The city of Tempe is being pushed to considering changing laws, and possibly spending tax dollars, to create a ‘tiny home community’.  The idea is to cram 11 living spaces on two thirds of an acre.  The tiny homes are tiny versions of mobile homes which, ironically, are being promoted in response to Tempe’s growing mobile home eviction rate!

California:  The Golden State’s Cap-n-Trade program is praised for reducing pollution, criticized for killing jobs, and now the courts want to know what the ‘elected’ lawmakers are doing with the money!  The program forces industries to bid on auctioned ‘permits’ to produce pollution. Whistleblowers revealed that revenues are far short of what was expected, but nobody is saying what’s being done with the money.

Connecticut: More proof of Failed State-ism, after already eliminating 825 taxpayer funded jobs the ‘elected’ government announced more layoffs.  Apparently the layoffs will continue until 2-thousand 5-hundred taxpayer funded jobs have been eliminated! However, local news media report that state agencies might be rebelling against the gov’na’s plans, by re-hiring laid off employees into newly created lower paying positions!

Florida: At MacDill Air Force Base, IAP Worldwide laying off 45 people by the end of September. At Kennedy Space Center, Chenga Security & Support Solutions eliminating 272 jobs by the end of September!  At Eglin AFB, InDyne eliminating 641 jobs by the end of September!

Georgia: In Atlanta, after 35 years privately funded homeless shelter Open Door Community shutdown due to the cost of keeping the aged building open. Local news reports said this will burden the city run homeless ops, which are already being cut due to crashing taxpayer funding.

Idaho: The Idaho Statesman revealed that a plurality of ‘elected’ christian lawmakers are covered under taxpayer funded healthcare for full time employees.  The reasons this is a scandal are that Idaho’s lawmakers are legally considered part time employees, and the fact that at least 78-thousand Idahoans are not covered by ObamaCare insurance.  According to InsideGov.com, Congressman Raul Labrador claims his net worth is negative $216-thousand USD!   A ranch family is suing Adams County after two deputies shot and killed Jack Yantis.   Admas County Sheriff claims his deputies were about to put down one of Yantis’ bulls, after it had been hit by a car, when Yantis showed up and threatened them with a gun.  All deputies on scene blasted Yantis to death. The family disputes the Sheriff’s version of what happened.  A Deputy Fire Chief in Nampa was fired after revealing that two apartment complexes weren’t safe for disabled people.  A federal court judge now says there’s enough evidence for Doug Strosnider, the now former Deputy Fire Chief, to file a ‘whistleblower’ lawsuit against Nampa.   The ongoing drought is forcing the state Water Resource Board to spend $7.2 million tax-dollars to boost water recharge of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

Illinois: A prime example of Failed State; Winnebago County will conduct layoffs due to multimillion-dollar budget shortfalls.  The county is short nearly $1.6-million USD on just personnel expenses, and sales tax funding for 2017 are expected to be short by as much as $8.8-million!  The Madden Shelter/Residential Program shutting down in Chicago, Bartlett and Des Plaines, 145 jobs gone starting now!

Louisiana: For profit prison operator GEO eliminating 80 prison jobs at Allen Correctional Center.   To save money the Louisiana Department of Corrections wants to downgrade the ‘correctional center’ to a simple jail.

Michigan: The number of tax-sucking state employees charged with the city of Flint’s water catastrophe now numbers nine.   All are basically charged with covering up what they knew was criminal action by contractors.  The state administrators charged worked for the state Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Environmental Quality.  Flint’s former utilities manager has also been charged.

New Jersey: “Gov. Chris Christie’s executive order to freeze transportation projects could wind up costing construction contractors millions in additional expenses and force layoffs to thousands of construction workers…”-Burlington County times

The U.S. Justice Department now suing two former executives of New Jersey based military contractor Louis Berger Group.  Those executives pled guilty to ripping off $50-million tax-dollars for work not done in Afghanistan,  Iraq and other parts of the world the U.S. is occupying.

New York: “The Campaign for One New York, the now-defunct nonprofit dedicated to promoting New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s agenda, raised $60,000 during the first six months of 2016… …the mayor decided to shut down amid federal and state investigations into……..whether the mayor traded government action in return for donations…”–The Wall Street Journal 

Also,  federal investigators are looking into current ‘elected’ mayor Bill de Blasio’s connection to the sale of Long Island College Hospital. Supposedly the buyer of the hospital is a property developer with direct connections to de Blasio’s assistants.  The city of New York paying more than $2-million tax dollars for the death of an autistic boy.  The death happened in 2013, after the Queens school somehow failed to notice the autistic boy left the campus.  He was found three months later (in January 2014) in the East River.   The state Department of Financial services now investigating foreclosure actions against people with reverse mortgages. In The Empire State there are escalating cases where old people who got reverse mortgages (you know, those home equity loans that claim you can live in your home for the rest of your life) are being foreclosed on by those very reverse mortgage lenders!

North Carolina: Between January and July, state employment administrators received notice of the elimination of more than 8-thousand 5-hundred jobs in the private sector!

Oregon: The city of Portland is pushing ahead with the shutdown of a homeless camp, despite not providing a viable alternative for the increasing number of homeless people (an estimated 5-hundred people now live in the Springwater Corridor).

Texas: Taxsucking Lockheed Martin eliminating more than 1-hundred jobs at Randolph Air Force Base, by September!  Despite many Texas leaders claiming to be ‘christians’, the city of Dallas is pushing ahead with shutting down homeless camps despite threats of lawsuits by the ACLU.  Local news reports say the number of homeless people has doubled since May!    “Yeshua [Jesus of Nazareth] said to him, ‘Foxes have lairs and birds of the sky have shelters, but The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’”-Matthew 8:20, Aramaic Bible

Virginia: Arlington based Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering $4-million tax-dollars to any company that can meet its Cyber Grand Challenges for 2016.  That includes creating an automated computer hacking system!

Washington: At the Hanford nuclear vitrification plant U.S. Department of Energy contractor Bechtel eliminating 45 jobs, but in another report claimed they will continue to fill 3-hundred positions! Company administrators basically said 45 eliminated positions were found to be “inefficient”.

Washington DC: Taxsucking military contractor Lockheed Martin announced that 350 jobs will be eliminated from their Mission Systems and Training operations!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

Business/Economics

“the economy is…killing us” “virtually no small businesses will be left” : July 2016 U.S. Food Crisis

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of July, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

Alabama: In Huntsville, after only one year (and several location changes) Wild Bean Coffee shutdown. The owner said the bad economy is forcing him to return to his old job, but he’s still hopeful about his passion for selling coffee: “I am returning to my profession as a helicopter avionics tech, and will continue to learn about coffee through the travels that my new position will afford me.”-Shelby Ward

Arizona:  In Scottsdale, California style BBQ Smokehaus shutdown.  In Tempe, Marcello’s Pasta Grill shutdown after more than 20 years.  Nello’s Pizza shutdown locations in both Scottsdale and Tempe.

California: In Los Gatos, the 31 years old California Cafe shutdown due to the lease expiring.  Local news reports say city administrators got a request to expand the seating capacity, but so far nothing has transpired, 40 jobs lost.  Florida based cleaning contractor DCS Facility Services issued a mass layoff WARN, 385 jobs gone by August, possibly due to losing their contract with Idaho based WinCo Foods! JBS USA Food Company issued a shutdown WARN for their Santa Fe Springs operations, 101 jobs gone by mid-August!  Tyson Foods issued a shutdown WARN for their Vernon operations.  In Rancho Mirage, after only one year upscale restaurant BBs at the River shutdown due to lack of customers, according to local news reports.  In the San Francisco area, reports that popular Ike’s Place got into trouble with local government planning administrators regarding its latest location, and is pulling out.  After only six months restaurant Cadence shutdown, blaming costs of operation and intense competition.  After only nine months restaurant Oro shutdown, blaming costs of operation and intense competition.  Cafe Flora is now for sale.  In Oakland, after about four years Stag’s Lunchette shutdown due to skyrocketing costs of operation, specifically cost of labor and taxes.   In Valencia, Tri Tipps sandwich joint shutdown and sold-off by the owner who has this grave prophecy: “Between the minimum wage increase, and California taxes and regulations, it makes it very hard to run a business. My prediction is, virtually no small businesses will be left in California in the future.“-Robert White

Connecticut: In Derby, Adams Superfood issued a shutdown WARN, 64 jobs gone by mid-September.

Georgia:  In Loganville, Cupcake Wars contender Sugar Kneads Cakery shutdown.  The owner revealed she’d been dealing with two years of crashing sales, which forced her to make several rounds of employee layoffs before finally giving up.    Patent Seed Company-Super Sod shutting down their 35 years old Lakeland location, 20 jobs lost over the next few months.  Administrators say the costs of operations have jetted too high, and their sales in the Lakeland area have sunk too low. They made a pun when they stated “…the production unit cannot sustain itself here. The growth has just not returned to this region of the state since the recession.” (they used the word ‘growth’ numerous times in their public announcement)  In Valdosta, the Smok’n Pig suddenly shutdown, 60 jobs lost: “We couldn’t get the volume up to where it needed to be. We hated to do it.”-Pat O’Neal, owner

Hawaii: Primo Popcorn shutdown their Honolulu location saying the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate stores.

Idaho: Click pics to make bigger

The Idaho Farm Service Agency claims that 24-thousand Idaho jobs are directly supported by farm exports to other countries.  The IFSA is pushing for passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, claiming it will increase those job numbers, but remember, many farm jobs go to immigrants! 

Illinois:  After 46 years restaurant Beningo’s in Bloomington shutting down in August.  The owners originally wanted to shutdown in 2008, but stayed open after a surge in customer traffic, now they say they must retire while they can since they’re in their 70s.  Farm vehicle maker Deere (aka John Deere) laying off 120 people at its Harvester Works factory in East Moline!  Administrators blame continued crashing sales.

Indiana: Two C&S Wholesale Grocers warehouses shutting down, 186 jobs lost by the end of September due to the loss of a contract!  In Mishawaka, after one year Daihido Gourmet and Sushi shutdown, the owner swears up-n-down it has nothing to do with ongoing multiple health code violations. In Goshen, after five years Mattern’s Butcher Shop & Corner Deli suddenly shutdown, no explanation.  Days prior the building owner leaked news of the shutdown, but when asked about it the restaurant co-owners said it’s all “Goshen gossip” and “We have our reasons……no comment”.

Iowa: In Uptown Ankeny, after less than two years The Bear Restaurant and Wine Bar shutdown, the owner said he needs to “refocus”.   In Cedar Rapids, after nine years restaurant Zins shutdown due to a sudden increase in competition: “We have come to a critical point in our operations.”

Kansas: In Kansas City, a more than 30 years old The Price Chopper grocery store shutting down.  Administrators (Balls Food Stores) claim it’s the only way they can build new stores, but, also admitted the main reason for the shutdown was that the store was losing money.   In Wichita, after ten years Pirate Pete’s restaurant shutdown  due to “…some equipment issues that it’s outside of our price range to fix. We’re just not making the money we need to be making anymore. …..the economy is just killing us.”-Julie Miller, co-owner

Louisiana: Louis Dreyfus Imperial Sugar shutting down their Gramercy packaging factory, 49 jobs gone by the end of September.

Maryland: In Hampden, after six years Alchemy Modern American Eatery shutdown, apparently because the owners opened a new restaurant elsewhere.

Massachusetts: In Needham, after more than 30 years Joel’s Candy shutting down by the end of August, the owner lamented “I have a lot of customers, but not enough.”

Michigan: In Birmingham, after 41 years Peabody’s Restaurant-grocery store shutdown, the family sold it to a property developer.  Now bankrupt Texas based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores Zelenka Farms issued a shutdown WARN, 3-hundred people in the city of Grand Haven unemployed by September!  In Flint, McLaren eliminated 83 food service jobs by shifting to cheaper contract workers.

Minnesota: Golden Valley based General Mills announced the killing of 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs around the world, about half those jobs are in the U.S.!  Administrators blame crashing sales.  Since 2014 General Mills has eliminated at least 3-thousand 4-hundred jobs.

Missouri: It was revealed that the following restaurants shutdown: Brickyard Tavern, Electric Cowboy, Ferguson Burger Bar and More, Krieger’s Chesterfield Pub & Grill, Luna Lounge,
Mathew’s Kitchen, Melt, Mexcla, Niche, Social House II, 
Tavern of Fine Arts and Thurman Grill.  In Saint Louis, Old Standard Fried Chicken shutdown.  After one year the R-Bar shutdown “due to increasing demands in our ‘real lives'”.  Also, Amy’s Corner Bakeshop shutdown: “Lease is up, couldn’t make it work, so here we are.”-Facebook post

New Jersey: Netherlands owned Stop n Shop grocery store shutting down in the Hillsborough Towne Centre, officially due to not being able to renew the lease.  General Mills shutting down their Vineland Progresso Soup factory, 370 jobs gone by Summer 2017!  Not sure if this is part of their announcement of massive jobs cuts around the world, but it apparently violates union contracts.

New York: In DeWitt, Ruby Tuesday shutting down their 22 years old Erie Boulevard location due to failed lease negotiations, the building is now for sale.   In NYC, the iconic elitist Four Seasons canteen shutdown due to the owner not wanting to renew the lease, and convicted criminal Martha Stewart was there to celebrate.  Supposedly a new Four Seasons will open in a new location in 2017.  In Schenectady, after 90 years Mastroianni Brothers Bakery shutdown by the board of directors due to substantial financial losses, 51 jobs lost.  In Brooklyn NYC, after 40 years Del Rio Diner shutdown, the owners blamed crashing sales during the last ten years.  In Rochester, after 16 years Wine Sense shutting down.

North Carolina: 23 years old Worms & Coffee (Midway trading Post) shutdown by state highway project.  Blue Spoon Market, Cafe and Cooking School shutdown its market and cafe ops. The cooking school will continue as soon as they find a new location.    In Thomasville, after four years restaurant Southern Sisters shutdown, the owners are now focusing on selling wholesale to grocery stores.   Now bankrupt Texas based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores Zelenka Farms issued a shutdown WARN, 240 people in the city of Sims unemployed by September!   In Elkin, after 19 years the Sonic Drive Thru suddenly shutdown without warning by the current owner: “I can tell you that the driving factor is because we’re simply losing money. ….the writing’s on the wall. We’re not interested in business if we’re not making money. Our group took over the store about eight years ago and we’ve really struggled with it. We just couldn’t make it work.”-Chuck Bodine, district manager

Upset, and desperate, employees didn’t care that their employer was losing money: “My mother, my stepmother, and my four little brothers all moved down from New Hampshire because she had a guaranteed job here. Three of us were working here. We were expecting to at least get through the summer.”-Liam Stocktom

Ohio: Hard Rock Cafe shutdown their 18 years old Flats District location in Cleveland.  Two years after a grand re-opening restaurant Chintz Room shutdown, local news reports say it’s the 4th Columbus Food League operation to shutdown in the past two years.  Amcor Rigid Plastics shutting down its recently acquired beverage bottle factory in Dayton, at least 86 jobs gone by Xmas.  The Dayton plastic bottle factory is credited with being the first to make drink bottles with PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate).

Oregon:  Idaho based WinCo Foods issued mass layoff WARNs, at least 198 jobs gone by the end of August!  It might be connected to WinCo ending its contracts with DCS Facility Services.  Now bankrupt Texas based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores Zelenka Farms issued a shutdown WARN, 50 Oregonians unemployed by September.

Pennsylvania: In Doylestown, Goodnoe Farm Dairy Barn shutting down due to not renewing their lease.

South Carolina: An independently owned Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutting down on West Beltline Boulevard, in Columbia. Administrators saying “Sales are down and the lease is up”, about 70 jobs gone. In Greenville, after four years Breakwater Restaurant & Bar shutdown its South Main Street location.

South Dakota: British empire Canada based Buhler Industries shutdown their decades old Salem Farm King operations due to “poor farm economy”, 67 jobs lost.

Texas: In Denton, after 63 years Davis Purity Bakery shutdown due to the owner’s retirement.  Irving based supplier of plants to ‘big box’ stores across the U.S.  Zelenka Farms now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  More than 1-thousand 5-hundred jobs threatened as the company is being put up for sale!    In San Angelo, after only two years Greens Grocery and Cafe shutting down when the inventory is gone, the operators blame lack of sales.  In College Station one of three Kroger grocery stores shutting down: “Within the past several years, we attempted to increase sales, profitability and store conditions, but despite our best efforts, we were not successful.”-Joy Partain

Virginia: In Arlington, after 15 years The Boulevard Woodgrill shutting down in August.  The hard times are just too much for Hard Times Cafe, the chili joint suddenly shutdown their Clarendon location. Apparently the property is now leased to another business, but nobody is talking.   After ten years Blues BBQ Company suddenly shutdown their Roanoke location.  Local news reports say the owner, who lives in Washington DC, is focusing on an internet operation.  In Richmond, after five years candy store Pecan Jack shutdown its Stony Point Fashion Park location due to crashing sales, which have gotten worse since the new mall owner began a massive remodeling project.

Washington: DCS Facility Services issued a mass layoff WARN, 220 jobs gone by August, due to the loss of their contract with Idaho based WinCo Foods!  Employee owned Yoke’s Foods took over Trading Company Stores and the yokes on the employees as three Trading Company Stores are being shutdown, about 212 jobs lost by September!

Wisconsin:  Tyson Foods finally shutdown their Jefferson County pepperoni factory, 4-hundred people laid off in the name of improving “overall performance”, and that was after 2-hundred employees voluntarily “left the company”!  The meat factory was 141 years old, Tyson Foods bought it in 2001.   In Green Bay, despite surviving The Great Depression iconic Al’s Hamburgers shutdown due to deaths in the Rank family.  Local news reports say the burger joint was sold and that the purchaser also bought the rights to the restaurant’s name, so locals are hopeful.  In Milwaukee, after 22 years restaurant La Peria shutdown.  Local news reports say the owners are looking to do something new, but also hinted that the building was just too old. After only eight months Jeng’s Asian Kitchen, in Monona, shutdown due to lack of customers: “If they don’t come, they don’t come! You do your best and that’s all you can do.”-Jeng Tong Vue

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

June 2016: MARYLAND KILLS PARK GEESE TO FEED HOMELESS!

Idaho

86 years old Zamzows going down? : July 2016 Idaho Economic Destruction

Incomplete list of economic woes in the U.S. state of Idaho, July 2016.

Individual taxpayers are being raped again as gov’na Butch Otter gives Dow Chemical (third largest chemical company, and one of the wealthiest, in the world!) a huge 24% across the board tax break to build an insulation factory in Burley!

The Idaho Statesman revealed how Butch Otter kept Idaho’s petroleum project, including fracking, secret until he inadvertently revealed it during a bus tour.  Six years later Idaho Statesman reveals that Idaho taxpayers haven’t benefitted: “Since then Idahoans have been slowly learning about costs and risks the industry presents. So far the financial benefits have not been what the industry suggested we could expect. Since Jan. 1, the Idaho Tax Commission reported $70,559 in receipts from the state’s 2.5 percent severance tax…..  …many residents remain worried in part because of the way some of the company representatives on the ground have treated them and because of the shroud of secrecy…  …other oil and gas companies that say they want to invest millions more in Idaho but are stopped by rules Alta Mesa largely wrote to keep out the competition….  ….Ask yourself: Do I want a natural gas processing facility 300 feet from my home? That’s what new state rules propose.”

In Power County, just weeks after a ribbon cutting ceremony by gov’na Butch Otter (who declared the economy “risen from the ashes”) construction on the Valley Agronomics fertilizer factory appears to have suddenly halted. I posted a question on their Facebook page at the beginning of the month, but so far no response.

Independent news reports say that for every two Gem State teachers that leave only one replacement can be found, meaning that every year Idaho schools have less and less teachers (makes you wonder why the school districts continue to claim they’re short on funding).

At American Falls Reservoir a dispute between U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) and Seagull Bay Yacht Club.  The public land is managed by the yacht club, yet the yacht club is a membership only group.  BoR says the yacht club has dozens of spaces for recreational vehicles for members, but only eight for the general public.  Seagull Bay Yacht Club’s response is that the BoR won’t let its members camp for more than 14 days at a time.  BoR will not renew the lease unless Seagull Bay Yacht Club satisfies their request to open more spaces for the general public.

The Pocatello Police Department asking residents not to call 911 for non-violent crimes!  Police suggested using their website to file reports of non-violent crime (impossible for people with no access to the internet).  Police claim it takes up too much of their time to respond to non-violent crime reports.  Is this a sign that violent crimes have increased, or that city administrators need to cut taxpayer funding, or both?

The former dock master at the Coeur d’Alene Resort sentenced to ten years in prison for stealing from his employer.  Police say he stole $500-thousand USD and tried covering it up by claiming he was issuing refunds to customers.

In Jerome, the Idaho Conservation League accusing Novalex-Hilex Poly of violating federal EPA regulations.  Company administrators claim they are below the EPA requirements for making public notice of toxic emissions.

In Post Falls, state Department of Health and Welfare shutdown Here We Grow daycare after 22 children were left alone.  It was discovered after one of the children escaped.  

Unnamed employees of iconic family owned Zamzows pet and garden centers reporting to Blind Bat News of drastic and sudden changes in management.  Long time employees say suppliers have also been changed, all ordering now done through main office in Nampa, some inventory is not being re-stocked, HR employees laid off, and new policies enacted to make it easier to fire employees (which means they won’t qualify for unemployment assistance).  There are reports that Zamzows family members are owed money by the company and that a media consultant has been hired. One employee reported to Blind Bat News that July sales crashed by more than $13-thousand USD compared to July last year!  The latest company manager’s meeting was said to be full of confusion about why sales have crashed and what’s happening to customers.  In a 2013 Idaho NPR report Zamzows’ president stated that increasing the state minimum wage wouldn’t adversely affect them.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

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, July 2016: “We are in a burning building right now…” Sears goes covert with help of counter-terrorists?

After less than a year the president of Sears Canada quit!  No explanation why, but she’s the second Sears Canada president to quit less than a year into the job: “Sears Canada’s revolving door reputation is only getting worse after announcing Carrie Kirkman is on the way out less than a year into her role as president of the retailer.”

Kmart employees blogged that sold out merchandise is not being re-stocked (‘stealth liquidation sales‘), causing them to think total shutdown was neigh.  Sears Holdings countered with its own blog post saying it was just part of their new “…phased project that gets our newly-delivered products on the stores’ shelves immediately…”

In Rhode Island, a woman was being charged for repair work on a dish washing machine, even though she doesn’t even have a dish washing machine! Things got straightened up when she finally went to her local news media for help.  For the past 13 months Sears had been repeatedly hitting her Sears credit card with charges for dish washer repairs.  She says no matter how many times she explained it to Sears they wouldn’t stop charging her for work on an appliance she didn’t have!  But once the local news media questioned Sears about it, Sears immediately refunded $5-hundred USD!  

And speaking of appliances, New York Post reports that Eddie Lampert is making profits by delivering appliances from rivals like Costco.  77 years old Innovel Solutions (formerly Sears Logistics) is apparently the only division of Sears Holdings that’s making money: “We are in a burning building right now, but we are good at delivering and installing stuff, which is a revenue opportunity. No one who works at a Costco wants a Sears guy delivering their stuff to their customers, so we rebranded the company.”-Brandon Cates, a former counterterrorism consultant now working for Sears Holdings’ Innovel Solutions

June 2016: EMPLOYEES CLAIM TOTAL SHUTDOWN WITHIN 2 YEARS!

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: After 16 years the Troy Sears Hometown Store suddenly shutdown, the contracted owners said they couldn’t find anybody willing to take over the contract. Oxford Sears, Birmingham Kmart on Chalkville Mountain, Decatur Kmart on Beltline Road, Homewood Kmart, Mobile Kmart on Z Schillingers Road. The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost in June 2016. City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

Arkansas: Sears store and Auto Center in Pine Bluff shutting down in August 2016. Little Rock Sears shutdown in July 2016.

Arizona: Nogales Kmart shutting down by July 2016, despite the fact that it’s a profit making store (many of its cash paying customers cross the border from Mexico). The Prescott Valley Kmart shutdown April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

California: Sears Holdings shutdown a Los Angeles Kmart, 132 jobs lost in May 2016! Dinuba Kmart 68 jobs lost, Lodi Kmart, Tulare Kmart, Wasco Kmart. Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento. Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings. On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart shutdown, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutdown between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”

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

Colorado: 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: Inverness Sears Hometown suddenly shutdown due to disagreements with the landlord. Jacksonville Sears. Mandarin (Jacksonville) Kmart, Neptune Beach Kmart and Perry Kmart shutting down by July-September. The Lutz Kmart shutdown March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutdown mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area! The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutdown April 2016. Dublin Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutdown in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Boise Kmart on Fairview shutdown mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutdown April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois: The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutdown, 125 jobs lost! Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Bradley Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money. After 90 years Chicago Sears on Lawrence Avenue shutting down by August 2016, local news says its the oldest Sears store still operating. The last Decatur Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 61 jobs lost, administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say there are no more Sears Holdings stores in the immediate area! Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski. Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart, Rock Island Kmart (a recent local news article pointed out that city officials spent $15-million tax dollars attracting Walmart to town, but spent zilch on trying to keep Kmart from leaving). Eddie Lampert eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart. Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutdown mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutdown in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart April 2016, 62 jobs lost. Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August 2016, the store was in the process of dying anyway, only 37 employees left. Sears Holdings shutdown their West Des Moines call center in June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutdown April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), 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: In El Dorado, a contracted Sears store suddenly shutdown due to Sears Holdings continually changing the contract: “We had a contract that we had to follow to a ‘T’ while they changed it at will. They changed our commission bonuses and percentages and that hurt us.”-Russ Christy, contracted Sears store operator

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

Kentucky: 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: The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Houma Sears, Pineville Kmart. Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Kmart shutting down by August 2016, more than 50 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: 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 shutdown mid-April 2016. Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News. 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shutdown in May 2016. North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: A Kmart on Groesbeck Highway, Clinton Township, shutting down, 82 jobs lost by October 2016. The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July 2016, 61 jobs lost. 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 shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutdown 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 in April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Corinth Kmart. The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutdown in April, no word on job losses. Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: 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 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: Back in May local news reports said the Artesia Kmart was shutting down, in July Sears Holdings finally confirmed it. Albuquerque’s Coronado Center Sears suddenly shutdown their Auto Center, and will reduce the size of the main store by 50% within two months. Sears goon Howard Riefs stated “We will rightsize the labor…”, but gave no numbers. The ‘rightsizing’ of the Coronado Center store is in partnership with one of my evil former employers, mall owner GGP. SearsLas Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: The 50 years old Sears Auto Center in the Colonie Center Mall shutdown by Sears Holdings subsidiary Seritage Growth Properties, so the space could be rented out to Avis-Budget Car Rental Group.  In Brooklyn, the Kings Plaza Sears shutting down, 210 jobs gone by mid-September 2016! Eddie Lampert is renting the space to a couple of European clothing retailers. Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. New York Post says Sears is shutting down their NYC clothing design office, 40 jobs moved to California, another 154 jobs gone by July! Rotterdam Mall Sears and Auto Center shutting down by August 2016 (67 jobs lost). Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 Rochester Kmart employees losing their jobs by mid-July 2016. Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart. Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center 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: 18 years old Defiance Sears shutting down by August 2016. 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 shutdown in May 2016. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Hardware shuts down this Friday. The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutdown by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutdown mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutdown by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: 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: A Blind Bat News reader warning that the Beaverton Kmart has replaced its permanent signage with temporary ones, and the store is looking empty. There’s been no public reports of the store shutting down. Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Sears Holdings revealed that the July, 2016, shutdown of the Uniontown Kmart will cost 73 jobs. Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts. Reading Kmart. Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall, 62 jobs lost. Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July 2016. Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: The 44 years old Orangeburg Kmart shutting down in August 2016. Camden Kmart. 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutdown by May 2016. Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart. The Pierre Kmart shutdown March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Local news reports say Sears Holdings has posted “Going out of business!” signs on the North Knoxville Kmart, however they could not get any confirmation of shutdown from corporate administrators. Bristol Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart. The Murfreesboro Kmart shutdown April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutdown in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutdown in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutdown by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: Fort Stockton Sears Hometown Store was ‘re-branded’ the America’s Appliance Experts outlet.  Sears Holdings revealed the Brownsville Kmart is shutting down by August. El Paso Kmart, Mission Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart. Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart. 35 years old Richfield Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutdown April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virginia: Christiansburg Kmart and the Hampton Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July 2016. The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutdown between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper. Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: After officially denying that their Marysville Kmart was shutting down, calling it a “a bad rumor” and swearing to local news media that “the store will remain open”, guess what? Local news media reporting that the Marysville Kmart is now plastered with “store closing” signs, 47 jobs lost by by mid-July. Arrogantly Sears Holdings said the employees can apply at other Sears/Kmart stores, however, local news reports say it’s the last Kmart in all of Snohomish County. Eatonville Sears Hometown store. Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: Seritage Growth Properties is ‘downsizing’ the Sears store in the West Towne Mall, according to plans filed with the city of Madison.  Those plans show a new restaurant taking up more than half of the space of the Sears store.  Administrators refused to answer questions from the local news media.  The Wausau Center Sears shutting down, 35 remaining employees became unemployed June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.” Hartford Kmart. Superior Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).