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Business/Economics

Restaurant owner chooses Greece over United States! VA abandons veterans! Disney shutdowns! Investors kill solar power!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 30 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: Phoenix based for-profit Apollo Education Group-University of Phoenix announced that 6-hundred additional employees across the U.S. will become jobless!  This is on top of the previously announced 9-hundred!  It’s blamed on crashing enrollment, or what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  Mother Nature forcing parts of Bonita Canyon Campground at Chiricahua National Monument to shutdown due to fears of flooding.  In Tucson, after 13 years the Chantilly Tea Room and Gift Boutique shutdown.  The owner is hoping the sale of the building will get her enough cash to open a new establishment.

California: Ongoing oil spills along Santa Barbara’s coast, the source of which has yet to be determined,  resulted in the “indefinite” shutdown of the Plains All American Pipeline operated pipelines as well as three Exxon oil platforms!  The oil has been spilling since May, and so far has cost $92-million USD to clean up.   San Ramon based oil giant Chevron laid off 20 people at its Newfoundland-Labrador, Canada, operations.  In San Francisco, sandwich shop Giordano Brothers shutdown their 11 years old North Beach location.  Administrators say the lease expired and the location just isn’t big enough.  What housing market recovery? In San Louis Obisbo, after 33 years the owners of Pismo Bob’s Hardware and Nursery shutting down their Hardware store in August, saying they will focus on the Nursery. The owners blame competition from ‘big box’ hardware stores, but they also said their Nursery business is doing great because it sells only drought resistant succulents.

Colorado: In Denver, the owners of two years old Session Kitchen say they must shutdown in July.  Despite rave reviews sales were never high enough to cover costs of operations.  Fort Collins based Advanced Energy (AE) announced it is fleeing the solar power business.  Hundreds of people will be laid off!  Administrators blame crashing sales of their solar power inverters, they even revealed they tried to sell off their inverter operations but none of the potential buyers were willing to pay what AE administrators wanted for it!   However, one administrator slipped up and revealed the shutdown is really about making profits for ‘investors’: “…over the last six months, we concluded that focusing solely on our Precision Power business, and exiting the Solar Inverter business aligns with our long-term goal of maximizing value for our shareholders.”-Yuval Wasserman, CEO

Florida: Melbourne based (? see below comment from former employee) Too Big to Jail financial institution Wingspan Portfolio Advisors shutdown today, without warning (at least to the state Department of Economic Opportunity), 150 jobs lost!  Disney shutting down their Magic of Disney Animation attraction in July, and their Disney Quest attraction in 2016.  Administrators claim they will eventually replace them with something else.

Indiana: Belgium based compressor maker Atlas Copco Portable Energy shutting down their Franklin factory, and fleeing the United States, 32 jobs lost.  Company administrators say the crashing U.S. oil and gas industry is forcing them to consolidate ops back to Belgium.   God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Frontline Foundations addiction treatment center in Valparaiso.  Christian administrators blame lack of funding.

Kentucky: Price Less IGA shutdown one of their Bowling Green grocery stores.  The store was only two years old, and local news reports say administrators refused to explain the shutdown.  In Louisville, ObamaCare forcing Indiana based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to layoff 54 people in July.  Administrators swear they warned employees back in May.  Administrators blame it on mergers with other ObamaCare insurance companies.

Massachusetts:   Partners Health Care-North Shore Medical Center shutdown their Union Hospital, about 1-hundred jobs lost!  Administrators say because of ObamaCare slashing and burning reimbursements they have no choice but to consolidate hospitals.  Tyco Fire Protection Products moving some of their Westminster factory production to Texas and Mexico, at least 51 jobs lost.

Michigan: In Detroit, after 30 years Ren Cen 4 cinema shutdown, basically because it’s not worth it to upgrade for “the current moviegoer”.

Mississippi: Two employees of the Ridgeland Kids Kloset forced the consignment shop to shutdown.  They’ve admitted to stealing money from their employer, and the embezzlement resulted in tax liens filed against the owner, who is now missing.

Nevada: In Sparks, after 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) W.R. Adams & Son Jewelers shutdown.

New York: In Buffalo, restaurant Nektar Ambrosia shutdown, the immigrant owner sold the building and is moving back to economically failed Greece rather than stay in the United States! NYC based Digital First Media forced its puppet operator New England Newspapers to layoff 10 employees of local newspapers in Vermont and Massachusetts.  NYC based aluminum maker ALCOA (ALuminum COmpany of America) shutdown its Brazilian smelter due to crashing aluminum prices.  In Hyde Park, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Hyde Park Nursery School and ‘his’ Roman Catholic Regina Coeli School.   Regina Coeli School currently has only 50 students enrolled.  In the case of Hyde Park Nursery School, church administrators blame city administrators: “Unfortunately, with the introduction of universal pre-kindergarten, the Hyde Nursery School and many other preschools, day care centers, and early learning centers were never offered the opportunity by the Hyde Park Central School District to provide universal pre-kindergarten to their students.”   

Ohio: News reports say 30 years old pumpkins, turkeys, beef/education venue Schapperacher Family Farm forced to shutdown.  The operators would only say “…our family has been asked to vacate the Schappacher Farm property.”

Pennsylvania: Pipe maker Wheatland Tube shutting down their Sharon factory in August, blaming crashing sales on a 68% increase in imported pipes being dumped on the U.S. market!  In Hazelton, after less than ten years Heritage Fresh Food grocery store shutting down once everything is sold off, administrators saying they can no longer compete.   ObamaCare caused a riff between the the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Philly.com and the employee’s Newspaper Guild. The employers did not want to pay more to cover increased health insurance costs, but after negotiations they agreed to pay more for the ObamaCare insurance, but in exchange there will be no pay raises for the next two years!   Texas based oil contractor Halliburton announced they will shutdown their Homer City operations, consolidating them to Ohio, 430 jobs lost for the city! Pissed off state ‘lawmakers’ say Halliburton bold faced lied to them: “Just a few months ago, we were approached by concerned employees and community leaders about ongoing rumors that such a decision may be on the horizon. However, after speaking with Halliburton officials we were told such rumors were unfounded. Now, we’re told the decision to close is permanent and nothing can be done to reverse course.”-Senator Don White and Representative Dave Reed, joint statement

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls the Veteran’s Outreach Center shutting down in August due to lack of funding.  It’s connected in part to the collapse of New York based Volunteers of America, but also because the Obama regime’s Veterans Affairs (VA) has canceled their contract with Veteran’s Outreach Center.  Essentially the VA admitted they can’t pay for the care of military veterans!

Virginia: ObamaCare forced tax-sucker General Dynamics to layoff 137 IT workers!  Those information technology employees were supporting the Healthcare Quality Improvement Systems contract to “monitor and improve utilization and quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid”.  General Dynamics lost the contract.

Wyoming: The county of Sheridan eliminated 14 jobs due to lack of money.  County administrators admitted they overestimated how much revenue they would get from mining ops.

29 June 2015: “I’m not going…to retire, I’m just going to close the store.” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

“This is not politics, this is math.” Puerto Rico plunges into Death Spiral! Conservative Idaho jacks up taxes! “I’m not going…to retire, I’m just going to close the store.”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 29 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: More proof the internet is not to blame for brick-n-mortar shutdowns;  Sunnyvale based rent-utility electronic payment service PayNearMe failed to raise the crowd funding they wanted and laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  They also canceled their rent payment service located in Family Dollar stores.

Colorado: Meridian based money transfer company Western Union shutting down all its operations in Greece, supposedly temporarily.

Florida: University of Florida shutting down the high security lab and quarantine facility known as Indian River Research and Education Center, due to the gov-na vetoing funding, 12 jobs lost.  In Palm Beach, after 87 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) newsstand Main Street News shutting down.  The owner laments that no matter what he tried people have just stopped buying hardcopy journals: “I’ve had no other opportunities to make it work. I finally had to pull the plug.”-Thomas Morrison

Idaho: The false conservative/Republican state ‘lawmakers’ created new taxes and fees which will now impact already cash strapped taxpayers.    Vehicle registrations fees increasing by $21, and by much more for vehicles deemed to be fuel efficient such as electric cars.   The fuel tax increasing by an additional 7 cents per gallon.  Taxpayer funded teacher pay being increased, which implies taxes will have to be raised to pay for it.  A total of 342 new ‘laws’ were approved, can you figure them out?  Way to put the brakes on any economy recovery you ‘Republicans’!  (jacking up taxes is a sign of a failed state system)

Indiana: The Oliver Winery Downtown, restaurant Max’s Place,  and restaurant El Norteño all shutdown in Bloomington’s town square.  It’s blamed on massive competition for “entertainment dollars”.

Minnesota: Tax-sucking Maplewood based 3M warned it will shutdown its body and vehicle armor operations.  Administrators blame the U.S. Army for dragging its taxpayer funded feet on a new contract.  They also revealed they’ve already laid off 50 people in Kentucky and 40 people in California.

New Jersey: More nails in the coffin for Atlantic City; the close to bankrupt Trump Entertainment Resorts announced it has canceled plans to re-open the former Trump Plaza casino, for at least ten years, in order to avoid paying the new taxes imposed by gov-na Chris Christie.

New York: Envoy Air issued layoff WARNs for John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport, at least 46 aircraft maintenance jobs lost by September.  Drugs pusher Walgreens-Boots Alliance shutdown their eight years old Ogdensburg store, 20 jobs lost.

Ohio:  In Mount Healthy, the 11 years old game playing store Yottaquest shutting down in August.  Jamboree Foods shutting down their Pierpoint grocery store by the end of the week: “It’s just getting to the point where all the Walmarts and drug stores kept nickel and diming us….It’s hard. I’m not going to be able to retire, I’m just going to close the store. My whole life savings is tied into the store!”-Dan Swift, owner

Pennsylvania: Clothier Gap and Gap Kids shutting down its stores in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. It’s part of the California based company’s plan to shutdown at least 175 stores.  In Philadelphia, Chiarella’s Ristorante shutdown. The owner said “We’re not closing because we want to close” the greedy landlord was “pushing” them out.

Puerto Rico:  The gov-na of the U.S. territory announced they are in a “Death spiral” and cannot pay $72-billion in debts.  Alejandro García Padilla stated “The debt is not payable. There is no other option. I would love to have an easier option. This is not politics, this is math.”  On 17 June I wrote how there’s a mass exodus of people fleeing Puerto Rico.    Reports say as a U.S. territory Puerto Rico can’t claim bankruptcy protection, like Detroit did, and the Obama regime says they’ll be no taxpayer funded bailout.

Texas: Arizona based Avnet shutting down its Coppell eCycling operations, at least 71 jobs lost. Administrators blame the bad economy for forcing them to consolidate operations.

Utah: The visitors center of Little Sahara Recreation Area temporarily shutdown.  It’s blamed on an attempt to cut costs and on lack of visitation during summer.

27 – 28 June 2015: “It’s just gotten to be too much work…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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, Influenza

U.S. Food Crisis, June 2015: “…there’s not a light at the end of the tunnel anymore.” Grocery stores & Restaurants playing the Sears Holdings game! Farmers using the internet to spread H5N2!

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of June, 2015: 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, and spread of disease.

A recently published study in Mexico says H5N2 has been present in that country for the past 15 years.  One of the conclusions of the controlled study (involving the intentional infection of chickens and ducks with the 2007 strain of H5N2) was that domestic Peking ducks seem to be carriers of the virus, showing no signs of infection.   Also, duck embryos are more susceptible to infection than chicken embryos.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms more than 49-million poultry have been terminated due to infection or exposure to H5N2 influenza virus!  The USDA is now allowing eggs to be shipped in from some European countries, after the American Bakers Association stated they’re being forced “…to shut down lines or shut down production altogether…Or two, find a substitute for eggs.”  The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service admitted that they don’t know how poultry, and now wild birds, are getting sick: “…cannot…associate HPAI transmission with one factor or group of factors in a statistically significant way at this time……a likely cause….sharing of equipment between an infected and noninfected farm, employees moving between infected and noninfected farms, lack of cleaning and disinfection of vehicles moving between farms, and reports of rodents or small wild birds inside poultry houses….” 

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning saying the H5N2 outbreak “may increase the likelihood of human infection in the United States”.

Chinese border administrators reporting that frozen meat as old as 40 years is being smuggled into their country through the new U.S. ally Vietnam.  Chinese administrators did not openly blame the United States, but pointed out that some of the meat was sold by websites claiming that the meat is coming from the U.S.   China banned U.S. beef in 2003 due to mad cow disease outbreaks.  Border agents told news media it was easy to find the illegal meat (including beef, pork & poultry): “It was too smelly. A truck full of it. I almost threw up when the door opened.”– Zhang Tao

Arkansas: Switzerland based Nestlé laid off 75 people at its Gerber Fort Smith baby food factory.  Administrators claim its because they switched to using plastic baby food containers.

Arizona: Five Coco’s Bakery Restaurants shutdown; one in Sun City and four in Phoenix! Coco’s was sold to a competitor.  In Phoenix yet another restaurant shutdown, this time Kincaid’s Classic American Dining closing in July after 14 years. The owners blamed years of city construction work which put their sales into a death spiral by blocking customer access to their establishment.   In Scottsdale, the Bamboo Club shutdown as well as Frasher’s Steakhouse and Lounge (it’s supposedly moving to Phoenix).  Also in Scottsdale, after 19 years restaurant Los Olivos shutdown its Sonora Village Shopping Center, due to the new property owner. The shopping center was sold for $2-million USD, and the new owner signed a new lease with an as yet undisclosed tenant to move into the Los Olivos space.  In Arcadia, the Milagro Grill shutdown.   In Tucson, after 13 years the Chantilly Tea Room and Gift Boutique shutdown. The owner is hoping the sale of the building will get her enough cash to open a new establishment.  State Department of Agriculture investigating reports that chicken, quail and partridge eggs in Pinal, Mohave, Santa Cruz and Yavapai counties tested positive for H5N2. State inspectors blame ignorant farmers and the internet for the spread of H5N2 to The Grand Canyon State: “Bird enthusiasts and breeders who are shopping on the Internet need to take care when ordering. These birds and eggs came from a state where avian influenza is rampant, responsible for the loss of millions of turkeys and hens. If you are importing birds or eggs into the state, check the list of states with avian influenza, and do not bring birds or eggs from them to protect your flock and others.”-Perry Durham, state veterinarian

California: Due to the ongoing drought, the state Water Resources Control Board is drastically cutting access to water for Golden State farmers. The latest water cuts affect 300-thousand acres (121-thousand hectares) of farmland!   Los Angeles County has banned the planting of new grape vineyards, and the expansion of existing vineyards, in the Santa Monica Mountains North Area. County administrators blame the drought.   In Los Angeles, King Meat issued a shutdown WARN for August, 227 jobs lost!  In Harbor City, Flying Food Group issued a layoff WARN for August, 121 jobs lost!  Great Harvest Bread shutdown its 11 years old Folsom store.  In San Francisco, after six years Wexler’s upscale BBQ restaurant shutting down and being sold-off. The owner said the timing is right to get out and spend more time with his family.  Staying in San Francisco, Starbucks announced it is shutting down its recently acquired La Boulange bakery operations, which includes 23 stores! Starbucks also announced it will shutdown its San Francisco Evolution Fresh juice store.  After three years 4505 Meats Butcher Shop shutting down in July, it’s blamed on problems with the company’s commissary kitchen which directly impacts the butcher shop.  Sandwich shop Giordano Brothers shutdown their 11 years old North Beach location. Administrators say the lease expired and the location just isn’t big enough.  In Chatsworth, Warren Buffet owned Heinz food processor announced they’re shutting down in July, 144 jobs lost!   Rio Mesa shutting down two farms in July, one in Santa Paula the other in Somis, 135 jobs lost! In Reedely, fruit packer Ito Packing Company issued a shutdown WARN for July, 197 jobs lost! Kroger announced it will shutdown its Mission Hills Ralph’s grocery store in July, 70 jobs lost.  In Newport Beach, after 25 years restaurant Jackshrimp shutdown.  The owner did not renew the lease and implied he was being pushed out by greedy property developers.  In Costa Mesa, after 18 years restaurant Pinot Provence shutdown.  Recently the city of Fresno learned it would lose at least two Vons grocery stores, now Save Mart announced it to is shutting down.  They will shutdown before the end of the month, and company administrators claim all 62 employees will be moved to other Save Marts (which doesn’t make sense because Save Mart will then have a lot of redundant employees).  Officially administrators blame competition (really, with Vons getting outta town?), but it turns out that Save Mart owns the property, where they’re closing down their Clinton and Blackstone avenues grocery store, and they’ve decided to play the Sears Holdings game and make more money by leasing  it out to their ‘competition’!  In West Sacramento, Raley’s shutdown their Mack Road grocery store saying “We made several operational changes in an effort to help the struggling store. We modified the store hours…and implemented several cost-control measures in order to drive sales. Unfortunately, these efforts have been unsuccessful in increasing the store’s performance.”  Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another WARN saying eight more employees will be let go from Safeway‘s Pleasanton HQ, in August.  In San Diego, after 19 years the Great News Cookware Store and Cooking School shutting down by July.   After 36 years, the owners of popular Lunch Bag Deli say their landlord is forcing them to shutdown. They say they got a 26 day eviction notice with no explanation. An employee of the real estate company that manages the property would only say, to local news media, that the lease was up and they didn’t want to renew.  In Turlock, the owner of Ann’s Fish and Chips reports that the greedy landlord has forced her to go elsewhere, due to jacking up the rent. The restaurant must shutdown by the 4th of July.   Food producer Genreal Mills confirmed their Lodi factory will shutdown by the end of the year, 430 jobs lost! This is not part of General Mills’ recent announcement that they’re culling 7-hundred more jobs, the Lodi shutdown was planned in 2014! Administrators of the city of Lodi say the General Mills shutdown will impact other businesses, netting more than 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs lost for the city!

Colorado: In Denver, the owners of two years old Session Kitchen say they must shutdown in July. Despite rave reviews sales were never high enough to cover costs of operations.

Florida:  Upscale grocer Epicure Gourmet Market & Cafe shutdown its one and a half years old Coral Gables store. Local news said employees reported that maybe 50 customers visit the store per day.  Miami-Dade based Burger King canceled their contract with Irish meat supplier Silvercrest Foods because they were using horse meat instead of cow! Customers in Ireland are now facing a Whopper of a burger shortage, at least until Burger King can find a new Irish meat supplier.  Despite this latest beef scandal taking place in Ireland, the Clearwater Burger King on US19 and Sunset Point Road shutdown for failing health inspections. In Tampa, the Tampa Tap Room shutdown for 30 health code violations. The Paradise Biryani Pointe shutdown for 41 health code violations.   In Fort Walton Beach, after 40 years Mama Rosa’s Pizza shutdown and for sale despite the owners claim that business is good. The owners said they’re moving to Georgia.  In Orlando, award winning Wolfie’s Pizzamia shutting down next month. The landlord signed a new lease with a gourmet dessert restaurant.   In Largo, Thai Basil Westbay restaurant shutdown, yet again, by health inspectors. News reports say the restaurant has been accused of recurring problems with roaches, rodents, ants and improper food temperatures.  After three years Korean restaurant OTC shutdown, the owner says he wants to try something new.   In Fort Lauderdale, after 25 years the pissed-off owners of Thai restaurant Sukhothai announced it will shutdown at a time of their choosing, they blame the lack of economic recovery for not being able to break even: “My heart is broken. Not only will I lose my business, I will miss my customers.”-Susie Komolsane, co-owner

Georgia: After six years the Little Wine Shop shutdown.

Hawaii: After 49 years the owner of two iconic restaurants is shutting them down due to health problems. The restaurant Kenny’s will shutdown by 05 July, and Kenny’s Express will shutdown 04 July.

Idaho:  Twice in one week masses of pollenating bees escaped after the trucks transporting them crashed.  Near Coeur d’Alene about 2-million bees were lost after the trailer tipped over. Apparently those bees were on their way to Montana farms.  On state highway 33, near the nuclear INL site, 20-million bees heading to North Dakota farms were lost when the truck and trailer tipped over while trying to avoid hitting a car.  One news report says firefighters killed the bees with foam.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared Clark and Jefferson counties drought disaster areas.  There are now 15 Idaho counties qualifying for drought disaster loan assistance programs.  Last month the state Department of Agriculture denied H5N2 was in The Gem State (at least since January when the last flock of infected chickens were killed off), but now they’ve banned ducks and other waterbirds from county fairs.  KPVI reports that Franklin County farmers, who rely on irrigation, are struggling with invasive mussels.  The foreign quagga mussels are clogging the irrigation pipes, cutting off precious water for the crops (Idaho is in the grips of a 15 years long drought).  Franklin County, working with state ag administrators, has begun boat inspection at local reservoirs.  In southwestern Idaho, state health and wildlife administrators are warning of the plague as many dead voles and ground squirrels have tested positive for Yersinia pestis bacteria, so far one human and one dog are being treated for the disease.  More trouble for southeast Idaho wheat growers.  The University of Idaho reports that a difficult to diagnose blight called Leaf Spot is reducing wheat yields by 10%.  Leaf Spot prevents the plants from absorbing nutrients. UoI ag experts working in Arbon Valley say most farmers do not know about it, and when they see crop damage they assume it’s a fungus and spray fungicides, instead they should treat the soil with chloride.  In Boise, the Chili’s restaurant on West Franklin Road (near Boise Towne Square mall) shutting down. The Montana based franchise owner says they are getting outta Boise and moving to Nampa.  The Boise Co-Op voluntarily shutdown after 30 people tested positive for salmonella after eating food from the store’s delicatessen.  State inspectors said the grocery store has not violated any health codes.

Illinois: In Pilsen, after six years restaurant Nightwood shutting down in July.  Another food bank going down, this time in Cahokia, and this time it’s purely political. Christina Walker, director of the Cahokia Community Basket, says they’re being shutdown because they opposed the election of the current mayor, but admitted “I’ve not been given a reason. I spoke with Curtis McCall yesterday in his office personally and asked why am I being put on administrative leave and the purpose of us vacating the building and he told me ‘Due to future litigation I cannot comment at this time.’” The food bank feeds 1-thousand 2-hundred people every month!  Local news reports say representatives of other food banks told them that somebody was making threatening phone calls to them, implying they were with the Cahokia Community Basket.   After 65 years the Indiana Harbor Dairy Queen shutdown. City administrators said the Dairy Queen corporation demanded the franchise owners pay to upgrade the restaurant, but the franchise owners didn’t have the money.  The owner of Eric’s Restaurant gave up and shutdown after he lost his booze license: “He is closed and is thinking about keeping it closed and moving to a different location because he’s completely worn out.”-Hal Jennings, attorney

Indiana: Bloomingfoods Co-op is eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs, blaming a 20% crash in sales on “competition”.   But is the real reason because employees tried to unionize?  Proof the economy is only getting worse; Lafayette Transitional Housing Center shutting down their meal service. Operators say they are “overcrowded” and have decided to focus their service only on providing a place to live for people who’re homeless. Operators say they are working to find a charity who can take over their meal service. Over the past few years Lafayette Transitional Housing Center has become the largest food provider in a 16-county region!  The Oliver Winery Downtown, restaurant Max’s Place, and restaurant El Norteño all shutdown in Bloomington’s town square. It’s blamed on massive competition for “entertainment dollars”.

Iowa: The state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reports the 75th outbreak of H5N2.  So far 29-million poultry infected, all turkeys and 26.3-million laying chickens have been terminated as a result!  State ‘lawmakers’ say more than 1-thousand 5-hundred jobs will be lost by August if the H5N2 outbreak doesn’t stop, and they’re asking the Obama regime to declare affected counties as FEMA disaster areas!  In Mason City, after 30 years the Bonanza steak restaurant shutdown. The property owner swears another restaurant is moving in.   In Cedar Rapids, Smuggler’s Warf Big Bam Boo Bar shutdown. The owner blames crashing business for causing him to lose his booze license and for preventing him from paying rent, plus health problems: “I am 60 years old, got some health issues, and couldn’t take it anymore.”-Al Zindrick

Williamsburg based Kinze Manufacturing has become the latest farm equipment maker to go down. Months after cutting work hours to 30 hours per week (in-line with avoiding ObamaCare mandated benefits, but of course they didn’t say that) administrators announced they must eliminate 215 jobs across the U.S.! Employees say administrators gave them no warning (which is typical and I’m still amazed how many sheeple workers in the U.S. are shocked that their employers can kill their jobs without warning). As with other farm equipment makers, it’s blamed on crashing sales: “Despite our efforts, the current demand does not support our present staffing level.”-Kinze Manufacturing news release

Kansas: The state Department of Agriculture has banned poultry shows at county fairs, due to H5N2.  In Topeka, after more than 40 years the owners of Grover’s Smokehouse announced they must shutdown in July, due to the landlord kicking them out. It sounds like the property has been sold to some evil property developers.

Kentucky: After eight years the owner of My Old Kentucky Homebrew announced he’s shutting it down in July.  State Health Department is shutting down three Women’s Infant & Children offices, 12 jobs lost. Administrators blame lack of taxpayer funding and lack of people signing up for the measly $40 per month in food assistance.  Price Less IGA shutdown one of their Bowling Green grocery stores. The store was only two years old, and local news reports say administrators refused to explain the shutdown.

Louisiana: In New Orleans, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville shutdown. News reports say it’s being replaced with B.B. King’s Blue Club.  You could say “nothing lost”, but a lot of money is going to be spent on nothing gained either, the new food-night club venue is supposedly going to do the same thing the old venue did.  The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shutdown shrimp harvest in most inshore areas “…to protect these developing shrimp and provide opportunity for growth to larger and more marketable sizes.”

Main: In Bath, after 57 years Gilmore Seafood shutting down at the beginning of July. The owner said he was made an offer he couldn’t refuse by a property developer, allowing him to retire.

Maryland:   US Foods shutting down its Anne Arundel County distribution warehouse, 350 jobs lost! Because of the bad economy US Foods is consolidating ops “serving the Washington DC metropolitan area”.

Massachusetts:  In Springfield, non-profit New England Farm Workers Council laid off 40 people due to loss of state taxpayer funding.

Michigan: The new owner of Hiller’s Market grocery stores, Kroger, announced that Hiller’s stores in Ann Arbor, Plymouth and South Lyon will shutdown immediately! Hiller’s stores in West Bloomfield and Northville have already been shutdown!  In Detroit, three baby wild geese tested positive for H5N2, making Michigan the 21st state to be hit by bird flu.   Recently voted the second best coffee shop in Saginaw County, three years old ThunderBrew Coffee Company shutdown.  Co-owner Dan Propp blamed crashing sales and Too Big to Jail banks who refused to debt finance their operation, his wife Elizabeth would only say “We tried, and if you don’t try, you never know. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don’t win. Dan and I have poured our heart, soul, and life into building ThunderBrew. We are thankful for all of the support we have received over the last 3 years. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs….”  In Ferndale, restaurant Torino suddenly shutdown. The owners claim that Health Department rules do not allow them to serve the type of food they offer where they are located: “This week we were visited by the Health Department and together we have determined that it is no longer possible to continue serving a menu of our caliber due to the current size of our facility.”

Minnesota:  Like your Cheerios, Yoplait and Progresso? Minneapolis based food maker General Mills announced 725 jobs eliminated globally! Administrators continue to blame crashing sales and say the restructuring, known as Project Catalyst, will continue into 2017 (showing you how little faith in any ‘recovery’ General Mills has). In the past 12+ months General Mills has shutdown two dough factories, and with the latest job culling announcement, eliminated at least 2,125 food producing jobs!   The state Board of Animal Health reported the 40th H5N2 outbreak to hit the same county, which also happens to be the country’s largest turkey producing county of Kandiyohi.   In Bloomington, after more than 30 years the owners of Cub Foods grocery store announced it will shutdown by the end of July.   Owner Niemann Foods stated “This is the last Cub Foods operated by NFI, and with our lease expiring, we decided to retire the format…”, 75 jobs lost.   Minnetonka based food processor Cargill laid off 45 more IT (information technology) employees, blaming the not recovered economy.  In Saint Paul, the Four Inns diner shutdown after 45 years.  The operators blamed crashing sales on fast food joints and lunch trucks.  Also in Saint Paul, iconic Italian American Romolo’s drive in restaurant shutdown.  The owners said “it’s kind of complicated” but they’ve been forced to sell the property.  The Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam shutdown in an effort to stop the spread of invasive carp.  After less than one year beer seller Four Firkins shutdown. The owner blames competition and new anti-beer laws.  The Saint Louis Park Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill shutdown without warning. A now unemployed server who didn’t know her employer shutdown told local news media “They didn’t pay their liquor taxes, we ran out of beer and liquor last weekend, and I was here Monday working and nobody has told me anything.” Across the country Toby Keith’s have been shutting down without warning since 2014.

Mississippi: The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources shutting down shrimp harvest on the Intracoastal Waterway, due to catches being under the legal size minimum of 68 per pound.  Shrimpers agree with the shutdown because they aren’t getting very much money for their catches.  Piccadilly Cafeteria in Edgewater Mall shutdown. The manager of the mall would only say “This is part of a bigger plan.”

Missouri: After only two years the Edwardsville Robust Wine Bar shutdown. The owners said they have plans to expand but their Edwardsville location was actually preventing that.

Montana: In Helena, a kitchen fire has permanently shutdown Louie’s Casa Diego restaurant. The owner says the cost to repair the damage is too high, especially after his insurance provider claimed they never got any of his premium payments: “I’ve put in a lot of money and I’m strapped now. So I can’t get no farther.”-Luis Lopez

Nebraska: H5N2 causing mass layoffs at Michael Foods Egg Products. The food factory is shutting down and more than 1-hundred people will be “temporarily” unemployed!  The Knolls golf, tennis and swimming Country Club & Restaurant shutting down in November. Locals claim a lot of people use the facility, but the owners say otherwise. Membership crashed to only 70 at the beginning of the year.

New Jersey: Stop & Shop announced they’re shutting down their Manalapan grocery store in July, 80 jobs affected. A local grocery store analyst says profits for food stores has become “very, very, tight”. Another analyst blames the grocery store shutdowns on ShopRite, who is now “dominating the supermarket landscape in New Jersey.”  The Route 33 Foodtown grocery store shutting down. Local news reports say company administrators refused to explain, but a local grocery store analyst said there was too much competition. In Long Branch, after 85 years pizza joint Tony’s Tomato Pies shutdown. The owner said they never recovered after Hurricane Sandy: “Basically, times have changed after 85 years….after Sandy a lot of businesses got hit hard.”-Gina Chiafullo

New York: In Buffalo, restaurant Nektar Ambrosia shutdown, the immigrant owner sold the building and is moving back to economically failed Greece rather than stay in the United States!  In Albany, after 35 years the owner of Dean’s Natural Foods announced it will shutdown in July, more than 20 jobs lost.  Nirvana Spring Water now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down their Oneida County bottling factory, 70 jobs lost by September.  The company owes millions of dollars to the New York Business Development Corporation.  Eight years old bakery Sherry Lynn’s Gluten Free shutdown.  The owners blamed “struggles keeping this store open”.  In NYC, restaurant Ouest shutdown due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent. The New York Times said one loyal customer was so upset she said “I feel there’s no reason to stay in New York anymore.” After almost 50 years the Candle Bar shutting down due to the fact the owner has sold off the building.  In Canandaigua, news reports say Wade’s Market Center will shutdown, 133 grocery jobs lost!  The property was sold-off without warning. Local residents say they will now have to drive 20 miles to shop for food.   Food service company Sodexo issued yet another shutdown WARN, this time they lost their contract with Colgate University, 99 jobs lost by July.  Durso Lefferts Boulevard Foods issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Richmond Hill grocery store in September, 83 jobs lost. They blame crashing sales.

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after five years Natty Green’s Pub & Brewing shutting down by August because of its greedy landlord. Apparently the landlord suddenly backed out of a recent lease agreement and jacked up the rent so high that the pub owners can’t pay! The pub owners say on their last day of operations all sales will go to the employees. In Durham, Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse being shutdown and replaced.  In Washington, after 24 years The Moss House bed & breakfast shutdown. It has been sold to a buyer that will make it their private residence. In Elkin, Heaven’s Scent Restaurant shutting down, the owners would only say that “…our journey is coming to an end…”. They will continue catering, but only until the end of the year.  In Mount Airy, after 25 years Pandowdy restaurant shutdown and sold-off.  After 58 years restaurant Bonnie Kay Seafood shutdown in Greensboro. The owners blamed the rising cost of food: “Basically it’s economics, trying to maintain a model of a seafood camp which means bringing a lot of people, putting a lot of food on the plate at a reasonable price; with seafood that’s getting harder and harder to do.”-Tina Oliver, co-owner

North Dakota: In the U.S. state of North Dakota bacillus anthracis (anthrax) has hit the cattle industry. The state Department of Agriculture blames unusually abundant rain. In 2005, anthrax killed more than 1-thousand cattle, bison, horses, sheep, llamas and farmed deer and elk.

Ohio: State Fair administrators have banned poultry competitions due to H5N2.   After 17 years Medina Steak & Seafood shutdown. The owner blames competition.  Nightly Business Report stated that Columbus based chain restaurant Bob Evans is now playing the Sears Holdings game; becoming a real estate investment trust (REIT) to sell their restaurants and then rent them back!   In Lyndhurst, after less than four years high priced cookware store Le Creuset announced it is shutting down in July.   In Coshocton, the Cheez-Kake Bake Shop shutdown. The owner is selling his assets and moving to Florida.  Jamboree Foods shutting down their Pierpoint grocery store by the end of the week: “It’s just getting to the point where all the Wal-Marts and drug stores kept nickel and diming us. It finally got to the point where it’s time. It’s hard. I’m not going to be able to retire, I’m just going to close the store. My whole life savings is tied into the store!”-Dan Swift, owner

Oregon: The owner of the 5 years old gluten free Dallas Health & Vitality Center says she’s shutting down by the end of the month. She says for the amount of work she puts into the business, and the amount of time lost with her family, she gets very little out of it. In other words it’s not worth it anymore.  In Portland, after 36 years Martinotti’s Cafe & Deli was killed off by the greedy landlord jacking up the rent: “Rent has raised considerably! It’s more than what’s doable for us which is why we aren’t staying.”– Martina Martinotti, granddaughter of owner

In Hillsboro, after 80 years the Hank’s Thriftway grocery store shutting down, after a surprise announcement: “Starting Monday June 15th, we will be open short hours 10am to 7pm to liquidate the inventory. During this time we will be offering a 25% discount on all items other than lottery, money orders and postage stamps. All sales will be final and we will not be able to accept checks.”

Pennsylvania: In Hazelton, after less than ten years Heritage Fresh Food grocery store shutting down once everything is sold off, administrators saying they can no longer compete.  In Philadelphia, Joe Varalli’s Italian seafood restaurant shutdown by property developers. Perch Pub shutting down in Spring 2016, due to property developers. Mama Angelina’s Pizza also shutting down. The building that houses all those eateries was sold to property developers who want to tear it down. Simply Shabu Chinese hot pot restaurant shutdown, fans blamed its location. The Wawa sandwich joint & fuel station shutdown their 11th and Arch Street store due to “circumstances beyond our control”.   Chiarella’s Ristorante shutdown. The owner said “We’re not closing because we want to close” the greedy landlord was “pushing” them out.  In Garfield, after five years restaurant Salt of the Earth to shutdown in August. The owners are going to focus on their other business, architecture.  In Lower Township, the Mount Hill Tavern shutdown and up for sale. The owners implied it was too much work for what they got in return.   In Kingston, after 24 years the Pizza Mill restaurant shutdown: “We’re moving onto other things. We want to have some time with our families and do some traveling and catch up on lost time.”-Mark Cardone, co-owner

Lancaster based chocolate maker Hershey Company (Hershey’s) announced it will eliminate at least 3-hundred jobs by the end of 2015! Administrators would not give details, but implied they don’t see any economic recovery taking place: “Removing cost and complexity from our business will make us more flexible to quickly react to changing consumer and competitive marketplace trends.”-John Bilbrey, CEO

After 89 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) The Red Rose restaurant shutdown: “Life is too short! We only have so many good years left and by the grace of God, we think we have enough resources to retire and what we want to do is just enjoy whatever years with have left with each other and our family.”-Nick Flouras

South Carolina: The South Carolina State Fair is banning most bird events due to H5N2.

Tennessee: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams joins Blue Bell Creameries in shutting down all their stores due to listeria contamination! Jeni’s has halted the grand opening of their latest store, because their ice cream has tested positive a second time for listeria.

Texas: San Antonio based  Whataburger temporarily reduced its breakfast menu offerings, due to the H5N2 outbreak killing off the egg supply, for about three weeks.  The iconic fast food joint was able to find a new supply of eggs, however I did not read where their new egg supply is coming from.  In San Antonio, Arcade Midtown Kitchen shutdown so the owner could pursue other interests.  In Austin, Freddie’s Place restaurant being shutdown, the property was sold to another restaurant.  Gary Shelton, the owner of the Sack & Save grocery store on Interstate 35E, says “We stuck it out as long as we could, but there’s not a light at the end of the tunnel anymore.” Sack & Save will shutdown on 27 June, due to the landlord-owner selling the property to the University of North Texas for $6.25-million (almost three times the appraised value!).   After ten years Yum Yum Cha Cafe shutdown in Houston because of the greedy landlord.  After 24 years Martin’s Berry Patch shutdown: “It’s just gotten to be too much work and me and my wife’s health hasn’t been too good. I’m really going to miss the people. Berry pickers are the best people out there.”-Jack Martin

Virginia: In Chester, after 27 years the Weekend Brewer shutdown, the owners retired.  In Staunton, a sign on the ABC booze store on Greenville Avenue said it was shutting down, however, when the property managers were approached by news media they said  “They’re negotiating.”   The Entenmann’s Bakery Outlet, on Peters Creek and Brandon in Roanoke, shutdown with no explanation.  The iconic Virginia Beach 66 years old Oceanfront Dairy Queen shutting down due to greedy property developers.  Property developers forced, I mean convinced family owners to sell it to them.  It will be torn down in September to make room for two big hotel developments.  In Norfolk, decades old O’Sullivan’s Wharf restaurant suddenly shutdown.  The owners would only say “Friends, family, customers, neighbors it is with a heavy heart we announce that today will be our final day open for business.”

Washington:  In Seattle, after 39 years restaurant Charlie’s shutdown. The owners have been trying to sell it since 2010.

Wisconsin: Aglio Ristorante in Janesville shutdown. It sounds like the property owner kicked them out in favor of another business.  The state vetrenarian has banned the movement of poultry and pet birds across the state, due to H5N2, the order is in effect until December.  Kodiak Jack’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant bankrupt busted and being evicted!  In Mequon, the Centennial Bar & Grille shutdown, it was sold to Sobelman’s Pub & Grill.  Golden County Foods revealed it went chapter 11 bankrupt busted back in May, and has been sold-off, threatening 432 jobs: “As a condition to the sale to Monogram, the company is required to terminate all employees’ employment with the company immediately prior to the closing of the sale…”-Tina Check, Golden County Foods

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Major insurance company says prepare for World War over Food! 

11 June 2015: Idaho wheat unfit for human consumption?!

10 June 2015: Albertsons Safeway shuts down forgotten Island store! Hospitals take over Safeway stores! 

U.S. Food Crisis May 2015: “they treat you like a piece of trash!”

Business/Economics

Obama regime guns down shooting ranges! Walmart turns to ‘drink’! “It’s just gotten to be too much work…”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27-28 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: In Scottsdale, after 19 years restaurant Los Olivos shutdown its Sonora Village Shopping Center, due to the new property owner.  The shopping center was sold for $2-million USD, and the new owner signed a new lease with an as yet undisclosed tenant to move into the Los Olivos space.

California: Mountain View based software company Intuit eliminated 399 jobs!  Is it connected to its recent takeover of Brazil based ZeroPaper?  In San Francisco, after three years 4505 Meats Butcher Shop shutting down in July, it’s blamed on problems with the company’s commissary kitchen which directly impacts the butcher shop.

Florida:  Walmart announced it will temporarily re-open its shuttered store 3436 (in Brandon, shutdown under the guise of “plumbing problems” along with half dozen other stores across the U.S.), but only for the Xmas season.  Administrators claim they’ve made the necessary repairs and admitted their Brandon had the highest number of customer complaints about the toilets.  But the real reason for the shutdown was that Walmart created a 4,000 square feet booze store inside the building.  You know the economy is bad when Walmart starts selling hard-drinks.  Even the rich are cutting back on spending!  Upscale grocer Epicure Gourmet Market & Cafe shutdown its one and a half years old Coral Gables store.  Local news said employees reported that maybe 50 customers visit the store per day.

Illinois: Canadian retail analysts say the writing is on the wall for Hoffman Estates based Sears Holdings: “The next seven quarters are ‘make it or break it’ for Sears Canada. Our current view is that an operating turnaround is improbable.”-Keith Howlett, Desjardins

Louisiana: Oil giant Chevron confirmed it is shutting down its Lafayette office by the end of 2016, at least 3-hundred jobs affected!  This shutdown is an indicator of how long the petroleum industry expects the relatively low oil prices (they’re still not as low as when I first learned to drive, and the oil companies were making big profits then!) to last.  Laplace Sears Hometown Store shutting down in July after the franchise owner told local news that it wasn’t worth renewing the license with Sears Holdings.

Main: In Bath, after 57 years Gilmore Seafood shutting down at the beginning of July.  The owner said he was made an offer he couldn’t refuse by a property developer, allowing him to retire.

Massachusetts: In Waltham, after five years Active Paws pet store shutdown, the owners say they will focus on pet sitting instead.  In Norwood, after 49 years Terry’s Bridal Shop shutdown.

Minnesota: HVAC maker Nortek-Mammoth announced they will layoff 64 people at their Eden Prairie HQ in July.

Missouri:  HVAC maker Nortek-Nordyne shutdown their Boonville factory, at least 240 jobs lost!  Nordyne shutdown their Poplar Bluff factory in 2014, 5-hundred jobs lost!  News reports say at one time both HVAC factories employed more than 7-hundred people!  The company moved production to Mexico!  Nortek-Mammoth shutting down their Springfield factory.  The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch laid off eight employees.  The newspaper is apparently also asking for voluntary resignations.

New York: Proof the internet is not killing brick-n-mortar stores; NYC based Barnes & Noble booksellers revealed that not only are their brick-n-mortar store sales crashing, but so are their internet store sales including a 40% crash in Nook sales!

North Dakota: The Obama regime’s Army Corps of Engineers shutdown the Jamestown shooting range, claiming people are shooting into nearby buildings and signs.  The local United Sportsman are pissed because they spent their own time and money maintaining the shooting range.  Local cops are pissed as well: “It’s huge! It leaves us with no place to train!”-Scott Edinger, Jamestown Police Chief

Ohio: Tiffin Sears Hometown Store shutting down in July, after Sears Holdings admitted they had failed to find a new franchise owner.  Local news reports say the store had two previous owners who quit because it wasn’t worth it.

Pennsylvania: In Harvey’s Lake, after 78 years the town’s last general store, Javers Store, shutdown.  The owners sold the property to help fund their retirement.  In Philadelphia, Joe Varalli’s Italian seafood restaurant shutdown by property developers.  Perch Pub shutting down in Spring 2016, due to property developers.  Mama Angelina’s Pizza also shutting down.  The building that houses all those eateries was sold to property developers who want to tear it down.   Simply Shabu Chinese hot pot restaurant shutdown, fans blamed its location.  The Wawa sandwich joint & fuel station shutdown their 11th and Arch Street store due to “circumstances beyond our control”.

Rhode Island: Providence based Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioner maker Nortek shutting down its Mammoth HVAC factory in Saskatoon, Canada.  Nortek owns/controls several smaller HVAC companies throughout North America, and is moving/consolidating operations to Oregon,  Quebec (Canada) and Mexico.  ObamaCare vampires forcing non-profit Rhode Island Blood Center to layoff 60 people.  Administrators say changes caused by ‘health care reform’ will increase their costs of testing for blood-borne disease by at least $2-million per year!

Texas: After ten years Yum Yum Cha Cafe shutdown in Houston because of the greedy landlord.  After 24 years Martin’s Berry Patch shutdown: “It’s just gotten to be too much work and me and my wife’s health hasn’t been too good. I’m really going to miss the people. Berry pickers are the best people out there.”-Jack Martin

Virginia: In Charlottesville, after 40 years spiritual Quest Bookshop shutdown without warning.  The owner said she tried to sell the building for years but “No one wanted to take it over…” 

26 June 2015: Walmart charges manufacturers for the ‘privilege’ of selling their products! 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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 closing update 27 June 2015: “…turnaround is improbable.” More Hometown stores going down as franchise owners rebel! Canada loses more Sears stores!

Louisiana losing a franchised owned Sears Hometown in July.  Like most franchise owners, the owner told local news that it wasn’t worth renewing the license with Sears Holdings.

Ohio losing a Sears Hometown Store in July.  In this case, Sears Holdings decided to shut it down because they were not able to find anybody willing to become the new franchise owner.  Local news reports say the store had two previous owners who quit because it wasn’t worth it.

In Canada, Sears Holdings has shutdown two more franchise stores in North Sydney and in Cape Breton.  Local news reports indicate it’s because nobody is willing to become a sucker franchise owner of a rip-off Sears store!

In other news reports out of The Great White North, Sears is now in critical condition: “The next seven quarters are ‘make it or break it’ for Sears Canada. Our current view is that an operating turnaround is improbable.”-Keith Howlett, Desjardins

update 17 June 2015: Sears sells stores, then rents them back! 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011:

Arizona: 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: 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).

California: 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 (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed), 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.

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: 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).

Georgia: 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: 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: 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). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: 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). 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: 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 (“approximately” 68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: 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).

Kansas: 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). Rural King farm & home store has taken over the abandoned Wincester Kmart.

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, recently revealed 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).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

Michigan: Novi 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.

Minnesota: 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: 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: 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).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: 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 Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland.

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).

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

Ohio: 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), recently revealed 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: 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.

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

South Carolina: 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).

Tennessee: 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).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled 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 being demolished in anticipation of new tenant (local news reports say city administrators refuse to name names).

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

Virginia: 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), Wincester 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: 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: 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).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now 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

General Mills kills 1,200 California jobs! Discover & Intel kill 710 California jobs! Walmart charges manufacturers for the ‘privilege’ of selling their products!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 26 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: In Phoenix yet another restaurant shutdown, this time Kincaid’s Classic American Dining closing in July after 14 years.  The owners blamed years of city construction work which put their sales into a death spiral by blocking customer access to their establishment.  Also in Phoenix two TV stations merged, KPHO and KTVK, resulting in 14 jobs being eliminated.

Arkansas: Bentonville based Walmart just became even more evil.  Greedy administrators are now charging manufacturers for the privilege of selling their products! It’s being done under the guise of charging a stocking-storage fee for ‘warehousing inventory’!  Analysts say Walmart administrators are trying to offset crashing sales and employee pay raises.

California: In San Louis Obispo, after surviving the Great (deflationary) Depression and numerous recessions Pismo Beach Hardware shutting down in August.  Local news reports say city administrators have rezoned the property for food service, but apparently there is no restaurant set to move in.   In Santa Monica, Wilshire West Car Wash issued a shutdown WARN for August, 66 jobs lost.  In Chino, Closet Maid issued a shutdown WARN for September, 71 jobs lost.  In Los Angeles, King Meat issued a shutdown WARN for August, 227 jobs lost!  In Santa Barbara, upscale clothier Saks issued a shutdown WARN for July, 56 jobs lost. In Harbor City, Flying Food Group issued a layoff WARN for August, 121 jobs lost!  In Santa Clara and Folsom, computer chip maker Intel issued layoff WARNs saying 317 people will become unemployed in July!  In Long Beach, Boeing will layoff at least 15 people in August.  What automotive industry recovery? Also in Long Beach, Japan based Toyota finally issued a WARN saying 104 parts factory jobs will be eliminated in August!  In Pacoima, Brice Manufacturing announced they will eliminate 15 jobs in August.  In San Diego, Bridgepoint Education issued WARNs saying 19 people will be laid off in August.  What housing market recovery?  And San Diego based Genetically  Modified drugs maker Celladon began laying off employees, suspended research on new drugs and announced it might have to liquidate if it can’t sell itself to a foolish vulture capitalist investor.  Apparently their GMOed drugs don’t work.   In Irvine, Discover credit card issued a shutdown WARN for their Home Loans office, 393 home loan employees will be let go in August!  It’s part of Discover’s exit from the home loan business.  In Compton, Cal State Steel issued a shutdown WARN for September, 44 jobs lost.  Food producer Genreal Mills confirmed their Lodi factory will shutdown by the end of the year, 430 jobs lost!  This is not part of General Mills recent announcement that they’re culling 7-hundred more jobs, the Lodi shutdown was planned in 2014!  Administrators of the city of Lodi say the General Mills shutdown will impact other businesses, netting more than 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs lost for the city!

Colorado:  Like your smartphone?  Greenwood Village based rare earth mineral miner Molycorp now chapter 11 bankrupt busted blaming crashing commodity prices and crashing sales to electronics makers.

Connecticut: ObamaCare forced Bristol Hospital to layoff 37 employees, and shutdown six vacant positions.  Hospital administrators blamed state ‘lawmakers’ for cutting $2-million USD in Medicaid reimbursements, but directly blamed ObamaCare for the loss of $3-million in Medicare reimbursements!  Administrators also warn of more layoffs as they are expecting another $7-million in losses over the next two years!

Illinois: In Pilsen, after six years restaurant Nightwood shutting down in July.

Indiana: The Community Blood Center shutting down its donor centers in West Chester and Richmond by September.  This seems to be part of a secret plan connected to ObamaCare: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Michigan: Flint School District laid off more employees, this time 55 teachers. Another 16 employees retired. Because of what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, and the increased cost of health insurance caused by ObamaCare, the school district is trying to cut $5.8-million!  The new owner of Hiller’s Market grocery stores, Kroger, announced that Hiller’s stores in Ann Arbor, Plymouth and South Lyon will shutdown immediately!  Hiller’s stores in West Bloomfield and Northville have already been shutdown!

Minnesota: The Saint Louis Park Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill shutdown without warning.  A now unemployed server who didn’t know her employer shutdown told local news media “They didn’t pay their liquor taxes, we ran out of beer and liquor last weekend, and I was here Monday working and nobody has told me anything.”  Across the country Toby Keith’s have been shutting down without warning since 2014.

Missouri: Janitorial products maker Continental Commercial (ContiCo) eliminating 155 jobs as they shutdown their Bridgeton factory!  Administrators say crashing sales are forcing them to consolidate operations.

Nevada: The city of North Las Vegas has won state supreme court cases that support their elimination of police jobs and the shutdown of the city’s jail.  Former employees claim the city failed to pay them their accrued vacation time.

New York: Durso Lefferts Boulevard Foods issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Richmond Hill grocery store in September, 83 jobs lost.  They blame crashing sales.

Ohio: In Dayton, the Community Blood Center shutting down its Donor Testing Laboratory in September.  This seems to be part of a secret plan connected to ObamaCare: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Oklahoma: Reports say the World’s largest oil service company, Texas based Schlumberger, laid off even more employees at their Bartlesville factory. The number of people laid off is not know and are supposedly on top of the 20-thousand global layoffs announced in April.

Pennsylvania: Olney Charter High School eliminating 36 jobs including the principal.  Employees say it’s retaliation for them forming their own union.

Texas: God refuses to stop ‘his’ Oak Cliff United Methodist Church from shutting down.  The pastor says the building needs at least $3-million in repairs, but the 120 church members cannot afford it and voted to shut it down.  In Wichita Falls, the WDS Global-Xerox call center shutting down “because it is no longer sustainable.”  257 jobs lost by August!  News reports say back in 2012 the call center employed 423 people, apparently 171 jobs had already been eliminated before the shutdown announcement, and this after city administrators gave WDS Global $3-million in tax breaks and cold hard taxpayer cash!

Virginia: Sweden based mining engineering company Sandvik announced it’s shutting down its Bristol factory and moving to Mexico.   Administrators blame the crashing U.S. mining industry, 74 U.S. jobs lost by the end of 2016.

Washington: The Golden Nugget Tukwila Casino officially shutdown, 69 jobs lost.  In Bellevue, after 41 years the Skate King roller rink shutdown, managers say the property owner leased the property to a motorcycle dealer.

Wisconsin: In Eau Claire, Maine based animal drugs lab IDEXX laid off 24 employees, indicating sales are crashing.  Metal caster Grede announced it is shutting down its Berlin foundry, 157 jobs lost by December!  As with other companies, Grede administrators say crashing sales are forcing them to consolidate.

25 June 2015: “This is part of a bigger plan.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 22 – 23 June 2015: Insurance company dumps Idaho as ObamaCare wreaks havoc on the insurance industry!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Isn’t it ironic that the healthcare reform written by the insurance industry (Affordable Care Act aka ObamaCare) is actually destroying insurance companies?  Read on to find out why I ask such a question.

Arizona: Five Coco’s Bakery Restaurants shutdown; one in Sun City and four in Phoenix!  Coco’s was sold to a competitor.  In Scottsdale, the Bamboo Club shutdown as well as Frasher’s Steakhouse and Lounge (it’s supposedly moving to Phoenix).  In Arcadia, the Milagro Grill shutdown.

California: The Employment Development Department now publishing WARNs bi-monthly, instead of daily.  Santa Clara based computer chip maker Intel officially confirmed massive layoffs across several states.  An internal Intel memo read “Yes, we are implementing headcount reductions” in Arizona and Oregon, but did not give numbers.  The mass layoffs are blamed on crashing computer sales.  In San Diego, after 36 years the owners of popular Lunch Bag Deli say their landlord is forcing them to shutdown.  They say they got a 26 day eviction notice with no explanation.  An employee of the  real estate company that manages the property would only say, to local news media, that the lease was up and they didn’t want to renew.  In Escondido, Palomar Health reports that ObamaCare is causing their Palomar Medical Center to lose $20-million USD per year! As a result they’re considering shutting it down (despite a previous announcement that the 56 acre hospital was going to be doubled in size!), forcing the 8-thousand patients who use the hospital to travel at least 12 miles for healthcare: “The right thing to do and the right decision at the right time is to make the recommendation to the board of directors they should close the downtown campus.”-Bob Hemker, CEO

Colorado: Englewood mining company Midway Gold now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Connecticut: Bloomfield based global health insurance company Cigna is fighting off attempts by Indiana based Anthem.  Recently Anthem tried to buyout Cigna for $53.8-billion.  If a takeover is successful you can bet they’ll be massive layoffs in an attempt to eliminate all the redundant jobs as a result.  A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals.  What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?

Florida: After three years of operations, Jacksonville based non-profit crowdfunding venue One Spark laid off all but three employees.  Administrators blame it on a lack of “focus”.  In Rivera Beach, wholesaler Garden of Life issued a WARN for September, 28 people will be laid off.  In Clearwater, the Burger King on US19 and Sunset Point Road shutdown for failing health inspections.  In Tampa, the Tampa Tap Room shutdown for 30 health code violations.  The Paradise Biryani Pointe shutdown for 41 health code violations.

Hawaii: After 49 years the owner of two iconic restaurants is shutting them down due to health problems.  The restaurant Kenny’s will shutdown by 05 July, and Kenny’s Express will shutdown 04 July.

Idaho: In Boise, after 32 years the owners of women’s clothier Barbara Barbara announced they’re shutting down at the end of July, health problems convinced them it was time to retire.  The Department of Labor finally published a WARN issued by Assurant insurance company, submitted back on the 15th.  ObamaCare forcing Assurant to eliminate 65 health insurance jobs in Boise by August.  If you’ve been following my updates New York City based Assurant recently announced it is getting out of the health insurance business because, as CEO Alan Colberg said, Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough: “The health and employee benefits business segments possess differentiated capabilities in their respective markets, but we do not believe they can meet our return targets at the pace we require.”

Illinois:  What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar laid off another 50 people at their East Peoria factory, on top of the recent 120! It’s blamed on the crashing mining industry.  H&S Care Center shutting down over the next couple of weeks.  News reports say the nursing home has a number of code violations, and was recently fined $12,500 after a patient went on a stabbing rampage in April (you see, you don’t need a gun to be violent).

Iowa: After years of arguing between Scott County and the owner of  Lake Canyada Mobile Home Park, the county is forcing the park to shutdown by cutting off the watersupply!   At first it was to shutdown by the end of the month, but there are so many tenants with nowhere to go that the shutdown date has been pushed back to the end of July.  County administrators claim the water-sewer system for the mobile home park must be upgraded, but the park owner doesn’t want to pay for it.

Kentucky: State Health Department is shutting down three Women’s Infant & Children offices, 12 jobs lost.  Administrators blame lack of taxpayer funding and lack of people signing up for the measly $40 per month in food assistance.   Louisville based health insurance company Humana is considering a takeover bid by Connecticut based Aetna.   If the deal is accepted then the 12-thousand Humana employees, and the more than 47-thousand employees with Aetna, will be threatened.   A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals. What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?  Texas based oil pipeline company TMK Ipsco issued a mass layoff WARN saying at least 150 Wilder steel mill employees will be laid off in July!  That’s on top of the 115 laid off this month!

Louisiana: Texas based oil holdings company Exterran issued a shutdown WARN for its Broussard oil equipment factory, 60 jobs lost between August and December.

Nevada: Colorado based & bankrupt Midway Gold shutdown their Pan Mine ops, blaming lack of money.  Administrators refused to say how many jobs lost.

New Jersey: Salem County administrators went back on their word and will indeed eliminate jobs.  A ‘letter to the editor’ revealed at least one person laid off already, and an undisclosed number going into next year.

New York: Volunteers of America Upstate New York announced they’re shutting down 11 thrift stores, apparently to focus on its services for low income families, but the fact their thrift stores lost more than $1-million last year is a better reason.  In NYC, God refuses to stop the layoff of 83 employees of Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home Boys Town operations across The Big Apple.  The WARN says the layoffs will take place in September and blames the bad economy.  Also in The Big Apple, New York Life Insurance Company issued a WARN saying they are moving between October and March (they didn’t say where to) and at least 17 people will become unemployed.  And the city of New York has become the second U.S. city (after San Francisco) to shutdown school during the Asian Lunar New Year.  Administrators say it proves they’re respectful of other ethic groups, but it’s really about saving a lot of money by shutting down schools for a week.

North Carolina: Madison County School District forced to shutdown their Laurel Elementary school.  It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   AB Tech announced it will shutdown the Haynes building and the Technology Commercialization Center on its Enka campus. News reports say AB Tech is prepping the Enka campus for sale.  It’s blamed on the loss of $2-million in county taxpayer funding.  It’s been revealed that for-profit managed county owned Yadkin Valley Community Hospital shutdown, 150 jobs lost at the end of May!  News reports blame disputes between the greedy for-profit managers and the county over the lease.

Ohio:   Cincinnati based Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bancorp (Fifth Third Bank: The Curious Bank) will shutdown/sell-off 130 offices and other properties!  Administrators say they need to save $60-million per year.  After five years non-profit Boneyfiddle Arts Center shutdown, due to lack of funding: “It is really sad and painful for us, because we worked so hard to accomplish what we had.  When we realized we could not meet our strategic goals we knew it was the logical choice.”-Jamie Benedict

Pennsylvania: In Garfield, after five years restaurant Salt of the Earth to shutdown in August.  The owners are going to focus on their other business, architecture.

Tennessee: The McNairy County Board of Education eliminating 20 jobs; 15 current employees and five vacant teacher jobs.

Texas: The city of Brownsville shutdown its public swimming pools to all but those attending children’s swimming lessons.  City administrators were not able to hire enough lifeguards, not for a lack of money but for a lack of qualified applicants.

Washington: In Puget Sound, Boeing laid off another 153 employees!

West Virginia: After 32 years Blatt’s Greenhouse, in Lavalette, shutdown.

Wisconsin: The Wisconsin State Journal laid off four people and eliminated at least three vacant positions.

19 – 21 June 2015: “…our journey is coming to an end…” “…leadership does not care….”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 19 – 21 June 2015: “…our journey is coming to an end…” Clothing exec calls employment The Hunger Games! “This culture will exacerbate the uncertainty…leadership does not care….”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Louisiana/Texas based oil exploration company Saratoga Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   While they blamed oil prices, they also admitted they were dealing with challenges in their field operations.

Arizona: The Ritz Carlton Phoenix hotel is shutting down, 2-hundred jobs lost by July!  The hotel was sold to a competitor.

Arkansas: In Cabot, after 45 years the owner of Ann’s Beauty Shop is shutting it down in July.

California: What housing market recovery?  In Palo Alto, a start up company that makes ‘smart’ smoke detectors and night lights for homes, Leeo, laid off more than 30% of their employees due to lack of sales.  An inside unnamed source reported to VentureBeat that “Sales were definitely pretty terrible, and on top of that, there was just not any real direction or vision from the senior leadership. No one ever knew what the next product was going to be.” In San Diego, after 19 years the Great News Cookware Store and Cooking School shutting down by July.  After 23 years Golden Rugs Gallery shutting down their Miramar Road store.  In Walnut Creek, a 21 years old Barnes & Noble book store shutting down in January 2016. Administrators said they could not agree on a new lease agreement with the property owner.  In Oakland, the Swap-o-Rama DIY clothing swap shop shutdown.  In San Francisco, Pier 1 Imports shutdown their SoMa location. It’s part of the Texas based company’s plan to shutdown 1-hundred stores this year!  In Turlock, the owner of Ann’s Fish and Chips reports that the greedy landlord has forced her to go elsewhere, due to jacking up the rent.  The restaurant must shutdown by the 4th of July.  After 34 years newspaper and magazine printer Paradise Post Printing shutdown, at least 41 jobs lost: “Our commercial print business has eroded to the point that it is no longer sustainable to stay in business.”-Bruce Meissner, general manager

Florida: In Fort Walton Beach, after 40 years Mama Rosa’s Pizza shutdown and for sale despite the owners claim that business is good.  The owners said they’re moving to Georgia.  In Orlando, award winning Wolfie’s Pizzamia shutting down next month. The landlord signed a new lease with a gourmet dessert restaurant.  In Largo, Thai Basil Westbay restaurant shutdown, yet again, by health inspectors.  News reports say the restaurant has been accused of recurring problems with roaches, rodents, ants and improper food temperatures.  What housing market recovery?  In Melbourne, after two years home loan serving company Wingspan Portfolio Advisors shutting down, 150 people jobless by the end of the month!  Reports say that in 2013 the mortgage company had 4-hundred employees!

Illinois: The township of Blue Mound shutdown its police department, the Macon County Sheriff’s department will handle law enforcement.  ObamaCare forcing hospital operator Porter Health to eliminate 70 administrative/IT jobs. In a complicated way administrators blamed the new electronic medical records system pushed by ObamaCare.   99 jobs lost as the North Mayfair Kmart being shutdown to make room for a seafood store.   The owner of Eric’s Restaurant gave up and shutdown after he lost his booze license: “He is closed and is thinking about keeping it closed and moving to a different location because he’s completely worn out.”-Hal Jennings, attorney

Iowa: In Mason City, after 30 years the Bonanza steak restaurant shutdown.  The property owner swears another restaurant is moving in.  The owners of Görtz Haus Gallery shutting down in August.  It’s blamed on a $5,000 USD fine for refusing to host a homosexual wedding.

Louisiana: Oil spill claims centers, set up after the 2010 BP (British Petroleum) oil blowout, have shutdown.  The Pine Prairie Correctional Center shutting down in July.  Greedy state ‘lawmakers’ turned it over to evil for-profit concentration camp operator GEO.  The mayor of Pine Prairie, who said the deal seems to have been done in secret, is totally pissed-off: “We were averaging from $5,000 to $5,500 a month from the facility, which is around $60,000 dollars a year, so we’re going to lose that!”-Terry Savat

Maryland: Teen pregnancy prevention op Teens Have Choices shutdown due to lack of funding caused by declining teen pregnancies.

Massachusetts: Blaming what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, Gordon College warned of impending layoffs.  As of last month only 475 freshman students made the required deposits for the upcoming semester.

Minnesota: Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission warned they are being forced to shutdown the Lake Superior Zoo.  Administrators say the zoo must be brought up to current standards, which will cost at least $40-million, but administrator Jim Filby Williams said “We simply don’t have the money.”

Montana: In Helena, a kitchen fire has permanently shutdown Louie’s Casa Diego restaurant.  The owner says the cost to repair the damage is too high, especially after his insurance provider claimed they never got any of his premium payments: “I’ve put in a lot of money and I’m strapped now. So I can’t get no farther.”-Luis Lopez

Nebraska: H5N2 causing mass layoffs at Michael Foods Egg Products. The food factory is shutting down and more than 1-hundred people will be “temporarily” unemployed! The Knolls golf, tennis and swimming Country Club & Restaurant shutting down in November.  Locals claim a lot of people use the facility, but the owners say otherwise.  Membership crashed to only 70 at the beginning of the year.

New Jersey:  The Route 33 Foodtown grocery store shutting down.  Local news reports say company administrators refused to explain, but a local grocery store analyst said there was too much competition.  In Long Branch, after 85 years pizza joint Tony’s Tomato Pies shutdown.  The owner said they never recovered after Hurricane Sandy: “Basically, times have changed after 85 years….after Sandy a lot of businesses got hit hard.”-Gina Chiafullo

New York: What housing market recovery? NYC based start up company Quirky gave up on its ‘smart’ home products company Wink and put it up for sale.  After clothier J.Crew laid off 175 people, there are news reports that the arrogant executive that issued the layoff notices then went out and bragged about it, calling it the Hunger Games!  Supposedly he has been fired.  NYC based Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on the verge of being sold-off.  The new owner will be Sequential Brands, which will make money by licensing the use of the name Martha Stewart to other companies, meaning there’s no need for the original Martha Stewart employees.  NYC based NBCUniversal eliminated as many as 30 jobs with their E and Esquire networks.  Hartwick College eliminated more than 20 jobs, without warning.  Administrators also suddenly changed their 2015-16 school year budget.  Apparently those who were laid off are forbidden to talk about it: “This culture will exacerbate the uncertainty and negative feelings following the layoff. They will feel that leadership does not care….”-Theodore Peters, professor

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after 20 years the Cat Banjo boutique shutting down, the owner is focusing on her animal rights foundation.  Sears Holdings shutting down their Greenville Kmart in September, 75 jobs lost.  In Washington, after 24 years The Moss House bed & breakfast shutdown.  It has been sold to a buyer that will make it their private residence.  In Elkin, Heaven’s Scent Restaurant shutting down, the owners would only say that “…our journey is coming to an end…”.  They will continue catering, but only until the end of the year.

Ohio: After 17 years Medina Steak & Seafood shutdown.  The owner blames competition.

Pennsylvania: Stonebridge Bank now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and for sale.  Lancaster based chocolate maker Hershey Company (Hershey’s) announced it will eliminate at least 3-hundred jobs by the end of 2015!  Administrators would not give details, but implied they don’t see any economic recovery taking place: “Removing cost and complexity from our business will make us more flexible to quickly react to changing consumer and competitive marketplace trends.”-John Bilbrey, CEO

Tennessee: Shelby County Schools laid off 5-hundred people!  490 teachers and 30 administrators: “We are a district with declining enrollment and budget issues. Every year we’re having to make tough decisions, and we try to keep as many of those decisions away from the classroom as possible.”-Sheila Redick

Texas: In Austin, Freddie’s Place restaurant being shutdown, the property was sold to another restaurant.  The franchise owner of the Palestine Sears Hometown quit and shut it down, saying he can make more money as an assistant manager at a nearby Dollar General!

Virginia: Thrive Healthcare shutdown blaming debts.  In Chester, after 27 years the Weekend Brewer shutdown, the owners retired.

Wisconsin: Milwaukee County warns that it must contract out its Mental Health Complex blaming ObamaCare for causing “Uncontrollable expenses significantly influence the cost of doing business as a county…”.  585 jobs could be lost!  Assurant announced that 1-thousand 2-hundred people in Milwaukee will become unemployed!  The layoffs start in August and will continue into 2016. It’s the result of Assurant’s earlier announcement that it is getting out of the health insurance business, and as I wrote in an earlier post administrators directly blame ObamaCare.  Racine Unified School District halting public use of their classroom decorations and resources facility, in order to save taxpayer money.

17 – 18 June 2015: “I…couldn’t take it anymore.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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.”

Opinion

Proof Human societies on Earth are the creators of Hell

“What is Hell?”

“A place without peace that never gets better.”-Thai Buddism, Hell Temple proverb

For most Earthlings, their respective societies on Earth are the “place without peace that never gets better”.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 17 – 18 June 2015: “I…couldn’t take it anymore.” Christie kills at least 300 teaching jobs! More proof of coming housing market crash! Massive layoffs despite massive tax breaks!

What housing market recovery? “The supply of existing homes for sale is incredibly short, and while builders are starting to construct more homes than they did a year ago, they are still producing well below normal volumes….. 

…..More than 60 percent of builders surveyed in May reported that the overall supply of developed lots…..was low to very low, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). That is the highest percentage since the builders began asking the question back in 1997.”-NBR, Why aren’t more homes being built?

Four Too Big to Jail mortgage stealers are having their home loan ops restricted by the  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.  This because JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Santander, HSBC, US Bank and EverBank failed to comply with a 2011 consent order in which they promised they would stop their fraudulent robo-home foreclosure practices.

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ multi-state non-profit Mercy Health System to eliminate at least 350 jobs!  The layoffs will take place in the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas: “Mercy faces increasing challenges to our reimbursement structure as we adjust to reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act and other budget cuts, as well as the lack of Medicaid expansion in most of our states.”-official statement

Alaska: What automotive & construction industry recovery?  Johnson’s Tire Service now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s blamed on a lawsuit filed by a construction contractor.

California:  In San Francisco, Starbucks announced it is shutting down its recently acquired La Boulange bakery operations, which includes 23 stores!   Starbucks also announced it will shutdown its San Francisco Evolution Fresh juice store.

Connecticut: ObamaCare forcing Yale-New Haven Health System to shutdown their East Haven and Branford clinics, through taxpayer funding cuts. 31 jobs lost.  ObamaCare forcing Hartford HealthCare to eliminate 355 full-time jobs, along with part-time jobs, at two of its hospitals; Backus and Windham.  Hartford laid off 350 healthcare workers in 2014: “Despite our best efforts to reduce costs and increase revenues this year, Hartford HealthCare faces additional Medicaid cuts, bringing our total Medicaid payment reductions from the State of Connecticut to more than $100-million over five years. The magnitude of these cuts makes our model unsustainable going forward.”-Jeffrey Flaks

Florida: After 40 years, Wet n Wild Orlando amusement park shutting down by the end of 2016.  It’s being replaced with a ‘volcano park’.

Idaho: The Boise Co-Op grocery store shutdown after 30 people tested positive for salmonella after eating food from the store’s delicatessen.  Cash strapped School District 93 taxpayers voted down the latest school bond, again!  The bond issue was put to voters a second time after it was voted down the first time.  On top of that district administrators called for a recount this time, the recount actually resulted in more votes against the bond issue!   You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!

Illinois:  For the first time since 1970, Oak Brook based McDonald’s will shutdown more U.S. restaurants than it plans to open.  Fast food administrators refused to go into details.  What housing market recovery?  Riverwoods based credit card company Discover announced it is getting out of the home loan business, 460 jobs lost!  Their mortgage business is being transfered to AmeriSave Mortgage in August.  In Jacksonville, after 40 years the maker of trusses for building construction, ALCO White, shutting down in July.  What automotive industry recovery?  Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar laid off another 120 people, this time at their East Peoria factory! It’s blamed on the crashing mining industry.

Indiana: Proof the economy is only getting worse; Lafayette Transitional Housing Center shutting down their meal service.  Operators say they are “overcrowded” and have decided to focus their service only on providing a place to live for people who’re homeless.  Operators say they are working to find a charity who can take over their meal service.  Over the past few years Lafayette Transitional Housing Center has become the largest food provider in a 16-county region!

Iowa: In Valley Junction, after 32 years Elinor’s Wood’n Wares shutdown.  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from shutting down ‘his’ Quakerdale residential treatment programs.  Administrators say since ObamaCare went into effect referrals have crashed and state funding has dried up.  In Cedar Rapids, Smuggler’s Warf Big Bam Boo Bar shutdown.  The owner blames crashing business for causing him to lose his booze license and for preventing him from paying rent, plus health problems: “I am 60 years old, got some health issues, and couldn’t take it anymore.”-Al Zindrick

Kansas: In Topeka, after more than 40 years the owners of Grover’s Smokehouse announced they must shutdown in July, due to the landlord kicking them out.  It sounds like the property has been sold to some evil property developers.

Maine:  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from pushing ‘his’ Parkview Adventist Medical Center into chapter 11 bankruptcy.  They plan to merge with Mid Coast Health Services, 180 jobs affected!

Maryland:  After more than 40 years The Gazette newspaper shutdown.  US Foods shutting down its Anne Arundel County distribution warehouse, 350 jobs lost!  Because of the bad economy US Foods is consolidating ops “serving the Washington DC metropolitan area”.

Massachusetts: In New Bedford, the Horatio A. Kempton Elementary School being shutdown.  Administrators are hoping that by shutting down a school they won’t have to eliminate jobs.  In Springfield, non-profit New England Farm Workers Council laid off 40 people due to loss of state taxpayer funding.

Minnesota: Retailer Target eliminated an additional 190 jobs at their Minneapolis HQ!  It’s all part of their bigger plan to eliminate thousands of U.S. jobs this year.

New Hampshire: Tri-County Community Action Program shutting down five of its eight walk-in offices.  The program helps people pay for home heating.

New Jersey: British empire based United Kingdom drugs maker GlaxoSmithKline issued a WARN saying 350 people at its Parsippany operations will be laid off!  The Paterson School District eliminating 3-hundred teachers in an effort to eliminate $20-million in costs!  The teacher’s union blames gov’na Chris Christie: “I don’t see anybody overwhelming the governor’s veto.  I don’t know why they’re afraid of him?”-Peter Tirri, Paterson Teacher’s Union

New York:  In NYC, the publisher of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men’s Journal, Wenner Media, laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Also, reports from union reps say the Wall Street Journal laid off less than 30 people.   In Canandaigua, news reports say Wade’s Market Center will shutdown, 133 grocery jobs lost! The property was sold-off without warning. Local residents say they will now have to drive 20 miles to shop for food.  Earthlink issued a shutdown WARN for their Amherst call center, 65 jobs lost by the end of the year.

Ohio: Rumors have been confirmed, Haverhill Chemicals in Franklin Furnace shutting down within 60 days, 175 jobs lost!  Company administrators claim that despite three years and millions of dollars spent to improve the factory it is still not economically sustainable.  In Coshocton, the Cheez-Kake Bake Shop shutdown.  The owner is selling his assets and moving to Florida.

Oregon: More revelations about California based computer chip maker Intel, and the massive job destruction about to hit The Beaver State; the county of Washington gave Intel a record setting $2-billion in tax breaks!  But wait there’s more!  None of those  tax breaks were connected to creating jobs!  All that was required was that Intel keep the vague promise of maintaining economic security.  News reports say there are 18-thousand Intel workers in Washington County, and Intel plans on cutting $300-million in operating costs, which will include cutting jobs.  Analysts are reporting that Intel is already pushing employees to voluntarily quit.  After 43 years the Grande Ronde Child Center shutting down.  It’s blamed on the loss of a contract with Greater Oregon Behavioral Health.  State mental health administrators blame ObamaCare: “The services currently being offered by GRCC are not in line with the direction health care reform is going.”-Henry O’Keefe,  Greater Oregon Behavioral Health

Pennsylvania: In Lower Township, the Mount Hill Tavern shutdown and up for sale.  The owners implied it was too much work for what they got in return.  Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts laid off 18 people.

Rhode Island: Cash strapped Coventry taxpayers have spoken, and voted not to increase taxes to prevent the collapse of the financially broke Coventry Fire District.   You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!

Texas:  School bus contractor Gold Star will shutdown in Manor, eliminating 69 jobs.  The Manor Independent School District realized it’s actually cheaper to run their own school bus system.   Gary Shelton, the owner of the Sack & Save grocery store on Interstate 35E, says “We stuck it out as long as we could, but there’s not a light at the end of the tunnel anymore.” Sack & Save will shutdown on 27 June, due to the landlord owner selling property to the University of North Texas for $6.25-million (almost three times the appraised value!).

Vermont: Cash strapped Concord taxpayers voted to shutdown their  high school.   High school students will now travel to other districts.   You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!

Virginia: Tax-sucker Northrop Grumman laid off 51 state employees.  The military contractor was hired to take over the multi-billion-dollar Virginia Information Technologies Agency.  Not all state employees elected to transfer to Northrop Grumman.  Florida based Home Shopping Network shutting down their Roanoke County operations and moving it to Tennessee.  The county will lose 350 jobs by April 2016!

Washington: In Seattle, after 39 years restaurant Charlie’s shutting down by this weekend.  The owners have been trying to sell it since 2010.  What was that about ObamaCare increasing access to healthcare?  In Castle Rock, Peace Health shutting down their clinic by the end of September.  1-thousand 6-hundred primary and pediatric care patients affected!  Customers are being told they will have to travel to Longview for services.

Washington DC: The U.S. Army/Defense Manpower Data Center revealed that in the past 12 months 26,425 Regular Army personnel have been laid off, and another 2-thousand jobs will be eliminated by September!

West Virginia: What housing market recovery?  The new owners of the 120 years old (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Duncan Box & Lumber gave up and are shutting it down.

Wisconsin: Kodiak Jack’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant bankrupt busted and being evicted!

15 – 16 June 2015: “insurmountable financial challenges”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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.”