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Business/Economics

“it’s time to move on.” More U.S. jobs killed by foreign contractors! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 07 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost by the end of June 2016.

California:  Anaheim based PacSun (Pacific Sunwear) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, one of the reasons blamed is the skyrocketing rents (high occupancy cots) by evil property owners.  Administrators warned of ramped up store shutdowns.  New York based Barnes & Noble shutting down an office in Santa Clara, 80 jobs lost.  It’s part of the book seller’s plan to cut costs by $13-million USD.

Delaware: The U.S. Air Force shutting down the 40 years old jet engine shop at Dover AFB.  It’s being blamed on engine upgrades for the massive C-5M Galaxy heavy lifter.  The new engines supposedly need far less maintenance.  Local news reports say at peak the Dover AFB engine shop had 2-hundred personnel.

Illinois:  In Obama’s homie town of Chicago, law firm Leo Burnett revealed it eliminated more jobs, but refused to say how many.  Local news reports said it was “significant”.

New Jersey: In Mount Olive, after 73 years iconic americana Cherokee Trading Post shutting down when everything is sold-off.  The second owners said “it’s time to move on.”  The property is for sale.

New York: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; NYC based digital news service Mashable Studios announced will begin eliminating jobs because “…to keep our voice consistent across every platform, it’s clear that all our video producers should live on the same team.”  NYC based Barnes & Noble is offshoring  its Nook e-reader support/development to a company in India.  It’s part of the book seller’s plan to cut costs by $13-million USD, partly blamed on a 29% crash in Nook sales.  Administrators did not say how many U.S. jobs would be lost as a result of the off-shoring.

Ohio:  Northside Medical Center eliminating 68 full time jobs because ObamaCare has greatly reduced “the community’s usage of services”.

Pennsylvania:  In Chestnut Hill, sexist workout clothier for women Indigo Schuy shutting down brick-n-mortar ops after four years, you now have to buy on the internet.

Texas:  What automotive industry recovery? New Braunfels based transportation-logistics vehicle maker Rush Enterprises revealed it has begun shutting down 13 operations and selling off real estate.  (of course this is after Rush Enterprises went around buying up competition) The shutdowns affect two locations in Georgia, five locations in Illinois, one location in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Utah!

West Virginia: In Charleston, the Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples (on Corridor G) shutting down by May, the manager refused to give anymore info.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

06 April 2016: “We hoped things were going to be turning around, but they have not.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“We hoped things were going to be turning around, but they have not.” Bridal shop shutdown in favor of Dog Food! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 06 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: Scandalous University of Phoenix eliminated more jobs, this time 470 people were laid off without warning, due to crashing student enrollment!  The for-profit university is for sale.

Arkansas: Illinois based Superior Graphite shutting down their Russellville factory starting now.  70 jobs will be lost due to low commodity prices and competition from imported “electrode and specialty graphite products”.

California: In Half Moon Bay, after 37 years the owner of Pescadero II is selling it off so she can retire.

Colorado: Albertsons-Safeway shutting down the Pueblo Safeway grocery store on 29th Street, 59 jobs lost (the employees were told about it on Monday).

Illinois: In East Dundee, after 145 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Haeger Potteries shutting down.  The family owners blamed government regulations, competition and forced wage increases during a bad economy: “The reality is that we are finding it more and more difficult to compete in a market with significant wage pressure, increased regulations and generally rising costs. We hoped things were going to be turning around, but they have not.”-Haeger Estes

Iowa: In Mason City, after 60 years bridal shop Formalities shutting down.  The owner, who also owns other businesses including a pet food business, says the economy is so bad for the wedding business that she’s going to use the bridal store for her dog food business: “I want to keep it to retail the dog food out of here. If I get the right price, I might sell it.”-Angie Braun

Massachusetts: Bay Valley Foods shutting down their Ayer food factory, 1-hundred jobs lost by the end of 2017!  Like the rest of unAmerican corporate America, Bay Valley Foods is joining the growing trend of consolidation.

Michigan: In past months I’ve reported how Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) furloughed more than a thousand Sterling Heights employees, now FCA has turned those furloughs into indefinite layoffs for at least 1-thousand 3-hundred people, blaming it on a 63% crash in Chrysler 200 sales! An additional 120 people are losing their jobs at the nearby Sterling Stamping factory!  The auto worker’s union revealed the truth about U.S. car sales saying “FCA is not the only company experiencing a slow market for small cars.”

Missouri: Twin Rivers shutting down their Neosho chicken processing factory by June, 3-hundred jobs lost!  The WARN gave no reason.  Local news speculate that operations are being consolidated, and also stated that employee turnover was always high due to low wages.

New York: Great example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL); in Watertown, AirBrake laid off an additional 19 people, blaming the slow down in railroad operations (15% of rail cars are not in use), which in turn is blamed on the oil-coal (mining) industry (coal transportation down 10% in past 12 months).  

In Canton, Blackbird Cafe shutting down on Friday, instead of the promised renovations, 11 jobs lost.  The upstairs music venue Parkview is also shutting down.   The owner of both establishments blames the decision to shutdown (instead of renovating) on a sudden 50% crash in sales since last year!  The owner suspects that two new restaurants are to blame (and this is a sign the local market can’t support that many eateries).

North Carolina: In Elkin, after 18 years the owner of Song’s Jewelry shutting it down in June so she can ‘retire’ to pursue other interests.

Ohio: Sears Holdings shutting down their Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June.  They’re also shutting down their Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June.  Despite better than expected earnings, Columbus based Limited Brands (aka L brands) is going ahead with its restructuring of Victoria’s Secret, Pink and Victoria’s Secret Beauty, resulting in 2-hundred administrative jobs being culled in Ohio and New York!

Oklahoma: In Broken Arrow, after 37 years the Army & Family Surplus store being forced to shutdown by an A-Hole landlord who gave them a 30 days eviction notice. The A-Hole local news media downplayed that important fact and instead reported that the owners were retiring!   John Daniel Footwear joins the growing list of retailers exiting the Utica Square plaza.  Local news reports say it’s the third Utica Square store in the past five months to shutdown, long time loyal shoppers are upset: “Over the last 10 or 15 years most of the smaller family owned stores are no longer here. Not to say anything about the other stores, but you kind of miss that family, that private service, the local service that you get.”-Marilyn Mabrey Sullivant, Utica Square shopper for past 50 years

Pennsylvania: Sears Holdings shutting down their Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July. Pittsburgh based US Steel announced yet more layoffs, this time 750 salaried employees are being kicked to the curb.  Local news reports say in the past five years US Steel has eliminated 8-thousand 3-hundred jobs in North America and Europe, blaming competition, the oil industry and currency wars. Overall, steel companies in the United States have eliminated 12-thousand jobs!  US Steel reported a loss of $1.5-billion USD in 2015.

Texas: CleanFUEL USA now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming “the changing dynamics in the alternative fuel industry.” 

Washington DC:  U.S. Department of Education has revealed that their economic outlook for the future of the United States is so bad that 43% of us fools who got into debt to get a higher education will never be able to pay-off that debt to the government!  As of January 2016, 3.6-million former higher education students had defaulted (meaning they stopped making payments, you can’t declare bankruptcy against student debt) on $56-billion USD worth of student loans!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

05 April 2016: “…no realistic prospects for a return to profitability…” 10-million+ unemployed!

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

After three years of hard work by Sears franchise owners Sears Canada told Spencer and Theresa Toepfer to take a hike as Sears Canada now wants to shutdown their Osoyoos Sears Hometown Store.  The Toepfers swear their store is actually making a profit but Sears Canada refuses to renew the lease: “….we get another call two weeks ago telling us we have less than two months before they close the door. What a slap in the face! We just couldn’t believe it! It’s hard to believe that you take over a store and completely turn it around and then the management drops something like that on you. It’s pretty hard to take.”-Spencer Toepfer

For even stranger administrative decision making, Sears Canada is selling its Toronto tire distribution center to a competitor, and then renting it back!  Canadian Tire is reportedly buying the Sears property for $84-million CAD.  This is just an extremely short sighted way of raising quick cash for the struggling Sears brand, especially since they’re now going to be paying rent to a competitor.

18 March 2016: “We will rightsize the labor…”

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:

Arizona: The Prescott Valley Kmart shutting down by April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Local news reports say there is a Now Hiring sign posted on the Kmart store front. Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

Alabama: The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost by the end of June 2016.  City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

California: Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento.  Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings.   On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart shutting down, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutting down between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

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

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

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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

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

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

Iowa: Sears Holdings shutting down their West Des Moines call center by June 2016, 162 jobs lost!  Ottumwa Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost). Davenport Kmart (59 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Kansas: 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: 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: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), California Kmart (71 jobs lost), Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

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

Michigan: The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart will be shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutting down by mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart by mid-April, 47 jobs lost. Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: Dundas Kmart by April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

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

Missouri: 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: 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: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

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

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

New Jersey: Lodi Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

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

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

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

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

South Dakota: The Pierre Kmart shutting down by the end of March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: The Murfreesboro Kmart shutting down by the end of April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutting down in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutting down in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutting down by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

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

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

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

Washington: Eatonville Sears Hometown store. Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: Superior Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

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

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

Business/Economics

“…no realistic prospects for a return to profitability…” 10-million+ unemployed! Homeland Security shuts down restaurants! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Hawaii: Taxpayer funded Wahiawa General Hospital is begging for emergency funding to stop it from shutting down.  Administrators revealed that since ObamaCare went into effect they’ve lost $9-million USD!

Idaho: National Basketball Association D-league team the Idaho Stampede announced they’re getting the hell-outta Boise and moving to Salt Lake City, Utah.  They’re also changing their name to Salt Lake City Stars.  It was revealed that state taxpayers were forced to pay outrageous three-fold increase in overtime pay to Idaho State Police (ISP) trainees.  ISP administrators explained, without blinking an eye, that it was mainly for trainee commute times to the academy because there was no room in the academy’s dorms in Meridian, or at the National Guard barracks on Gowen Field!  (how many civilian businesses pay their employees to commute?)

Iowa: Sears Holdings shutting down their West Des Moines call center by June, 162 jobs lost!  In Clive, DCG Foods shutting down their Cash Saver grocery store as soon as the inventory is gone.  The Cash Saver used to be a Dahls, which went bankrupt.  The shutdown is blamed on lack of sales.  

Kansas:  In Olathe, popular K-Macho’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina was suddenly shutdown by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, because restaurant owners couldn’t confirm the ‘legality’ of their employees: “K Macho restaurant in Olathe, Kansas, was recently served, via U.S. Mail, an official notice to submit all form I-9 documentation to HSI auditors for inspection.”-Shawn Neudauer, Homeland Security

Massachusetts: Insurance and investment company MassMutual laying off an additional 1-hundred employees!  Last year MassMutual eliminated 3-hundred jobs.  But here’s a paradox, administrators claim those employees losing their jobs can apply for the 230 positions that are still vacant!  What’s the point of layoffs, why can’t MassMutual just transfer the employees to open positions?  Maybe the company wouldn’t have 230 open positions if they hadn’t started mass layoffs? (they want to replace their long term employees with cheaper newbies)

Minnesota: Jos A Bank shutting down their clothing store in the Nicollet Mall by mid-May.

Montana: In Helena, after 41 years the Ben Franklin Crafts shutting down.

New Jersey:  After 42 years Marty’s Shoes shutting down their remaining six shoe stores by the end of May.  Local news reports say at one time Marty’s Shoes had 110 stores!

New York: Liddabit Sweets shutting down their there years old Chelsea Market shop by mid-April.

North Carolina: Charlotte based Too Big to Jail Bank of America asks ‘What economic recovery?’, as its own research shows there are at least 10-million U.S. citizens currently unemployed and unable to find a job!  Teachers Memorial School in Kinston shutting down by August.  Vague news reports say the county questioned the school district’s operating costs.  MillerCoors issued a shutdown WARN for its Eden brewing ops.  The first round of layoffs will begin in June, in total 349 jobs will be lost by the time the brewery shuts down!  Local news reports say at one point the brewery employed more than 5-hundred people.  MillerCoors administrators basically said the bad economy is forcing them to join the growing trend of consolidating operations.  France based aerospace company Nexans shutting down its Elm City wire factory, 113 jobs lost by the end of June!  Nexans administrators say there is not going to be an economic recovery: “This has been the result of continued sales decline combined with the steady decrease in market prices. There are, unfortunately, no realistic prospects for a return to profitability in the medium to long term.” 

Ohio: After 164 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) children’s mental health treatment chain Beech Brook forced to eliminate 179 jobs due to Medicaid funding cuts!  In McArthur, after more than 19 years Gill’s Family Pharmacy shutting down by May.  The drug seller has been praised for community service such as buying computers for county first responders.  In Englewood, Sears Holdings shutting down the Kmart, 57 jobs lost by the end of July.  In Boardman, after 34 years Cards and Collectibles shutting down, the owners are focusing on their wedding and party supply business.

Oregon: In Portland, after three years Yarntastic Fiber Arts shutting down their brick-n-mortar store by the end of the month.  They’ll continue on the internet.

Texas:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; San Antonio based iHeartMedia warning of bankruptcy due to ongoing lawsuit by creditors.  If they lose the lawsuit they could be required to make an immediate payment of $15-billion USD!  Exterran shutting down their oil-gas ops in Alleyton, 241 jobs lost by the end of June: “We continue to feel the impact of further deterioration of industry fundamentals and our revenues are expected to be under pressure throughout 2016 across all of our business segments…”

Washington DC: What economic recovery?  The U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services remained in deficit by $47.1-billion USD in February.    The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that U.S. factory orders fell by 1.7% in February, more than canceling out January’s piddly increase.   U.S. factory orders have crashed for 14 of the past 19 months!

Wisconsin: Toys R Us shutting down their store on North 76th Street in Milwaukee, 30 jobs gone by the end of the month.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

04 April 2016: 1,000% increase in generic drug prices! 1,700 people lose their final paychecks! 

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

1,000% increase in generic drug prices! 1,700 people lose their final paychecks! Bad Idaho economy forces United Way to expand! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 04 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alaska: Oil drillers Parker Drilling and CH2M Hill both announced layoffs, 113 jobs being lost!  The layoffs with Texas based Parker are what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) as it’s the result of British Petroleum cutbacks.  Administrators with Parker revealed how short sighted they are when they said “Parker Drilling did not anticipate this unfortunate turn of events…”  Colorado based CH2M also suffering REL after losing a contract to supply labor to Italy based Eni.  Administrators with CH2M stated that so far Eni has not explained the reason for the decision.

Delaware: 1-thousand 7-hundred former DuPont employees were screwed out of their final paychecks when DuPont switched payroll contractors!  Dumb-Ass DuPont administrators told local news “We are also working with impacted employees to correct any miscalculations and address any questions.”

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Idaho: How many people know the origin of the charity United Way?  It was born in the Coeur d’Alene area of northern Idaho in 1957, with the name United Crusade.  But since then the economy has gotten so bad today the United Way announced it was expanding charity services in its own birthplace: “It is not our intention to have Kootenai County fundraising be spread into the five northern counties, but to grow each county to raise funds where they are, and provide much-needed resources locally. One of the greatest things about the structure of United Way is that all governance, management, fundraising, and funding decisions are made locally. So we want to ensure that happens at the county level as well.”-Mark Tucker, executive director

Kansas: In Hutchinson, after 77 years Fraese Drug Store and Soda Fountain shutting down on Thursday.  A co-owner said ObamaCare and inflation forced him to take a job with a competitor: “We just had no choice but to do this because of decreased payments from Medicaid and Medicare. Also, add into that the huge increase in the cost of generic drugs. A lot of them jumped 1,000%! That really hurt our profitability.”-Don Kaufman

New Jersey: Middleton shutting down their 911 dispatch, eliminating 15 jobs.  911 services will now be handled by Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department.  The 35 years old IHOP restaurant in Raleigh shutting down on Hillsborough Street.  It’s claimed that a new IHOP will be built a few blocks away.

New York:  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Catholic Charities of Buffalo from shutting down their social services operations within taxpayer funded public schools (hey, isn’t that a violation of the 1st Amendment, government shall not recognize a religion?), at least 65 jobs lost by the end of June.   Bankrupt Climax Manufacturing suddenly shutdown their Lowville packaging plant, 158 jobs gone!  In NYC, restaurant 790 French did not renew its lease at The Hilton Garden Inn Times Square, 64 jobs lost by the end of June.  After offshoring thousands of U.S. jobs, New York based IBM (International Business Machine) now to eliminate 14-thousand jobs outside of the U.S.!

North Carolina: Connecticut based Xerox laying off 139 people at its State Healthcare operation “due to a business decision of a single client”.  This might be what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) as many healthcare providers are drastically cutting back on spending due to ObamaCare.

Washington: In Arlington, Cascade Valley Hospital & Clinics shutting down, 418 jobs lost by the end of May!  Connecticut based Xerox issued a layoff WARN for their Kent operations, 98 jobs lost by the end of May.  Massive corruption revealed by the fact the ‘elected’ state leaders cut $10-million USD in funding for the Office of the State Auditor, the very agency in charge of tracking what’s done with your tax dollars.  Mass layoffs are expected.

Wisconsin: The Pic-n-Save in Kimberly shutting down by the end of the year, 57 jobs lost.  Administrators said sales don’t justify renewing the lease.  In Madison, after 15 years Takara restaurant shutting down supposedly because they can’t renew the lease.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

Buffett kills nearly 5,000 more jobs! ObamaCare offshores more U.S. jobs! No more Hancock Fabrics! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 01 – 03 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: More layoffs for the Orange County Register, at least 71 people laid off without warning by new owner Digital First Media.   In San Francisco, KGO Radio laid off as many as 30 people (almost all its newsroom staff) without warning, employees called it a “bloodbath”.  The news came from employees who refused to give their names on account they’ve been threatened with losing their jobs as well.

Florida:  God powerless to stop ‘his’ church organ maker Tadlock Piano Company from shutting down their Dothan store.  They’re consolidating ops to Panama City.

Illinois: College of Lake County eliminating 20 jobs, blaming failed ‘elected lawmakers’ for failing to come up with a budget.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; maker of hospital administrative software Valence Health suddenly laid off 75 people, including an executive.  I should point out that in 2014 the company got at least $11.9-million USD from state taxpayers to create jobs in Obama’s homie town of Chicago.

Mississippi: Magee based Pioneer Health Services now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Pioneer Health Services operates hospitals in Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.  Administrators blame ObamaCare reimbursement reductions and the forced shift to outpatient care.  After already shutting down 81 stores Baldwyn based Hancock Fabrics now bankrupt busted and shutting down the remain 185 stores!  For proof there ain’t no economic recovery, the company has lost money every year since 2009!

Nebraska: After 27 years the Athlete’s Edge store in Monument Mall shutting down by the end of April, or when inventory runs out.

New York: Florida based Jabil Circuit issued a shutdown WARN for its Poughkeepsie ops, 45 jobs lost by the end of June due to end of contract.  In Brighton, after 57 years Clover Lanes shutting down Thursday, to be replaced by a grocery store.

Oklahoma: Integris Health notified employees of massive layoffs, blaming Oklahoma’s version of ObamaCare for “…a 25% reduction in  provider fees…beginning June 1…”   attributed to “…the state’s struggling economy….also…the Affordable Care Act…”   Due to an investigation into massive corruption by ‘elected’ officials Yukon City warned employees in all departments of mass layoffs.  City administrators claim they’ve discovered that $1.3-million USD have gone missing from bond sales and that the city is now in the hole by $3-million USD!

Pennsylvania:  The Society Hill Playhouse shutdown after more than 50 years.  There was no reason given.  Medical device maker Teleflex escaping ObamaCare taxes by offshoring 170 jobs to Mexico and Czech Republic, another 190 jobs will be consolidated to other U.S. locations!

Texas: What I call massive Ripple Effect Layoff (REL) as Fort Worth based, Warren Buffett owned, PBS NewsHour sponsor BNSF railway revealed it eliminated 4-thousand 6-hundred jobs in past months! The layoffs exceed the job cuts BNSF made when the ‘recession’ officially began in 2007!  A hiring freeze is in effect, it’s blamed on the oil industry BS!

Virginia: In Charlottesville, after 70 years Kane Furniture has been sold to University of Virginia Health System, who plans on using the building as an administrative office.

Washington: Federal Way based, largest privately operated mint Northwest Territorial now chapter 11 bankrupt busted after losing defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuits.  The coin maker must pay $38-million USD to hundreds of customers in Nevada and California.   The defamation claims involve fake websites that Northwest Territorial Mint is accused of creating for the sole purpose of making competitors look bad.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

31 March 2016: “We have not paid our employees in over a month!”

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, Idaho

“We have not paid our employees in over a month!” Shooting forces business owners to choose family over money! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 31 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Today is U.S. federal commemorative holiday Cesar Chavez Day.

Industry analysts Challenger, Gray & Christmas report that publicly announced corporate layoffs for the past 12 months are at a 4 years high.

California: In Berkeley, The Bone Room curiosity shop (selling preserved bones of animals, etc) shutting down their brick-n-mortar shop by June, blaming rent and utilities.  They’ll continue on the internet and at local events.  After only two months “high-priced” restaurant Antoinette shutdown due to disagreements with the Claremont Club & Spa hotel.

Colorado: In Steamboat Springs, after 34 years La Montana shutdown today, after being sold off. It’s hoped the new owner will keep the 38 workers employed with a new establishment.

Florida: Yet more medical school shutdowns!  The first victim of non-profit Zenith Education Groups massive cutbacks; Everest University announced it must shutdown campuses in Lakeland, Brandon and two in Tampa Bay, affecting at least 343 medical students: “It’s a slap in the face for everybody really!”-Angela Adams, medical billing student

Idaho: Evil Blue Cross of Idaho ended its ObamaCare exchange coverage of dialysis, resulting in many Idahoans with no way to pay for treatment. The Idaho Statesman newspaper says Blue Cross is refusing to cover any medical service provider that is not willing to take Blue Cross’ cutthroat rates. The Idaho Department of Insurance refuses to comment about the issue, claiming they’re investigating it.  Dozens more Idahoans could die.: “…we were with Blue Cross last year, when I was diagnosed with kidney failure…started…hemodialysis…..then we got a bill for $115,000…..  Blue Cross of Idaho did not re-up our contract…”-Debbie Birch

The Post Register reporting that a yet another newbie to The Gem State (who moved here from a more ‘socialist’ state) got a big shock when he enrolled with Blue Cross through Idaho’s ObamaCare exchange (Your Health Idaho).  The man is suffering from cancer but recently was told by the pharmacy that his prescriptions would not longer be filled because of Blue Cross.  Let me explain how evil Blue Cross of Idaho is; the cancer patient’s treatment is so expensive that he’s getting financial help from charities on top of his Affordable Care Act insurance, however, Blue Cross told him ObamaCare does not allow “third party funding” of medical treatments!  But get this, in a follow up interview with Blue Cross the Post register said that suddenly everything is fine and they will go ahead and pay for the man’s prescriptions! 

Iowa: Chain restaurant Village Inn shutdown its Lindale Mall location without warning, administrators blamed it on high rent.  What automotive industry recovery?  Eaton Corporation revealed it will shutdown its Shenandoah transmission factory by mid-April.  I’m not sure if this is part of the 250 layoffs announced back in February.  Local news reports say employees are already listing their homes for sale.  An unnamed employee says the factory shutdown will kill the community: “There’s no rhyme or reason to much anymore. Shenandoah is already seeing a hit. It will kill this small town.”  

Louisiana: In Lafayette, after 42 years Doucet Heritage Hardware shutting down by mid-May. Despite having the reputation for carrying stuff people can’t find at ‘big box stores’ the owners blame competition with the big box, as well as increasing costs of operations and decreased sales.  But the final straw was when they witnessed people being shot that caused them to realize that family time was more important than trying to make money: “I just never had that kind of panic, never in my life. It just made me realize how fast something can happen. My family is so important to me…….It was a really big eye opener.”-Laura Leblanc, co-owner

Massachusetts: Southcoast Health System laying off at least 95 employees in its hospital chain due to crashing revenues caused by ObamaCare.  It should be noted that Southcoast Health System is trying to merge with another hospital chain that’s also eliminating jobs; Care New England of Rhode Island.  After 32 years Au Bon Pain  shutdown their Harvard Square restaurant apparently because of property remodeling by Harvard University.  Administrators say “We continue to search for a location in this area.”

Michigan: Feeding America shutting down its warehouses in Ishpeming and Sault Set Marie, claiming they’re moving to a larger operation.  However, several food banks are reporting that the move by Feeding America is actually forcing them to shutdown.   The Ishpeming Food Bank and Tom’s Pantry in Quinnesec both point out that even though Feeding America’s is moving to a larger location the delivery times aren’t compensating for the further distance, meaning food banks will have to expanded refrigerated storage and/or hire delivery trucks to make extra food runs: “Because they only come up twice a month, you’re going to have to have a lot more refrigeration space than what I have. You’re going to have to have pickups and trailers in order to pick up your food. This is going to cause us to have to close.”-Mary Dixon, Tom’s Pantry

New York: Too Big to Jail NYC based ‘asset manager’ BlackRock reportedly will eliminate 4-hundred jobs in the next two weeks!  The news comes from unnamed insiders, who pointed out that the company also plans to continue hiring new employees while they layoff old employees.  After more than 30 years of school bus service, Carrier Coach issued a shutdown WARN for multiple locations, 224 jobs lost by the end of June due to “economic” reasons!  In Montauk, the Sloppy Tuna restaurant shutdown due to the co-owners filing lawsuits against each other.

North Carolina: After ten years and without warning the Park West Barber School shutdown four of its campuses.  The school’s website had the following message: “IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS AND REGRET THAT WE MUST INFORM YOU THAT EFFECTIVE TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2016 PARK WEST HAS MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CLOSE…..THINGS SEEMED PROMISING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AT THE FINAL HOUR, OUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO CLOSE.”   

Pennsylvania: In Richland, the Planet Ice ice rink shutting down July, it’s blamed on competition and will be re-purposed.

Vermont: In Stowe, after 25 years dog themed restaurant Gracie’s shutting down so the owners can retire.

Virginia: Just short of a year Shoryuken Ramen shutting down its noodle eatery on Virginia Commonwealth University campus in May.

Washington: Socialist yet ‘wants everything for free’ Seattle city leaders are upset that a major homeless shelter is shutting down, even threaten them if they do.  But SHARE/WELL (Seattle Housing Resource Effort, Women’s Housing Equality Enhancement League) says they can’t pay the bills due to drastic cuts in county level funding and the high cost of living in Seattle, so they’re forced to close 15 shelters: “So we can’t pay the money out if we don’t have it, and we’ve fallen behind $75,000 right now, so we can no longer operate. We have not paid our employees and they’re all minimum wage employees. We have not paid our employees in over a month!”-Clint Wade

Wisconsin: In Middleton, Max’s Farm Table shutdown. The pissed-off owner revealed he recently spent $1-thousand USD for one week of advertising, yet still his restaurant went several hours per day without a customer: “Sales aren’t even close to where they need to be to justify continuing to invest. Not even close!”-Max Harn, who also said the rent was too high for the unpredictable location

Wyoming: In Casper, what I call Ripple Effect layoffs (REL) as oil industry equipment supplier Power Service laid off at least 50 people.  And Wyoming Machinery is begging employees at its five locations to retire early.  Missouri based Peabody Energy handed out new layoff notices at its North Antelope Rochelle mine, employees say actual number of layoffs won’t be revealed until Friday.  Earlier this week I revealed that Peabody Energy is threatening bankruptcy as one way to get out of paying for mine waste cleanup in Illinois.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

30 March 2016: Too Big to Jail kills 7,000 additional jobs! Major insurance company admits ObamaCare is a Major Failure! New Obama sanctions against Iran kills Boeing! 

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.”

U.S.

U.S. Food Crisis March 2016: “Sales aren’t even close….Not even close!”

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of March, 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.

Nation’s Restaurant News reports yet another perfect storm of problems for the U.S. restaurant industry, this time mainly blaming employees.  The top three issues are keeping “quality” employees, minimum wage increases and ObamaCare costs.  Some restaurant executives admitted their low pay is the reason they can’t keep quality employees, but said the industry’s profit margins are too tight to significantly increase pay.  Then doesn’t that mean the actual threat to the restaurant industry is the bad economy?

Anti-sugar soda-jerks are celebrating the news that U.S. soda consumption is at a 30 years low.  Many think it’s because people are finally giving up on so-called ‘sugary’ drinks.  Check the ingredient label on those ‘sugary’ sodas you jerks, because the overwhelming majority don’t contain any sugar at all!  Since the 1990s soda-pop makers have been using GMO corn syrup!  All those studies on ‘sugary’ drinks were really testing drinks made with GMO corn syrup.  I personally choose sodas made with 100% sugar, not GMO corn syrup or those sickening diet sodas made with ungodly chemicals.  Perhaps the real reason is that U.S. consumers are waking up to the fact ‘sugary’ sodas are made with GMO corn syrup, or maybe it’s the suck-ass unrecovered economy?  (originally a soda-jerk was the employee who served you your fav soft drink at the local mom-n-pop establishment, now it refers to extremists who want to eradicate carbonated soft drinks)

Due to skyrocketing demand, the price of vanilla beans has tripled.  But get ready for even higher prices as a major producer of vanilla, Madagascar, is reporting a low harvest for 2016.

Alabama: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues as at least four Ryan’s restaurants were suddenly shutdown in as many cities.

Arizona: In Phoenix, Fuego Bistro shutdown its CityScape location. In Glendale, after 46 years restaurant La Peria shutdown due to not being able to pay its rent. In Scottsdale, Stingray Sushi shutdown. RT O’Sullivans sports bar-eatery shutdown on U.S. 60.

Arkansas: In Fayetteville, the AQ Chicken Express suddenly shutdown without warning and the AQ Chicken House also shutdown, according to an unnamed employee.

California: In Berkeley, after only two months “high-priced” restaurant Antoinette shutdown due to disagreements with the Claremont Club & Spa hotel.   In El Segundo, after ten years restaurant Farm Stand shutdown. The owners hope to open a new restaurant with new partners somewhere in Los Angeles, sometime next year.  City administrators of Stanton are suing to shutdown a thriving coffee shop. What’s the problem? GZ Cafe employs waitresses that wear bikinis (and even just pasties), however, there are reports that several customers complained to the city claiming some of the waitresses were showing off their ‘hardware’ to other customers. A next door barber shop owner praises GZ Cafe for greatly increasing his business!  In Stockton the S-Mart grocery store shutdown, 50 jobs lost due to lack of profits.  In Oakland, after 47 years restaurant Francesco’s shutdown: “There’s nobody to pick it up. So it’s going into history.”-Theresa Erwin, 3rd generation family owner

Colorado: In Steamboat Springs, after 34 years La Montana shutdown after being sold off.  It’s hoped the new owner will keep the 38 workers employed with a new establishment.

Connecticut: In Stamford, after 50 years Pat’s Hubba Hubba restaurant shutdown.

Florida: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues. This time reports that several Ryan’s Buffets shutdown without warning in Horry County. A local news report said as many as 3-hundred restaurants across the U.S. are affected by the sudden bankruptcy!  In Miami, food service contractor Boykin Management issued a mass layoff WARN, 119 jobs lost by May! Tomato Land Farmers Market store-restaurant shutting down in April, due to the property being sold-off. In Tampa’s Ybor City, after 33 years The Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant shutdown, no specific reason was given, but in 2010 the Church of Scientology became the new landlord.  In Center Hill, Central Beef Industries issued a WARN, 214 jobs being eliminated between now and the end of May! For nearly a decade the meat packager was dumping water contaminated with salt and feces onto a rancher’s property. It took the rancher filing several court actions, and a plant manager turning whistleblower, to get any of the state and federal government agencies to act! The dumping was stopped, however, criminal charges against the food company were eventually dropped. So far there’s no explanation for the mass layoffs.  In Jacksonville, after eight years O’Brothers Irish Pub shutdown: “I tell people that restaurants are like martinis: One isn’t enough and two is too many. We’re going back to one. It’s time to slow down.”-Drew Cavins, co-owner

Georgia: In Liburn, the Versace Dominican Restaurant hit by food contamination, revealed by surprise health inspections.  The inspectors ordered the desserts and juices thrown out due to food poisoning (desserts & juices being made right next to raw meat, cooks not wear gloves or washing hands), and gave the eatery a health score of 47/U (failure).  The health inspectors were there for a follow up inspection after a questionable inspection a month ago.   In Atlanta, employees of Thirteen Pies pizza joint reporting they’ve been told they will become unemployed within 60 days. The company that owns Thirteen Pies, Raised Palate Restaurants, says no final decision has been made, however local news reported that Raised Palate Restaurants shutdown another food joint in the same plaza back in January.  In Albany, after five years God powerless to stop Christian owned (Flint River Presbytery) non-profit Bare Bulb Coffee shop from shutdown due to road construction that killed customer traffic.  In Atlanta, after more than five years H. Harper Station bar shutdown, the owner blames the landlord: “While signs point to the area’s impending development coming to fruition, it also brings the pressure of increased costs. After a great five-year run, we feel the model is no longer sustainable. We wish the best to the new tenant…”-Jerry Slater

Idaho: East of Boise, after 73 years iconic Ben’s Crow Inn shutting down by September. The owner admitted in the early years all he served was pizza and beer. Now it’s famous for seafood and steak. The owner also admitted that the ever expanding metro of Boise has jacked up local property values so much that he couldn’t refuse an offer from a greedy property developer.  In Boise, after only four months the brand new Boise Co-op grocery store located at The Village at Meridian laid off 29 employees, due to lack of sales! Boise Co-op opened the store in November 2015 expecting big sales because Maureen Valko, Boise Co-op marketing manager, assumed “There’s a demand for a good, natural food store on this side of town….” It should be noted that also in 2015 Boise Co-op was hit with numerous health code violations by city inspectors, in connection to a June 2015 salmonella outbreak at an older store. So much for ‘natural foods’.    Also in Boise, it was revealed that Idaho Heritage Inn was sold-off last month, the former owner blames a 20% crash in bookings on Airbnb.com. However, it should be noted that the bed-n-breakfast owner accepted a healthy offer from Saint Luke’s Medical Center for the land.  Recently Mexico’s Minister of Trade Armando Orellana died. Idaho’s government and agriculture industry are officially mourning Orellana as he’s credited for making Idaho a major ag partner for Mexico, generating $191-million USD in sales for Idaho’s minority (mainly corporate owned now) farmers-ranchers, just in 2015: “Idaho agriculture lost a great friend. He touched many lives over the years and the tragic loss of Armando will be felt throughout Idaho.”-Celia Gould, Idaho Department of Agriculture (Idaho even has its own website promoting itself in Mexico)  Some good news for Idaho; New York based yogurt maker Chobani announced plans to expand what is already the world’s largest yogurt factory, in Twin Falls, primarily to make products for sale in Mexico!  An update on that false organic seed selling operation that ripped off dozens of farmers east of the Rockies for five years; one of the co-owners of Saul Farms/Bliss Seed pled guilty to mislabeling products. Prosecutors say the seed sellers sold ‘inorganic’ seed at organic seed prices, getting at least $1 USD per pound more than they should have, resulting in $1.9-million USD in fraudulent sales!

Illinois: In Moline, bankrupt FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC Ryan’s Steakhouse shutdown without warning, pissing off employees. The restaurant was shutdown officially for an “asset inventory”, but then, the employees were told they could pick up their final paychecks!  In Naperville, after 3-million customers the 21 years old Zero Gravity Food-Dancing club shutdown. Rumors say it’ll be replaced with a bigger operation.   In Chicago, after two years critically acclaimed restaurant Tete Charcuterie shutdown without warning over the weekend, due to lack of sales. In Frankfort, Burger King shutdown their Town Center location without explanation.   Food giant Tyson issued a shutdown WARN, 170 frozen food jobs eliminated between April and August! In Elk Grove Village, food service company Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN, 54 jobs lost by the end of April.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, Gropp’s Famous Fish of Stroh shutting down due to the retirement of the owners. The family hopes to make money by licensing its secret recipes.

Iowa: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues. This time a Ryan’s in Clive, and an Old Country Buffet in Des Moines shutdown without warning.   Chain restaurant Village Inn shutdown its Lindale Mall location without warning, administrators blamed it on high rent

Louisiana: In Baton Rouge, after 49 years the elitist private membership only eatery Camelot Club suddenly shutdown due to “declining membership and a dramatic increase in rent”.  In Baton Rouge, restaurant supplier Ready Portion Meat shutdown their 56 years old retail operation this past Friday, and eventually will end wholesale ops as well. It’s connected to the 2013 sale of the company to Washington based government contractor Mobius Industries. Administrators with Mobius refused to give job loss numbers, but blame the shutdown on crashing sales to the restaurant industry, a 20% crash just last year: “We put a tremendous amount of effort into increasing sales in the last year or two and haven’t been able to get that magic to happen.”-Brian Clayton (the claim of crashing restaurant industry sales is interesting because every year the National Restaurant Association claims sales are way up)

Maine: In Portland, after 40 years Paul’s Food Center shutting down, and being sold-off due to the death of the owner.

Maryland: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues as the Hagerstown Ryan’s restaurant shutdown without warning.  Allen Harim Foods shutting down their 71 years old Cordova operations, 3-hundred jobs lost as the company consolidates ops to save money!  In Amherst, beef eatery White Hut shutting down by the end of the month. The family owners say sales have only been “modest” and not enough to justify renewing the lease. They hope their flagship Great Depression era restaurant in West Springfield doesn’t meet the same fate.  After 58 years Harbin Farms shutting down due to A-Hole zoning rules which will impose at least $375-thousand USD of property upgrades upon the family owners: “We’re probably going to move. We have to remove ourselves from what once was.”-Kim Taylor

Massachusetts: Yet again, Chipotle restaurants are being shutdown due to people getting sick! This time an employee at their Billerica location got sick with norovirus.   After 47 years Johnny D’s Restaurant Music Club shutting down this weekend.  In Needham, after 18 years Cowlicks Deli suddenly shutdown due to the new landlord refusing to renew the lease. The new landlord is convenience store chain 7-Eleven.  After 32 years Au Bon Pain shutdown their Harvard Square restaurant apparently because of property remodeling by Harvard University. Administrators say “We continue to search for a location in this area.” 

Michigan: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues as the Battle Creek Old Country Buffet shutdown and was auctioned off.   In Lansing, 50 years old restaurant House of ING shutdown. The owner says he must focus on his other restaurants.  Feeding America shutting down its warehouses in Ishpeming and Sault Set Marie, claiming they’re moving to a larger operation. However, several food banks are reporting that the move by Feeding America is actually forcing them to shutdown. The Ishpeming Food Bank and Tom’s Pantry in Quinnesec both point out that even though Feeding America’s is moving to a larger location the delivery times aren’t compensating for the further distance, meaning food banks will have to expanded refrigerated storage and/or hire delivery trucks to make extra food runs: “Because they only come up twice a month, you’re going to have to have a lot more refrigeration space than what I have. You’re going to have to have pickups and trailers in order to pick up your food. This is going to cause us to have to close.”-Mary Dixon, Tom’s Pantry

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, Maison Darras sandwich shop and the U.S. Postal Service extension office being forced to shutdown on Thursday, due to massive $20-million USD remodeling of Baker Center. News reports say the sandwich and postal operations will not resume because the ‘Skyway’ is being eliminated by the remodel work. Ferrara Candy shutting down their Winona factory and consolidating to its factory in Illinois, more than 120 Minnesota jobs lost!  In Saint Paul, after 38 years Bonnie’s Cafe being shutdown by the greedy landlord who refused to renew the lease: “We were never offered to renew the lease……I never thought it would end!”-Becky Moosbrugger

Missouri: After two years of booze and coloring books, ArtBar St. Louis shutdown without warning due to “circumstances beyond my control.” 

New Mexico: In Santa Fe, iconic Santa Fe Baking Company and Cafe shutdown on 15 March, without warning due to “new ownership”. Loyal customer Kerth Lundell bemoaned “I came for a breakfast burrito…This is the go-to place….” A local radio host who does her morning shows from the restaurant, Mary-Charlotte Domandi, is pissed: “I have no idea what is going on. My equipment is still in there!”

Nebraska: In Lincoln, after 21 years Doozy’s sandwich shop shutting down: “There are a number of reasons….We have other jobs and other things happening.”-Tafe Sup Bergo, co-owner

New York: What was that about not being able to keep “quality” employees? In NYC, the Shake Shack settled a lawsuit for failing to pay nine mangers their due, yet at the same time publicly stated they were not guilty of shorting their managers about $50 per week in pay!   In Montauk, the Sloppy Tuna restaurant shutdown due to the co-owners filing lawsuits against each other.  The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues as the Amherst Old Country Buffet was suddenly shutdown.  In SoHo, pub Puck Fair shutting down due to the property owner tearing down the building.    British empire owned Chartwells lost their food service contract with Nazareth College, 90 jobs lost by May (Chartwells is owned by British empire Compass Group, which runs food ops for the military and prisons, and owns other food servers that’ve been involved in scandals such as lying about meat product ingredients in Europe and underpaying U.S. employees!).  Food service company HMS Host issued a layoff WARN for their JFK Airport ops, 134 jobs lost due to loss of contract!  NYC based research company Nielsen says the U.S. bar industry is now in an official Death Spiral. Every month an average of 334 new bars open across the U.S., but, that pales in comparison to the 609 per month that shutdown (and that’s why it’s a death spiral, more deaths than births)! It’s blamed on jacked up rents, increasing competition from restaurants serving booze and increasingly restrictive laws.  It’s been revealed that troubled NYC based restaurant chain Fig & Olive eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs, revealed by at least four former employees. Fig & Olive had to shutdown restaurants back in 2015 because of a salmonella outbreak.   In Buffalo, the Blue Monk beer church (just kidding) shutting down sometime between April and May. A co-owner of the brew-pub says his partner is also the landlord’s son, and they no longer get along!   Oceanside Institutional Industries issued a shutdown WARN for their food service linens operations, 171 jobs lost by mid-June!  In Rochester, Corner Bakery Cafe suddenly shutdown after the owner posted a sign that said “will be closing early tonight.” Local news reports blame it on property developers.

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after four years ‘night life’ joint and former restaurant Zinda shutdown, no explanation.  In Beaufort County, after 18 years the Golden Corral suddenly shutdown on Friday, rented Uhaul trucks were carting away the contents of the restaurant. Local news media said there was no explanation from the corporate office.  In Durham, Bar Lusconi shutdown.

Ohio: Grocery store giant Kroger warning investors that same store sales crashed in the last three months of their fiscal 2015 (for the entire year their sales were still up)! Kroger owns stores that sell more than just food, but administrators warn that across the board sales will be down for 2016, which breaks Kroger’s record of more than 12 straight years of sales increases! Kroger administrators blame competition, and deflation which will kill profit margins.  Atwood Lake Resort and Golf Club shutting down: “Management informed us it is no longer economically feasible to continue operations due to the current economic state.”-Bob Wirkner, Carroll County Commissioner

Oregon: The Kroger owned Fred Meyer distribution center in Clackamas is threatening 2-hundred jobs, as Kroger decided to find a new contractor to provide the labor!  Bankrupt Washington based Haggen (assassinated by Albertsons-Safeway) issued shutdown WARNs for their Clackamas, West Linn and Oregon City grocery stores, 208 jobs lost by mid-May!  Washington based Starbucks coffee rip-off artist suddenly shutting down their Lancaster Mall shop this weekend. The press release gave no explanation why, and local news sources said even the employees refused to talk!

Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, Perch Pub shutdown, the building’s owner wants to construct a hotel.  In Fredericksburg, after 28 years ‘natural’ food store The Pantry Self shutdown due to the death of the owner. The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues. This time the Old Country Buffet in Summit Township suddenly shutdown, claiming it was for “asset inventory” and asking employees to return for an update.  In Wilkes-Barre Township, two Old Country Buffet restaurants shutdown without warning, leaving almost 1-hundred people without a job!  Weis Markets shutdown its 56 years old Manchester Township grocery store claiming it’s too small: “Given the age and size of the building, it was no longer possible to operate a full service supermarket in this location.” 

South Carolina: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues. This time six Ryan’s restaurants (in Columbia, Conway, Greer, Orangeburg, Spartanburg and Surfside Beach) suddenly shutdown, at least 4-hundred jobs lost! Two Ryan’s restaurants suddenly shutdown in Upstate South Carolina leaving 80 people without a job.  Local news reports say this is the third bankruptcy for Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC since 2008! Nation’s Restaurant News reports that 92 restaurants across the country were shutdown over the weekend without warning! That’s on top of 74 restaurants shutdown last month, for a total of 166 in the past five weeks! Not only did they shutdown the restaurants without warning, but they quickly removed cooking equipment and hauled it away (this must be what they mean by “conducting asset inventory”)! Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC was taken over last year by Texas based FMP (Food Management Partners). In the bankruptcy filing FMP claims their take over of Ovation Brands was a big money losing mistake as sales immediately crashed by 22%! Nation’s Restaurant News discovered that FMP is a Mitt Romney-Bain Capital style vulture capitalist group that is responsible for the sudden shutdown of California based Catalina Restaurant Group’s Coco’s Bakery and Carrows restaurants last year! “FMP has also acquired Don Pablo’s, Furr’s Fresh Buffet and Zio’s Italian Kitchen.”

Tennessee: Kroger shutting down their Memphis grocery store on South Perkins, admitting they built (or took over) too many stores, several within a mile of each other!

Texas:  In Houston, after two years Georges Bistro shutdown, the husband and wife immigrant owners (who’re longtime Houston restauranteurs) are getting the hell outta Dodge and returning to their home country of France!  In Houston, bar Hughes Hangar suddenly shutdown, owners won’t explain, but there’s speculation that a recent electrical fire might have something to do with it. Fiesta Mart shutting down their 40 years old North Shepard grocery store for “business reasons”. Basically the store needed upgrades and the company administrators believe it’s not worth it (this has become a common excuse for shutdowns in the retail sector). 1-hundred jobs lost!  In El Paso, Bruce Foods shutting down, 171 jobs lost by May! In Cleburne, Caddo Street Grill shutting down, the owners directly blaming the Affordable Care Act: “The Obamacare mandate has effected us in ways that do not effect other local restaurants, due to the various businesses we own. This forces us into an uncompetitive business environment and it is no longer viable for us to continue in the restaurant business.” 

Virginia: Just short of a year Shoryuken Ramen shutting down its noodle eatery on Virginia Commonwealth University campus in May.  In Danville, Bubba’s Ice Cream shutting down and selling the property. Irony; the ice cream shop owner is selling the property so he can retire, and he’s selling it to a nursing home.  Martin’s shutting down three grocery stores by Summer, they are not part of the shutdowns due to the merger of Giant Food and Food Lion, but are the result of a decision back in 2015. Another ten Martin’s stores in Virginia will be sold off as part of the merger! Hundreds of jobs lost!  In Norfolk, Empire Little Bar Bistro shutting down in April, can’t renew the lease. The owners blame never ending construction and city trash dumpsters taking up precious space in the parking lot for crashing sales.  In Clarendon, after four years Grateful Red Wine & Gifts suddenly shutdown. The owners decided the rent for their brick-n-mortar op was too expensive and they will continue sales on the internet only.  In Radford, after 17 years Wade’s Foods shutting down, the owner blames skyrocketing costs and competition with big corporate stores, more than 50 jobs lost. Local news says plans to shutdown were made last year.  In South Richmond, after less than six months White Horse Tavern shutdown due to lack of dinner sales. News reports say yet another restauranteur is about to take a whack at opening an eatery in the same location.  The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC bankruptcy continues as the Old Country Buffet shutdown without warning or paychecks in Alexandra. Local news reports revealed the so called “asset inventory” is a cover for mass auctioning of kitchen equipment: “Each store contains everything from kitchen equipment and smallwares to furniture and decor. To be able to bid on the entire Alexandria VA Old Country Buffet is an amazing opportunity for anyone in the restaurant business!”-Jose Paz, vulture auction manager

Washington:  In Bellingham, Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their 56 years old store on Birchwood Avenue, 66 jobs lost by May.  Bankrupt Haggen issued more shutdown WARNs for its grocery stores; Puyallup, Port Angeles, Federal Way and Burein, 270 jobs lost by mid-May! Despite being killed off by Albertsons-Safeway, by being tricked into buying more than 1-hundred money losing Albertsons stores, Haggen is now attempting to sell 33 of its remaining stores to Albertsons-Safeway!  In Spokane, after almost 60 years Williams Seafood suddenly shutdown on Saturday. The owner blames increasingly low quality of imported seafood and damage from a windstorm back in November.

Washington DC:  Restaurant GDB (Golden Brown Delicious) shutdown suddenly.

Wisconsin: In New Berlin junk food maker Mexican Accent issued a WARN, 155 jobs lost by the end of April!  Food service company and construction industry supplier Mantiwoc Company announced layoffs for their operations in Manitowoc and in the state of Pennsylvania. No numbers were given but it’s part of Mantiwoc Company’s “right sizing” which recently included the spinning off it’s construction crane maker subsidiary called Cranes. In Middleton, Max’s Farm Table shutdown.  The pissed-off owner revealed he recently spent $1-thousand USD for one week of advertising, yet still his restaurant went several hours per day without a customer: “Sales aren’t even close to where they need to be to justify continuing to invest. Not even close!”-Max Harn, who also said the rent was too high for the unpredictable location

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

February 2016: “it’s killing me to give it up, but I have no choice.” “This feels personal…” 

WinCo: Conspiracy to destroy California’s economy?

31 March is U.S. federal commemorative holiday Cesar Chavez Day.

U.S.

Dumbing Down the United States, March 2016: “Let’s be clear; this campaign promotes an agenda designed to undermine public schools.”

It must be noted that I started documenting these education shutdowns at the beginning of 2014.  In that year I posted the reports biannually (every six months).  In 2015 education cutbacks ramped up and I posted quarterly (every three months).  For the past three months of 2016 there have been so many education cutbacks that I’ve posted a report every month! 

Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS): A phrase created by me to describe a phenomenon taking place across the United States, affecting both privately and publicly funded schools, from Kindergarten all the way through University levels.

Incomplete list of publicly announced education related layoffs & school shutdowns, March 2016:

California:  Plumas Unified School District laying off ten teachers due to lack of taxpayer funding.  Sebastopol based Safari Books Online laid off an undisclosed number of employees, including the CEO! The layoffs were revealed by the former CEO. The company, which does business on the internet, is consolidating operations.  Barnes & Noble shutting down their Mountain View College Bookstore, 40 jobs lost by May.   11 months after going out of business Corinthian Colleges lost a lawsuit brought by the state. They must now fork over $1.1-billion USD after being caught lying about employment placement after graduation, running ads for education programs that didn’t exist, illegal debt collections, and using U.S. Department of Defense promotional material without permission! It’s also hoped that the thousands of students who were suddenly dropped will get some restitution to help them pay back their student loans (you can’t claim bankruptcy protect against student loans).

Connecticut: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Archdiocese from shutting down 89 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Saint Augustine School, the last Catholic elementary school in Hartford. It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome (some Christians call it The Rapture).

Delaware: Delaware State University eliminating 23 programs, claiming lack of student participation. Administrators also claim no jobs will be lost.

Florida: Yet more medical school shutdowns! The first victim of non-profit Zenith Education Groups massive cutbacks; Everest University announced it must shutdown campuses in Lakeland, Brandon and two in Tampa Bay, affecting at least 343 medical students: “It’s a slap in the face for everybody really!”-Angela Adams, medical billing student

Idaho:  In Boise, public school officials are finally outing the so-called friend of education J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation for what it really is; a covert effort to Dumb Down Idahoans: “Why would someone want to undermine public education in Idaho? The motive is quite clear. At a recent Downtown Rotary Club meeting, the executive director of the Albertson Foundation stated that the goal of the Foundation is to increase charter school seats by 20,000 in the next few years. That will only happen if Idahoans lose faith in their public schools….. …..Let’s be clear; this campaign promotes an agenda designed to undermine public schools. It is highly inaccurate. It offers no real solutions to increasing post-secondary readiness. It is a disservice to the work public school teachers, parents, and students do every day.”-Boise School District

Illinois:   Barrington District 220 notified 114 employees of layoffs, saying they’re prepping for the state ‘lawmakers’ to cut their funding by $2.6-million USD!  1-thousand Northeastern Illinois University employees must take one day off without pay, due to the Failed State ‘lawmakers’. All Illinois universities are warning of massive layoffs if the Govna’s proposed budget is adopted.  Kishwaukee College has decided to eliminate about 24 jobs due to Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to come through with funding. Sycamore School District 427 approved an additional 18 layoffs, on top of the 56 approved last month. Administrators blame it on a shortfall of $2.3-million USD, partly caused by Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to approve state funding.   John A. Logan College eliminating 55 jobs, claiming to be short $7-million USD. Protesting students pointed out that certain departments are not suffering job losses and that school executives refused to say why. Computer Systems Institute shutting down campuses across the state, eliminating 172 jobs between now and September! Chicago Public Schools laid off 62 people on 01 March .

Indiana: In Bloomington, after 45 years Caveat Emptor bookstore shutting down in August. The owner is hoping to sell the business.

Kentucky: Morehead State University notified employees of a pending furlough of five days without pay. It’ll happen before the end of June and is the result of governor Matt Bevin’s $1.95-million USD in funding cuts.

Maine: In Portland, God is powerless to stop economic warfare within ‘his’ own church! Non-profit Good Cause Thrift Shop being shutdown by its owner, the Catholic girls only Catherine McCauley High School, which claims it’s an economic decision. According to Maine’s employment law, if you work for God’s non-profits you do not qualify for unemployment assistance! A local news report revealed the employees were ordered by ‘christian’ leaders not to reveal the shutdown, but the employees basically said ‘bullshit on that’! (that’s why we know about it)

Massachusetts:  In Lowell, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 108 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Franco American School. It’s blamed on increasing costs and declining student enrollment.

Michigan:  Farmington Public Schools approved the shutdown/repurposing of three schools. The school district has lost 12% of its student population since 2000, causing an $11-million USD reduction in taxpayer funding.

Minnesota: After ten years of paying for eye checkups, tutoring and giving teachers grants, non-profit Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation shutting down due to lack of corporate donations.   Traverse City Area Public Schools shutting down the Interlochen Community School and the International School at Bertha Vos, blaming a $1.2-million USD shortfall. Administrators will also not replace retiring employees (attrition) and reduce school bus service.  Stillwater School District shutting down three elementary schools. Interestingly administrators blame increasing enrollment! They claim they’re shifting children out of older schools into new buildings designed to handle more students.

Montana: Federally funded Head Start programs in “Joliet and Red Lodge are closing so schools in Billings and Laurel can admit more children.”

New Jersey:  God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands, 24 jobs lost by the end of June.  Mercer County Community College eliminating IT jobs as it will now use a cheap contractor. Some in-house Information Tech employees will be laid off while others will be shifted to other departments. Trenton Board of Education shutting down Stokes Early Childhood Center and eliminating a net 164 jobs! It’s the second year in a row for shutdowns and layoffs due to lack of students and taxpayer funding.

New York:  After more than 30 years of school bus service, Carrier Coach issued a shutdown WARN for multiple locations, 224 jobs lost by the end of June due to “economic” reasons! Berkley Publishing Group revealed they eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs, blaming crashing book sales. News reports say the book publisher has been eliminating jobs since Summer 2015.  Lack of funding and students forcing Kenmore Town of Tonawanda District to shutdown the Roosevelt and Hamilton elementary schools and Kenmore Middle School (Junior High damn it, we’re not supposed to be part of the bloody British empire!) next school year. Local news reports say the district has been trying to figure out a way to cut taxpayer costs since 2012, and this was the best they could do.   After 47 years, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Elmira Christian Academy due to The Rapture of students (what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome). At the school’s peak there were 220 students, this year there’s only 80, the pastor blames the parents: “It’s hard to compete with families who feel that it would be more advantageous for them to educate their kids from home.”-David Leandre

North Carolina: After ten years and without warning the Park West Barber School shutdown four of its campuses. The school’s website had the following message: “IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS AND REGRET THAT WE MUST INFORM YOU THAT EFFECTIVE TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2016 PARK WEST HAS MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CLOSE…..THINGS SEEMED PROMISING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AT THE FINAL HOUR, OUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO CLOSE.”  

North Dakota: Dickinson State University shutting down their Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation due to the loss of $1-million USD in grants and taxpayer funding.

Ohio: In Hebron, Lakewood Digital Academy shutting down in June due to cancelation of taxpayer funding. The local school district must also payback $150-thousand USD to the state Department of Education. It’s blamed on changes in laws affecting charter schools.

Pennsylvania:  In Wilkes-Barre, Book and Spy Shop shutting down mid-April. The owner is selling the building saying the costs to maintain the building have become too expensive.

South Carolina: Pickens County School Board approved the shutdown of two elementary schools due to lack of taxpayer funding. Obviously uneducated taxpayers protested the decision. If you can’t generate the tax revenues you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

South Dakota:  Proof we’re a 3rd World Country; the state level corruption investigation into the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has revealed that contractors are lying about employment data, using old employment rosters to pad current employment numbers in order to get more taxpayer money! (in Nigeria it’s called creating Ghost Employees, and they claimed they learned it from USAID) Those bogus employment records were part of contracts with “…former top officials of the state Department of Education, the University of South Dakota and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education.” What’s really scandalous is that no criminal charges have yet to be filed!

Texas: God powerless to stop ‘his’ 30 years old Central Christian Academy from shutting down. Church leaders blame The Rapture, I mean declining church membership for forcing them to sell the school property (told you before, this proves money is the true ‘god’).

Virginia: In Richmond, low income daycare Southside Child Development Center shutting down in June: “Funders are saying that they just can’t continue to support us without us being able to support ourselves, which is a hardship when you deal with the families that we serve.”-Sheila Pleasants

Washington: Apollo Education-University of Phoenix shutting down their Seattle operations, 46 jobs lost by the end of April.  After 39 years Kathy’s Studio of Dance shutting down: “This was a very difficult decision for me to make but the dance world is changing and I am no longer up for the challenge. I started my studio with the idea that anyone should be able to dance – no matter their size, talent or ability to pay…….This worked for many years but times have changed….”-Kathryn Lahey

Washington DC: Independently operated Law School Transparency has revealed that only 56% of law school graduates find full employment after graduating, which challenges the official employment placement claims made by the top law schools in the United States.   The U.S. Navy planning on shutting down its remaining 20 voluntary education program College offices saying they can no longer afford to offer courses ‘on base’. Civilian employees will be relocated to a central call center. Administrators say they’re trying to save everybody some money: “For every dollar I get to spend on college education for our sailors, I would like to see it go to their tuition assistance pot and not paying for overhead.”– Rear Admiral Mike White, Naval Education and Training Command

Dumbing Down the United States, February 2016:  Schools being used as sex torture prisons!

Business/Economics

Too Big to Jail kills 7,000 additional jobs! Major insurance company admits ObamaCare is a Major Failure! New sanctions against Iran kills Boeing! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: In Fayetteville, the AQ Chicken Express suddenly shutdown without warning and the AQ Chicken House shutting down next week, according to an unnamed employee.

Colorado: In Durango, 39 years old Hassle Free Sports shutting down next month. The owner is hoping to sell the building.

Illinois: In Obama’s homie town, Chicago based Blue Cross Blue Shield Association released the results of their latest study on ObamaCare; it’s a total failure, grossly underfunding the actual costs of healthcare: “What we don’t know is where we go from here.”-Alissa Fox, Blue Cross Blue Shield senior vice president, this comes after hundreds of healthcare facilities have shutdown and thousands of healthcare employees have become unemployed!

And another Obama homie town based company, Boeing, announced even more massive layoffs (on top of what I’ve reported on so far this year).  An additional 4-thousand plus employees will become unemployed due to expected crashing sales!  Administrators didn’t say it, but you can blame their expected crashing sales on the fact that the U.S. government imposed new sanctions on Iran.  Iran had expressed interest in buying hundreds of Boeing airliners, which could have saved Boeing’s financial ass. 

Indiana: In Bloomington, after 45 years Caveat Emptor bookstore shutting down in August. The owner is hoping to sell the business.

Maine: Major healthcare shutdowns due to the state’s version of ObamaCare (MaineCare) slashing funding by as much as 100%! Merrymeeting Behavioral Health Associates shutting down in Brunswick, 170 jobs lost due to 80% funding cuts! Non-Profit bus service Coastal Trans ceasing to exist due to 100% funding cuts for disabled passengers!  In Bangor, social service agency Getchell Agency now chapter 11 bankrupt busted blaming long term lawsuits and MaineCare: “I made the decision to file for bankruptcy after long hours of deliberation and legal consultation….I cannot continue to move forward shackled by mounting legal fees and under constant threat of multimillion-dollar judgments over which only the state has control.”-Rena Getchell

Massachusetts: Just two weeks after Too Big to Jail Boston Weak based money changer in the temple State Street Corporation upped their layoffs to 852,  administrators revealed just how bad the economy is by announcing today that they will eliminate another 7-thousand jobs by 2020!!!

Nevada: Olin Corporation laying off 1-hundred workers at their chlorine factory in Henderson!  This is will greatly affect the tax base for the small town.

North Carolina: In Durham, Bar Lusconi shutting down next week.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; reports that video game and pop-culture website The Escapist has laid off employees and shutdown their Durham HQ.  Apparently the new HQ is in Seattle, Washington.  Employees were laid off last year, as well.

Oregon: In Portland, Discourage Records suddenly shutdown their 22 years old brick-n-mortar store, will continue as mail order only.   What automotive industry recovery?  Aftermarket vehicles accessories maker Lund International issued a shutdown WARN, 156 jobs lost by the end of May!  It might be the result of Lund’s 2015 takeover of Bushwacker.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia based preggy chain store Destination Maternity going down after 2015 losses of $10-million USD, 30 stores being shutdown!  In Wilkes-Barre, Book and Spy Shop shutting down mid-April.  The owner is selling the building saying the costs to maintain the building have become too expensive.

Rhode Island: Care New England eliminating a minimum of 58 jobs at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, as well as shutting down the baby factory and the intensive care unit, blaming reduced payments caused by ObamaCare.   Union reps say they were told as many as 2-hundred employees were being let go, hospital administrators told local news sources “If there are any additional workforce reductions, we would report it publicly at the time it occurs.” 

Tennessee: Memphis based bug killer Terminix has been caught using banned chemicals in your homes!  They’ve been fined $10-million USD!  The use of banned chemicals was revealed after an “entire family” of four in U.S. Virgin Islands became permanently brain damaged when the apartment below theirs was fumigated!

Texas:  In Waco, the Hancock Fabrics store shutting down as part of the company’s bankruptcy.

Vermont: In Rutland, the BROC’s Good Cents Store store shutting down by the end of April.

Virginia: In Danville, Bubba’s Ice Cream shutting down and selling the property. Irony; the ice cream shop owner is selling the property so he can retire, and he’s selling it to a nursing home.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 March 2016: “This worked for many years but times have changed”

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.”