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U.S. Housing & Construction Industry Implosion: Last six months of 2014, “Everybody wants a better outcome, everybody but the landlords.”

January 11, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of residential and commercial construction industry job destruction that took place, or were announced, from July to December 2014:

The U.S. Commerce Department reports a 9.3% drop in new U.S. home construction in the month of June. When broken down by region, the southern states led the country with a 29.6% drop! This is significant because the southern region makes up 40% of U.S. home construction!

Midwest: 28.1% drop

Northeast: 14.1% drop

West: 2.6% drop

RealtyTrac’s top ten list says the Kansas City area (in both Missouri and Kansas) has 305 abandoned homes!

Alabama: Maker of textiles for housing and industrial applications Johnston Textiles warned that its Phenix City factory could shutdown, 140 jobs could be lost! Company administrators are hoping somebody will buy the factory. In Birmingham, L&N Parkside canceled their plans to build 129 apartments and 12-thousand square feet of retail space. The project was dependent on a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD refused to issue the loan! RealtyTrac’s top ten list says Birmingham-Hoover ties second place (percentage wise) with abandoned homes, 37%! In numbers that’s 428 abandoned homes!

Arizona: Local news reports said the Grand Canyon State lost 45-hundred construction jobs in June! British empire Australia based real estate company Colliers International says land sales in Phoenix have crashed 40% in the first half of 2014! Maville Interiors now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, 200 jobs could be lost! The company was one of the largest house painting contractors in the Grand Canyon State. Because of the housing market implosion the company has not been able to pay suppliers or federal taxes.

California: Prometheus Real Estate Group warned it will layoff dozens of real estate agents across several cities by the end of December. Discover Home Loans laid off at least four employees in November. In Los Alamitos, Aramark Management Services eliminated 51 property-facility management jobs in November. In Sunnyvale, Idaho based SummerWinds Nursery shutdown, but only because the greedy Californian property owner sold the land to a hotel developer (for $5-million)! The cities of Modesto, San Bernardino and Stockton have made WalletHub’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities top five list of cities least likely to recover! Diesel, A Bookstore shutdown its Malibu Country Mart store. Company officials blame slow sales and “steep rent” saying “We’ve talked…about reducing rent….but at the end of the day, you’re tied into the lease…” In San Francisco, for the third time Home Depot killed off its planned Bayview store. This time Home Depot officials blame it on skyrocketing costs of construction (they should know).

Colorado: Michigan based Lamar Construction stopped three apartment building projects in the Centennial State, 180 jobs lost! On top of that, four other apartment projects are threatened. In Denver, Little Me’s children clothing store shutdown. The angry owner blamed never ending construction: “I knew I would face many challenges in this venture, but in the twenty years that I have been shopping in Cherry Creek North, lack of foot traffic was not one that I had anticipated. It appears the construction is only going to move closer to our area and we simply cannot make it through another season like the last.”– Jennifer Riches

West Metro Fire Rescue recommended job killing and a 3% pay cut due to voters rejecting a levy that would have increased local tax funding. Fire administrators blame their lack of funding on crashing home values. The ignorant firefighters don’t seem to realize that you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip, in other words the taxpayers are maxed out due to their own crashing revenues and even unemployment! “It’s the economy, stupid!”-attributed to Bill Clinton

Connecticut: In Stamford, after 24 years Littlejohn’s children clothing store shutdown. The co-owner blamed a lot of factors that have crashed their sales since 2008, but she said the final straw was when the greedy landlord jacked up the rent: “…an unattainable rent increase. It was honestly too much of an increase. It would be very difficult, really, or impossible to continue.”-Anda Weyher

Florida: In Brickell, after eight years Finnegan’s River bar being shutdown by greedy property developers. The owners of the bar sold out to a New York company for $15-million. In Coral Springs, condo builder Lauren Enterprises now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. In Fort Lauderdale, It’s been revealed that a 14 year veteran of the ‘American’ football team known as Miami Dolphins, is losing his home to a Too Big to Jail bank foreclosure. That bank is known as the Bank of New York. Bank officials say the football veteran stopped paying his mortgage last year. Records show he had trouble paying his mortgage back in 2009 as well. RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter, the Palm Bay area had 2,041 abandoned homes! RealtyTrac reports that southern Florida leads the country in foreclosures; 5,853 foreclosure filings in July! Glades Brewery Partners and Palm Beach Brewery Associates now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. They own a restaurant chain called Brewzii, and recently a judge actually shutdown one of the restaurants for failure to pay rent. After 44 years Miami’s Best Pizza shutdown. The property owner pulled the rug out from under the restaurant owner’s feet, by renting the building to somebody willing to pay far more in rent. Andreas Schreiner of Pubbelly Restaurant Group said their Miami Beach PB Steak restaurant shutdown because “…the rising costs of real estate would not have allowed us to continue to operate PB Steak without raising our prices, which would go against our commitment to our customers, to be a local, everyday eating establishment.” All across southern Florida the federal government seized 21 houses, accusing the Massachusetts (Boston Strong, actually based in Marlborough) based owner, TelexFREE, of scamming immigrants from Brazil and Dominican Republic to the tune of $1-billion USD! By the way, Too Big to Jail Boston Strong (Fitchburg) Fidelity Bank agreed to pay a $3.5-million fine for their role in the TelexFREE scam. After 101 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Tobacco Road Bar shutdown by the greedy property owner, who refuses to renew the lease. In University Park, Shapes Total Fitness discriminatory women’s only fitness club shutdown, it’s blamed on the property owners for jacking up the rent.

Georgia: The city of Sandy Springs imposed a 60 day ban on the construction of new apartments. After 16 years the Augusta Ice Sports Center announced it’s being forced to shutdown in August. It’s blamed on the greedy property owner who has gotten a $2-million offer for the property.

Hawaii: The Kahala Shell Auto Care shop shutdown, 35 jobs lost. The new owners will operate it as a fueling station only, blaming new land lease rules. In Waikiki, Too Big to Jail Capital One shutdown their 360 Cafe in August. The property is owned by California based American Commercial Equities and it might have been sold off. In Kakaako, after only eight months the interior design eStyle Hawaii store shutdown because the greedy landowner kicked them out! The property is being redeveloped. In Honolulu, the operators of a 59 years old Foodland grocery store shutdown in December. Real estate analysts say local Hawaiian business are being killed by ‘big box’ stores and property speculators from mainland U.S.A., and Foodland customers agree: “…it’s all the construction and they’re bringing in all the mainland retailers, so it’s kind of sad…”-Eulie Villegas, loyal Foodland shopper

Idaho: Administrators with “the nation’s largest supplier of building materials for home building” ProBuild announced they’re shutting down their Sandpoint ops due to crashing sales. In November the Associated Press revealed that furniture maker Kimball International will shutdown and sell off its Post Falls metal fab shop, 250 jobs lost! Due to the bad economy the company is consolidating ops to Indiana. Despite the November revelation by Associated Press, company administrators waited until December to file a mandatory WARN with state employment administrators. RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter the Boise-Nampa area had 765 properties in foreclosure, and 237 homes abandoned! In Naples, it was revealed that Washington based Alta Forest Products (whose main product is fencing for homes) laid off at least 25 employees and hours for other mill employees were reduced. Salesman Jeff Cook kinda blamed the housing market saying “We’ve lost a lot of sawmills and building products companies since 2007.” However, it’s probably due to the May 2014 merger of TMI Forest Products and Welco Lumber, which created Alta Forest Products. What’s (not) funny is company officials promised that job security was the goal of the merger: “This agreement will help secure employment to the local communities and strengthen the regional economy built on the growing lumber industry.”-company statement

Illinois: RJB Properties rendered 41 employees unemployed. Lawn and garden products maker County Stone Holdings now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Company administrators blame crashing sales to homeowners, resulting in at least 74 employees becoming unemployed. Mattress maker Sealy announced it will shutdown its Batavia factory in 2015, at least 174 jobs lost! It’s the result of Tempur-Pedic taking over Sealy.

Indiana: In Evansville, Springleaf Finance announced they are shutting down their mortgage operation, 170 jobs lost!

Iowa: In Des Moines, after 92 years (surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) Owen Crist Auto Body Service shutdown. The family owners were bought out by property developers.

Kansas: RealtyTrac says Wichita leads the U.S. (percentage wise) with abandoned homes, 49%! In numbers that’s 146 homes! In Kansas City, after 50 years Quick’s Bar-B-Q shutdown. The owner says road construction is killing off mom-n-pops: “…I want to get out on my terms and while things are good. It is hard and these little mom-and-pop folks, you see them dropping.”-Ron Quick

After 91 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Jilka Furniture announced it will shutdown in December: “With the many changes taking place in the furniture industry, we felt it was a wise decision to close our store.”-Bud and Loretta Jilka

Kentucky: O’Brien & Gere engineering laid off 27 employees as it shutdown its Louisville office, blaming a decline in taxpayer funded government construction projects.

Maine: After 61 years window maker Waterville Window now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating. The company began laying off employees in December 2013. Old Town Fuel & Fiber shutdown without notice: “Effective immediately all Old Town mill operations will be indefinitely suspended. All employees not needed for securing the facility will be furloughed.”-Patriarch Partners statement

180 employees affected: “We don’t need you to come in tomorrow. Go sign up for unemployment!”-unnamed employee relating to local news media what they were told

Local news reports say the new owners of the mill shut it down to address environmental problems caused by the dilapidated former Georgia Pacific mill and “We shut down to make repairs to our biomass boilers and ended up finding more work than we expected.”, said HR director Dan Bird. Bird also blamed competition from mills using low grade eucalyptus trees.

The mill also owes $1-million in local taxes!

Maryland: In Rockville, RoundPoint Mortgage killed off 68 mortgage jobs. In Silver Springs, after 64 years Dale Music Company shutdown. The co-owner blamed the bad economy and greedy property developers: “We have done what we can. It would be too expensive to move, and with Silver Spring redevelopment happening now, we decided it was best to close our doors.”-Carol Warden

Massachusetts: The Andover Bookstore threatened to shutdown, the owner says they can no longer afford to pay the rent. In New Bedford, after 82 years (and surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Converse Photo Supply shutdown. Don’t blame technology, the owners had gotten into the business of recovering pics off memory cards that were thought to have been erased. The owners said they sold the building after they were approached by a property speculator. RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter Worcester had 394 abandoned homes! After just eight months The Rug Department store shutdown one of its two stores. The bankrupt owners are selling it off. After 56 years Hyannis based Mill Stores chain furniture store shutdown at least nine of its brick-n-mortar outlets across several states.

Michigan: British empire Australia based real estate company Colliers International shutdown their Detroit office. Company officials blame it on the loss of their brokers. WalletHub’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities ranks the Failed State of Detroit as being the least likely of all failed U.S. cities to recover! After 125 years the building housing the iconic and elitist Detroit Club went up for auction only seven months after the new owner spent more than a million dollars buying and renovating the building. The starting bid was less than a million! The Failed State Detroit Land Bank dumping homes in the Boston-Edison area. Those homes have been labeled “disasters” by local news media. In East Lansing, after 50 years Goodrich’s Shop Rite shutdown. The owners said their lease expired and the property owners wanted mo money. Washtenaw County reports that by July of this year they’ve held 259 tax foreclosure sales. In Hudsonville, after 76 years Lamar Construction Company shutdown without notice, 280 jobs lost! Local news reports said company officials made “vague references” to the bad economy.

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, after nine years Social House restaurant shutdown, the operators blame the property owner for kicking them out, saying “We had absolutely no control over this situation…” Minneapolis based retailer Target eliminated 120 real estate manager jobs (80 occupied, 40 vacant) as the company decided to drastically cut back its plans to open new stores. In Duluth, after 12 years the Brownie Furniture store shutdown.

Mississippi: After only two years Margaritaville Casino warned of bankruptcy and that it will shutdown in September, 350 jobs lost! Attorneys for the casino said the property owner refused to allow the building of a hotel, which was part of the original plan: “Everybody wants a better outcome, everybody but the landlords.”-Michael Cavanaugh

Missouri: RealtyTrac says Saint Louis ranks 34% with abandoned homes! HVAC company Nordyne shutting down their Poplar Bluff and Boonville operations by June 2015, at least 700 jobs lost! In numbers, Saint Louis has 847 abandoned homes! In Saint Louis, Concrete Coring went chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Attorneys for the company blame the bad economy saying the company “…has been unable so far to work out from under its debt generated following the faltering economy in late 2008 and into 2009 and beyond.” Builder of hospitals, HBE Company, has ceased building new hospitals due to Obama Care! Former employees blamed it on the Obama Care funding crash, saying loses accelerated into Death Spiral mode in 2013. Here’s what HBE President and CEO Fred Kummer said: “The reason for the decision to stop seeking future work is a result of the very real changes that the current administration in Washington has brought about in healthcare.”

In Universal City, after 33 years the Good Works Furniture Store shutdown, the owners blaming the city’s $43-million trolley public transportation plan for blocking access to the store: “It will make the traffic pattern in the Loop that much more difficult. In the end, we will end up with a Trolley that’s going to increase the tourism traffic.”-Rita Navarro

Montana: In Columbia Falls, F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber laid off ten sawmill employees. It’s blamed on a federal court ruling that says no logging can be done in ‘protected’ grizzly bear habitat.

Nevada: RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter the Las Vegas area had 1670 abandoned homes! In Las Vegas, inside sources revealed that Downtown Project killed 30 corporate jobs. The Project is a joint venture between public and private sectors, in an attempt to revitalize East Fremont Street. It sounds more like an excuse to sell off properties cheap. Project administrators refuse comment on the reported layoffs.

New Jersey: Newark has made WalletHub’s Most & Least Recession-Recovered Cities top five list of cities least likely to recover! In Hamilton, Congoleum shutdown their vinyl flooring plant, 65 jobs lost in September. Company officials blame it on the bad economy and lawsuits over its products. Membership store Costco (formerly known as Price Club) announced they’re shutting down their Hackensack store sometime in 2015. But it’s only because they’re building a new store three miles away in Teterboro. Company administrators told local news media they haven’t decided what to do with the Hackensack property, yet. The move might result in huge property tax losses for Hackensack. In Raritan, after 11 years women’s clothing store Chaos shutdown. The owner, Karen Brooks, said “With rent, utilities and other operating costs, it’s hard to see the value in trying to keep up.”

New Mexico: The Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors says July 2014 homes sale crashed 12.35% from July 2013! However, the average sale price went up by 3.7%. The U.S. Census Bureau says homeownership is crashing in the Land of Enchantment. For the 2nd quarter of 2014 it fell to 63.9%, compare that to 1st quarter 2011 when it was 72.8%. Crashing homeownership rates correspond to skyrocketing unemployment in New Mexico.

New York: In NYC, after 60 years iconic Smith’s Bar & Restaurant shutdown due to the rent being jacked up, employees were given a one week notice. In Albany, Capital Region Multiple Listing Service showed home sales dropped 5% from June 2013 to June 2014. Median home prices fell 6%. After 77 years the Subway Inn announced it will shutdown in August. It’s being done in by a greedy property developer, the son of the bar owner said “It is upsetting but times have changed.” RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter, Syracuse ranked with 33% abandoned homes! In Greenwich Village the Pink Elephant bar went chapter 7 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on the greedy property owner. In Latham, amusement park Hoffman’s Playland shutdown. It turns out the owners can make more money re-developing the property as something else! In Brooklyn, pre-fab building maker FC + Skanska Modular shutdown in October due to a lost contract, 157 jobs lost! In Buffalo, the Pizza Plant restaurant shutdown because of the greedy landlord: “We couldn’t come to terms with the landlord on a lease.”-Bob Syracuse, owner

North Carolina: In Greensboro, after 18 years Mahi’s Seafood Restaurant shutdown. The owner said he wanted to move to a cheaper location, but the economy is so bad he couldn’t pay for the move. Internet based RoundPoint Mortgage laid off 166 employees in September! In Havelock, an 18 years old Food Lion grocery store shutdown in October. Company officials said the high rent killed it off. After 29 years Forbes Custom Cabinets of Apex went chapter 7 bankrupt busted, which usually means they’re ‘dead’. Iconic furniture maker La-Z-Boy announced they will shutdown their High Point office by the end of 2016, at least 38 jobs lost.

Ohio: RealtyTrac reports that Ohio’s foreclosure rate jumped 23% from July 2013 to July 2014. Assurant (which is mainly a health insurance company) laid off 75 Specialty Property jobs in Springfield. The Assurant Special Property unit deals with mortgages, and apparently the job losses are the result of Assurant losing a big client. In Dayton, the Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons are both up for sale. They are the biggest malls in the city. Also in Dayton, after 27 years Patio & Hearth shutdown. In Cleveland, California based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutdown a commercial real estate office. In the Toledo area, RealtyTrac reports that foreclosure rates jumped 100% from June 2013 to June 2014! But wait there’s more. From May 2013 to May 2014 the foreclosure rate in the Toledo area jumped 149%! Local news media showed many rental properties with “free rent” signs in the windows! Landlords said the problem is that potential renters claim they can’t afford the rent. On top of that, if they try and sell the property many buyers are being denied loans by the Too Big to Jail banks! One property owner says this problem goes way back before the 2008 market crash: “Between 1999 and 2001 I thought this town was going to move, that something was going to happen. It didn’t happen…..This was a huge investment ….”-Dino Sarris, Macid Corporation

Montgomery County reports that property values have crashed by more than $1-billion, affecting “…more than 70% of residential home owners…”! Karl Keith, Montgomery County auditor, puts it succinctly: “Property values are at their lowest level in more than a decade. Clearly, the recession has been a kick in the gut!”

Oregon: What housing market recovery? RealtyTrac says the Portland area ties second place (percentage wise) with abandoned homes, 37%! In numbers, the Portland area has 804 abandoned homes!

Pennsylvania: After 69 years Shehadi Appliance shutdown. The owners are pissed because their prices were in line with ‘big box’ stores, but it didn’t matter: “You can see the surprise in people when they say ‘Wow, you are the same price as Lowe’s.’ Then they walk out the door and go to Lowe’s!”-Richard Roman, co-owner

Shopping center owner Pennsylvania REIT laid off about 10 employees. The commercial property owner said they are responding to “changing consumer dynamics”. In Peckville, after 50 years PJ’s Home Center shutdown, the owner demanded to know where the economic recovery was! In Lawrenceville, Paragon Foods canceled their plans to build a distribution center. The female president of the company said “It was unaffordable for us…” In Harrisburg, Zia’s at Red Door shutdown. The owner blames jacked up rent and the fact that the idiot A-hole city officials jacked up the cost of parking at the restaurant: “Parking definitely has a lot to do with it. We lost a lot of customers. A lot of customers won’t come down because of it.”-Rocco Rama

Tennessee: In Memphis, the Memphis Area Association of Realtors report that home sales have dropped 24.7% from August 2013 to August 2014, but it could be because prices have gone up 11%.

Texas: Austin based construction contractor and designer Biscayne Group went chapter 7 bankrupt busted. Biscayne Group is a major operation that has worked on big projects across the country. Chapter 7 usually means the company will cease to exist. Also in Austin, the Villa de Soliel mansion was auctioned off in August, reportedly with no set minimum starting bid! The Pour House Pub shutdown. The property is being demolished for a big retail development. In Dallas (Oak Lawn), after 22 years Good Eats shutdown. The owners blame the greedy property owner saying “our landlord has refused to renew our lease”. Also in Dallas, Riverstone Residential Group killed off 101 jobs! It’s blamed on the loss of an apartment management contract. And maker of roofing materials GAF (General Aniline & Film) Materials laid off 40 people in December. In Houston, J Sussan Interiors shutdown. Local news reports said the owner retired, however, it turns out the entire area is being drastically affected by a huge apartment “tower” building project that’s resulting in many businesses and existing apartments being shutdown! BidClerk reports 2nd quarter 2014 construction funding crashed by $12.2-billion compared to 1st quarter 2014! In Temple, maker of laminate products for homes or business, Wilsonart, laid off at least 57 people: “Today, Wilsonart International announced that it will eliminate certain positions throughout its North America operations as part of a strategic restructuring.”

That “restructuring” includes off-shoring U.S. jobs to other countries. U.S. employees said they got no warning of layoffs: “On my way leaving, they stopped me, and told me that we needed to have a meeting, and they terminated me when we had the meeting.”-unnamed employee interviewed by local TV news

Vermont: The city of Brandon is dealing with crashing tax revenues and as such is warning of slashed funding for public services and the possibility of layoffs. The town treasurer says the crashing tax revenues are the result of unpaid property taxes. A fire killed 170 jobs at the Rutland Plywood Corporation. Firefighters thought they had put out the fire, but then later the warehouse re-ignited. Firefighters are blaming the fire on mechanical failures.

Virginia: In Reston, the largest electrical contractor in the region, Truland Group, now chapter 7 bankrupt busted after ending operations without notice and failing to pay employees (filing for bankruptcy will mean those employees are shit-outa-luck for getting their paychecks). Local news reports said the sudden demise of the company shocked the “commercial real estate industry”. More than 1-thousand jobs lost!

Washington: In Vancouver, after 105 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Luepke Florist announced they will shutdown after Xmas due to the new landlord jacking up the rent. The asphalt division of Spokane Rock Products laid off 45 people in Washington and Idaho, due to being taken over by a competitor. In Shelton, it was revealed that Alta Forest Products laid off employees and reduced working hours (see Idaho for reason). In Seattle, 15 businesses forced to shutdown because of construction of the Elliott Bay Seawall. However, city officials are paying the business owners compensation to ensure they can come back once the construction is done. Also in Seattle, after 20 years the owner of Hurricane Cafe announced he is forced to shutdown. The restaurant owner blames the greedy property owner: “It’s not the way we wanted to go out for sure, losing a lease and getting torn down!”-Neil Scott

Wisconsin: Concrete maker Ojibwa Ready Mix went chapter 7 bankrupt busted, and is being liquidated! The Fox Valley reports a 14% drop in new home starts during the first six months of this year, compared to last year. After getting a $6-million tax break from the state, Ashley Furniture announced they are expanding and killing jobs at the same time! A local news report says the tax deal could end up killing half of Ashley Furniture’s jobs, potentially 1,919 employees!

“Next week marks 6 years since our economy suffered its worst setback since the Great Depression. Yet despite these shocks; through the pain we have felt and the grueling work required to bounce back – America is better positioned today to seize the future than any other nation on Earth. Our technology companies and universities are unmatched; our manufacturing and auto industries are thriving. Energy independence is closer than it’s been in decades. For all the work that remains, our businesses are in the longest uninterrupted stretch of job creation in our history. Despite all the divisions and discord within our democracy, I see the grit and determination and common goodness of the American people every single day – and that makes me more confident than ever about our country’s future.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2014

1st six months 2014

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 06 November 2014: Another 2-thousand+ food jobs lost! France & Germany kill U.S. jobs! Job search service kills 100 jobs!

January 8, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Florida: For profit Full Sail University laid off 50 employees. Puerto Rico based Banco Popular North America issued a WARN saying 108 people will be laid off by the end of December!

Georgia: Atlanta based (NBC, Blackstone and Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital owned) Weather Channel laid off 40 employees. About 40 employees were let go back in October.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, the operators of a 59 years old Foodland grocery store announced they are shutting down in December. Real estate analysts say local Hawaiian business are being killed by ‘big box’ stores and property speculators from mainland U.S.A., and Foodland customers agree: “…it’s all the construction and they’re bringing in all the mainland retailers, so it’s kind of sad…”-Eulie Villegas, loyal Foodland shopper

Idaho: The Associated Press revealed that furniture maker Kimball International will shutdown and sell off its Post Falls metal fab shop, 250 jobs lost! Due to the bad economy the company is consolidating ops to Indiana. As of November the company had failed to issue a mandatory WARN to state employment administrators.

Iowa: After 33 years, Heritage Art Gallery in Cedar Falls shutdown. The owner sold his building. In Ottumwa, after 20 years the West Music store announced it will shutdown in December. News reports blamed the bad economy.

Kansas: In Kansas City, after 50 years Quick’s Bar-B-Q shutdown. The owner says road construction is killing off mom-n-pops: “…I want to get out on my terms and while things are good. It is hard and these little mom-and-pop folks, you see them dropping.”-Ron Quick

Massachusetts: More proof the internet isn’t killing off brick-n-mortars. TV through the internet service provider Aereo shutdown their Boston office, 43 jobs lost. It’s blamed on lack of funding and a federal court order preventing the company from streaming specific TV shows. In Lowell, Cobham Electrical warned they will shutdown by November 2015, at least 300 jobs lost! Due to the bad economy the company is consolidating operations.

Michigan: Iconic employment service company Kelly Services announced 100 people in Troy will be rendered jobless, and 50 job search offices will be shutdown by the end of 2015! The Fork in the Road restaurant shutdown, the owners admitting they didn’t realize how expensive it was to keep 100% of their business local. Despite having lots of customers, buying food and supplies locally was killing them financially: “There’s a lot of compromises that we could have made but we’re just not willing to do that. That’s not why we started. We need to have a business plan to keep staying true to those principles. To compromise those principles, that would be failing.”-Jesse Hahn, who added that he was faced with two choices; shutdown or cut employee wages, raise prices and buy from outside sources

Minnesota: Northland Community and Technical College eliminated eight jobs and cut two programs, blaming a $1-million shortfall on everything including what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome).

Missouri: The largest pharmacy benefits manager in the United States, Saint Louis based Express Scripts, announced they will kill off 400 jobs on top of the 19-hundred jobs already killed off this year!

New York: In Rochester, once iconic Eastman Kodak continues to kill jobs, issuing a WARN saying at least 19 people will be let go in January 2015.

North Carolina: Salisbury based the Bottom Dollar Food chain store was sold off and all 66 stores are being shutdown, 2-thousand 2-hundred jobs lost across the country by the end of December! Furniture maker La-Z-Boy announced they will shutdown their High Point office by the end of 2016, at least 38 jobs lost. Company administrators blame crashing sales for ‘case goods’, and they don’t expect an upturn anytime soon. In Greensboro, after 31 years Mark Holder Jewelers announced they will shutdown in January 2015. After only six years France based engine maker Turbomeca announced they will shutdown their Monroe factory by the end of 2015, at least 112 jobs lost! Company administrators said sales for helicopter turbines have crashed.

Ohio: New Albany School District beginning massive layoffs and jacking up ‘pay to play’ fees after 56% of local taxpayers rejected yet another levy, indicating that they could no longer afford to float failing public education since their own incomes are crashing.

Oregon: News reports say plans by Nordstrom are on track to shutdown two Portland area department stores by January 2015, at least 300 jobs lost!

Pennsylvania: Lackawanna County warned of layoffs and public transportation cuts due to the fact they owe the state Department of Transportation $6-million USD! DoT administrators say the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) improperly got $6-million in taxpayer subsidies and they must pay it back. Germany based chemical company Lanxess announced it was killing off 1-thousand jobs globally, possibly affecting U.S. employees at its Pittsburgh area operations! Germany based optical glass maker Schott North America warned that 80 people will become jobless at their Duryea factory: “A lot of that glass has gone away. There’s been a decline in camera sales.”-Michael Brown, factory boss

Vermont: In Stowe, after 42 years Samara’s Cards and Gifts shutting down by December.

Washington DC: More proof the internet isn’t killing off brick-n-mortars. Internet based coupon-daily deal website LivingSocial announced they were laying off 400 employees and shutting down its California ops! LivingSocial even sold off its Korean ops to competitor Groupon!

Wisconsin: Beer bottle label supplier Multi-Color Corporation warned state officials it will shutdown its Watertown factory in January 2015, at least 58 jobs lost.

04-November-2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 08 January 2015: Yet another distribution center goes down! Selling fake jewelry?

January 8, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Sears Holdings continues with their distribution center culling. This time a distribution op in Georgia going down, in April, more than 150 jobs lost!

First a lawsuit essentially claiming that Sears-Kmart sold ‘stolen’ clothing, now a woman in Oregon says the diamond ring she bought at the Clackamas Town Center Sears is fake. She says that she’s discovered that a ring she bought in 2010 is not made of gold and the diamond is an industrial stone.

update 07 January 2015: Kmart distribution shutdown

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.

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).

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).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on 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).

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), recently revealed Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost).

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 going’ down in November (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). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. 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).

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 (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), 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, Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

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

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost).

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 obvious the last remaining Saginaw Kmart will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014, 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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), 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).

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).

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). 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.

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).

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).

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).

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.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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

U.S. clothing store Wet Seal killing off 3-thousand 7-hundred jobs! Employees now rebelling?

January 7, 2015 Hutchins AAron

07 January 2015 (14:01 UTC-07 Tango)/16 Rab al’Awwal 1436/17 Dey 1393/17 Yi-Chou 4712

California based Wet Seal said Happy New Year by unleashing their “Store Project” op which will shutdown 338 stores and render about 37-hundred (3,695 according to the press release, that about half its employees) people jobless in 2015!

Store managers have already received specially marked boxes in which store iPods, phones, card scanners and cash machines are to be packed in and shipped off to Wet Seal HQ. Store employees report these ‘Store Project’ packages were received with no mention that their store was being shutdown.

Some employees said corporate administrators told them to expect “remodeling” of their stores, but it turns out they’re being shutdown forever. Other employees who questioned the security of their jobs said they were told there was no need for them to look for a new job, now they’re unemployed!

It was store employees who went public with the massive shutdown and job destruction last week, and it was finally confirmed with company administrators today. Administrators said only 173 Wet Seal stores will remain open.

Laid off employees are not getting any type of severance and will lose their accrued paid vacation and sick leave! There are reports out of Washington state that Wet Seal employees were fired for protesting the ‘Store Project’ operation.

The following incomplete list includes stores that were shutdown in the past week:

California: Clovis Crossing Regional Shopping Center, Packwood Creek West Shopping Center. News reports said there was no comment from the Neither Fashion Fair store.

Florida: DeSoto Square Mall, Sarasota Square Mall, Regency Square Mall, reports said nobody answered the Wet Seal phone at The Avenues Mall.

Minnesota: Rosedale, Southdale, Maplewood Mall, Burnsville Center, Crossroads Center , Miller Hill Mall, Apache Mall.

Missouri: Both West County Mall stores, Saint Louis Galleria, Chesterfield Mall, Mid Rivers Mall, Saint Louis Premium Outlets.

Nebraska: Gateway Mall.

New Jersey: Hamilton Mall, Rockaway Townsquare, Livingston Mall and Garden State Plaza. Reports say nobody was answering the phones at the Menlo Park Mall and Quakerbridge Mall stores.

North Carolina: Four Seasons Town Centre, Northgate Mall.

Ohio: Great Northern Mall, Great Lakes Mall, Richmond Town Square, Belden Village, Beachwood Place, Chapel Hill Mall, SouthPark Mall, Summit Mall, Eastwood Mall and Southern Park Mall. Only one Wet Seal store will remain open in Ohio.

Pennsylvania: South Hills Village, Monroeville Mall, Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, Westmoreland Mall, Waterfront, Ross Park Mall.

Washington: Ballston, Bowie Town Center, Lake Forest Mall, Saint Charles Town Center and Manassas Mall.

Wisconsin: Brookfield Square, Southridge Mall, Valley View Mall, East Town Plaza, Bay Park Square.

Aeropostale closing 250 clothing stores

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 07 January 2015: Kmart center shutdown! Sears admits stock market shenanigans!

January 7, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Sears Holdings announced that a North Carolina Kmart merchandise distribution center will shutdown in April, more than 100 jobs lost!

Sears Holdings has admitted to the SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) that one of its top stockholders used insider info to sell his stocks on 24 December 2014. The illegal deal made the stockholder $425,360 USD! Stock market watchers say that on the day the deed was done the price of Sears Holdings shares varied from $32 to $32.74, the illegal deal was made when the price hit $32.72 per share.

update 06 January 2015: Sears distribution shutdown

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.

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 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).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost).

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).

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).

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

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), recently revealed Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 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).

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

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

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

Sears & Kmart closing update, 06 January 2015: Appliance center shutdowns!

January 6, 2015 Hutchins AAron

According to a WARN Sears is shutting down a Texas home appliance parts distribution center in February 2015. Sears administrators claim the shutdown will actually improve shipments!

One year after a snowstorm collapsed the roof of the last Saginaw, Michigan, Kmart it remains shutdown. Sears Holdings administrators have yet to say anything, their last official statement was that “The Kmart in Saginaw Township (5105 Gratiot Road) will be closed until further notice.”

update 31 December 2014: Selling stolen merchandise?

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.

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost).

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 obvious the last remaining Saginaw Kmart will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014, 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).

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, recently discovered Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many 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).

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

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, recently revealed Dallas Sears parts distribution center (77 jobs lost).

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

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

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)

U.S.

The Dumbing Down of the United States: Last six months of 2014. Into the New Dark Ages as students ‘disappear’ and Obamacare ‘kills’

January 4, 2015 Hutchins AAron

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced education layoffs & school shutdowns from July to December 2014:

Alabama: After 15 years Sci-Quest Hands on Science Center is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Administrators blame location for their $1-million in debts, but claim their new location is “doing really well”.

Alaska: Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) forcing University of Alaska to shutdown the Bill Ray Center and Auke Bay bookstore, as well as kill at least 40 jobs. University officials say they’ve lost $1.4-million USD in funding this school year and are expecting to lose $2-million next school year, despite jacking up the cost to go to school. But wait, there’s more! Maybe it was the only way they could pay out the $320-thousand bonus to the university president!

Arizona: In Glendale, the Thunderbird School of Global Management warned of layoffs as they are forced to merge with Arizona State University, due to the bad economy. At one time the school had 300 employees, but is down to 184. Obama Care forced University of Arizona Health Network to sell itself to Phoenix based Banner Health. Now there are reports this is a portent for things to come in the U.S. medical school sector. The Association of American Medical Colleges warns that Obama Care’s reduced insurance reimbursements is the final straw that will force medical schools to sell themselves to private medical corporations, or greatly reduce their services to the public, either way it means massive healthcare job cuts.

California: Irvine based for profit Corinthian Colleges (CCi). They’ve announced they will begin shutting down, selling off or reducing classes at 97 campuses across the U.S.! It’s part of a deal with the U.S. Department of Education. The college is under investigation by state and federal officials, for ripping off students and violating federal education laws. Everest College, Heald College and Wyotech campuses are part of the shutdown. Bellflower Unified School District laid off all ten bus drivers. The reasons are convoluted, ranging from lack of funding to driver misbehavior. The Calaveras Unified School District announced they must kill an estimated 50 jobs. They blame years of Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) for creating a $2-million shortfall! In Sacramento, Anthem College shutdown, it’s due to Anthem Educations’ bankruptcy which is linked to federal law violations. In Monterey, McGraw Hill Education warned they are laying off 47 employees in December. In Upland, school bus contractor First Student issued a WARN saying they will cease operations by the end of December, 156 jobs lost! In San Diego, Ashford University/Bridgepoint Education issued a WARN saying 160 people will become jobless in January 2015! However, local ABC10News said an inside source reported that 167 people were already let go!

Florida: For profit Full Sail University laid off 50 employees. In Cape Coral, after 50 years Lisa Lynn Dance World shutdown, the owner blames the suck-ass economy for disappearing students: “Because of the economy, the enrollment dropped and the money wasn’t there.”-Rita Rose Meyer

Georgia: In Atlanta, after 50 years snooty upscale private for profit Bauder College announced it is shutting down in 2015! It’s blamed on massive disappearing students. In 2009 the college had 12-hundred students, it’s now less than 420! College officials said by the start of the 2015-16 school year they’ll be down to 75! You see, the U.S. economy is so bad even wealthy people can’t afford to pay for college! Troubled Paine College warning of layoffs. The school is facing accreditation violation charges and DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). The college is short at least $2.4-million, and they blame state and federal governments: “These tough economic times are posing unprecedented challenges for colleges and universities like Paine College that have seen changes in federal aid, which include Parent Plus loans, Pell Grants and some state funding.”-George C. Bradley, president

Illinois: Oakton Community College warned it will layoff 80 teachers before the 2015-16 school year. Apparently the teachers are retired and a potential new state law says retired teachers can no longer be hired by state funded schools. God refused to stop Benedictine University from ending its undergraduate program and killing as many as 100 jobs! In Rockford, the College of Medicine shutdown their psychiatric clinic at the end of September, 2-thousand patients affected! Clinic officials blame never ending funding cuts, thank you Obama Care! In Murphysboro, after 37 years God refuses to stop the shutdown of Murphysboro Christian Academy. Officials with the privately funded school say Christian students are disappearing (raptured?). One year after shutting down 50 schools, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has now put them up for auction! The district is still shutting down schools due to massive DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). It turns out that it still costs taxpayers millions of dollars to maintain school buildings that are not in use. CPS also killed off 476 contracted janitor jobs! The Obama regime mayor, Rahm Emanuel, refused to discuss the issue with local news media and referred them to the CPS, who were conveniently not available to explain the sudden job killing spree. God must hate the Chicago area; seven Christian schools being shuttered and six others being consolidated! At least 200 jobs lost! The schools being shutdown are Saint Agatha Catholic Academy, Saint Peter in Skokie, Saint Hyacinth Basilica, Saint Ladislaus, Saint Turibius, Saint Rene Goupil, and Saint Lawrence O’Toole in Matteson. It’s blamed on massive DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome), since 1965 Christian student enrollment in Cook and Lake counties has crashed by 284-thousand!

Louisiana: God must really hate The Pelican State, three Christian schools shutting down in 2015: Holy Ghost in New Orleans, Our Lady of Grace in Reserve and Saint Agnes in Jefferson! Church administrators blame raptured, I mean what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). Enrollment at each school is now under 200. In Marrero, the Christian God refused to stop the Reverend Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation from shutting down their Faith Christian Academy. But this shutdown is about evil Christian leaders caught stealing money. At the end of 2013 a state investigation revealed Reverend Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation was probably absconding with the money paid by struggling Christian parents: “At this point, I just want my money back. I paid $400 for registration and I’m getting the run around with that. I just want my money back!”-Ramira Williams

Maine: The University of Southern Maine continues to kill off jobs, this time 61 people now unemployed and five programs canceled. They continue to blame a 30% crash in student enrollment! In Bangor, God refuses to stop the Christian Life Academy Daycare from shutting down. The church pastor blames crashing donations: “We have cut everywhere we can cut, we are heartbroken that the daycare has to close too.”-Russ Hewett

Massachusetts: The Boston School Department suddenly killed 126 jobs! The school district is trying to save $9.5-million! For years critics accused the Boston Strong school system of being outta shape and overweight with redundant administrative jobs. Brockton School Committee laid off 47 crossing guard positions. This comes after a local newspaper investigated reports that janitors were being paid as much as $50 per hour in overtime to double as crossing guards! And despite all that overtime pay, an 11th child was hit by a vehicle while crossing a street to go to school! Gateway Schools threatening reduce parent-teacher days or seven teachers will get laid off! School administrators are struggling with how to deal with funding cuts of about $200-million! Westfield State University shutdown its Downtown Art Gallery. Apparently the university was responsible for promoting local arts but now is unable to, the city of Westfield is supposedly taking on the responsibility.

Michigan: Rochester Community Schools warned of layoffs after an unexpected crash in student enrollment. Administrators say the district lost 154 students, more than was expected! They blame it on the area’s major employer Chrysler. Administrators at Spring Arbor University are blaming what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome) on their planned elimination of jobs. As a private Christian college they are not required to reveal just how many Christians will become jobless. The Flint School District laid off 36 non-teaching employees, but then turned around and hired on 10 people to salaried positions, all making more than $67-thousand per year! Thomas M. Cooley Law School warned of major employee and program cuts, due to disappearing students. They reported a 40% drop in enrollment from 2010 to 2013! The Grand Rapids Public Schools announced they must kill 90 jobs due to the fact that 400 students disappeared! In East Lansing the largest teachers union in the state, Michigan Education Association, revealed that half of its members actually made less money in 2013. Incompetent union officials admit they don’t know why. Yet while half of their members made less money, somehow the amount of assets held by the Michigan Education Association actually went up! In Hudsonville, God refuses to stop the shutdown of Freedom Christian Schools (aka Freedom Baptist Schools). The shutdown was a surprise as school officials even extended the contracts of teachers before the announcement. The school’s website has been removed. School officials blame raptured students saying this school year’s enrollment is worse than last year’s. At one point the privately funded school had 375 students, but since 2010 they’ve lost at least 65 students (privately funded schools are more affected by student loss than are taxpayer funded schools). In Dearborn, the U.S. Department of Education has approved the sale of Everett Institute. It’s part of the massive collapse of the Corinthian Colleges. An undisclosed number of bus drivers lost their jobs when Lakeview School District drastically reduced bus service. The Threshold Academy lost its charter, affecting more than 150 students. The elementary school principal blamed economic instability for what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). A young student confronted the principal saying “Why do they want to break people’s hearts?” The school’s motto was “Small School – Big Heart”. Detroit Public Schools are so desperate they’re now in the business of selling used cars! Specifically, the school system auctioned off 18 surplus police cars. I couldn’t find any reports on how the school district got a hold of the former cop cars. The Michigan League for Public Policy reports that overall wages have crashed 10% since 1979. When you break it down by sex and education, low wage earning men saw a whopping 31.2% decline in pay, while adults with no high school diploma saw a 46.3% crash in earnings!

Minnesota: Rochester Public Schools announced that 17 tech employees will become jobless by January 2015. But here’s an odd thing, the school district also said there will be 19 new job openings in the same department! The laid off employees are basically being forced to re-apply for employment, and if they get re-hired it’ll probably be for less pay. That’s the wisdom of our education system. Northland Community and Technical College eliminated eight jobs and cut two programs, blaming a $1-million shortfall on everything including DSS.

Mississippi: After 130 years (surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) God has decided to rapture all the good Christian students (or as I call it, Disappearing Student Syndrome, DSS) and shutdown the Christian Chamberlain-Hunt Academy! The state Department of Education laid off 30 employees without notice, including the boss of the Office of School Improvement. Mississippi DoE spokewoman Patrice Guilfoyle said “This is the first phase, there could potentially be additional phases.”

Missouri: Florida based for profit Anthem Education warned of massive layoffs and the shutdown of its Missouri medical technician campuses if they cannot find new debt financing, or a new owner with lot-o-money! College officials blamed it on a surprise “rapidly deteriorating financial condition”. There was no explanation.

Nevada: In Reno, Morrison University warned it will shutdown after the 2014-15 school year! It’s due to the allegedly criminal actions of the owner, Anthem Education. To make things worse for the students, they were told the university’s transfer credits are no longer recognized! University Medical Center began a second round of Obama Care healthcare layoffs, this time 200 healthcare workers put out on the streets!

New Hampshire: Franklin Pierce University eliminated 12 positions. Earlier this year the university eliminated academic programs. Grade school education assessor Measured Progress actually regressing when it comes to jobs; 40 people laid off. Company administrators blame the bad economy.

New Jersey: After 86 years Garden State based Becker’s School Supplies shutting down six of its seven stores in Pennsylvania and Delaware! Apparently the school supplies company is shifting to internet sales only. Troubled for profit higher education company Anthem Institute shutting down all four locations in the Garden State, 163 jobs lost! Brookdale Community College administrators say crashing enrollment is causing them to be short $8.5-million for the upcoming 2015-16 school year and warned of 210 layoffs: “These are tough times and the organizational structure we have now is not sustainable; the board is aware of this harsh fact. Our current models are no longer effective in serving today’s students, and we must catch up with the advances that have been made in educational technology.”-Maureen Murphy, president

New Mexico: Santa Fe Community College revealed they’re short $5-million! The temporary president of the school blames prior administrations for grossly overestimating revenues and handing out raises when the revenues could not support pay increases. Now the school must cut back.

New York: For profit Utica School of Commerce stopping almost all classes at its Oneonta campus in Spring 2015! At least nine jobs lost due to DSS. Clinton Community College warned of layoffs due to DSS. In Brooklyn, The Guild for Exceptional Children issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their preschool in January 2015, at least 81 jobs lost. In Brewster, Minnesota based education testing company Questar Assessment shutdown and laid off 39 employees in November. The Buffalo School District killed 63 teaching jobs, some of the teachers had just made tenure. News reports said many of the teachers taught classes for homeless children. They’ve consolidated school #115 with school #97, and they’ve eliminated an entire 9th grade class. One school board member actually blamed the U.S. education system saying “It’s a system that’s beating us.” Another board member added “Beating our kids.” That Which Cannot be Named refuses to stop the selloff of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Yeshiva University Substance Abuse Treatment program at three Bronx locations, 189 jobs now in limbo! In Hawthorne, Quintiles Medical Education warned it is shutting down in December, at least 27 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Randolph County Schools laid off 30 employees. Troubled charter school Concrete Roses STEM Academy shutdown without notice. State education administrators blame what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). The school was taxpayer funded for 300 students, but only 126 showed up!

Ohio: Hocking College laid off 36 employees and warned of mandatory furloughs for others, blaming DSS. In 2010 the college had 6,599 students, in 2013 there were 4,094 students and for the 2014-15 year they’re down to 3,474; almost a 50% drop in enrollment since 2010! New Albany School District beginning massive layoffs and jacking up ‘pay to play’ fees after 56% of local taxpayers rejected yet another levy, indicating that they could no longer afford to float failing public education since their own incomes are crashing. In Columbus, God refuses to stop Christian charter school FCI Academy from killing 17 jobs. The Christian school is in the hole at least $70-thousand, due to raptured(?) students. Several years ago the grade school had 600 students, this school year they’re down to 340. In Youngstown, the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP) warned it will kill 10 jobs with its Head Start education program. They blame the federal government for cutting off their federal food service funding. MYCAP is also going away and Development Institute of Denver will take over the Head Start program temporarily. Strongsville Schools announced they will layoff at least 25 teachers over five years. Administrators blame DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). The district has lost 1,724 students since 2004! Oberlin College told three HVAC engineers to take a big cut in pay and become janitors or become unemployed! College administrators called it a “opportunity for voluntary layoff”. It’s blamed on the the college’s switch from coal heating to natural gas.

Pennsylvania: Mercyhurst University laid off 14 administrators and demoted six full time employees to part time. Other employees are taking pay cuts, it’s blamed on crashing enrollment. State education officials warned of massive layoffs at five Universities: Clarion, Edinboro, Cheyney, East Stroudsburg and Mansfield. According to state officials their university system has been experiencing Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS), and get this, they expect to lose another 1-thousand students by the end of this school year! At least 44 university employees were laid off last year. The School District of Philadelphia shutdown the Walter Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School. Also, the superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia is demanding new taxes be imposed on the already struggling population. William R. Hite Jr. says if new taxes, specifically a new cigarette tax, are not created by August then he will be forced to layoff 13-hundred employees! Keep in mind that is on top of the 342 school district jobs already killed off! The Philly school district is now $93-million in debt, no thanks in part to the massive increase in employee health and retirement cost increases caused by Obama Care! God refuses to stop Christian Geneva College from laying off at least 25 employees, due to what I call the rapture, I mean DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). And who said the internet is to blame? The Christian college is eliminating its internet ministries courses for the 2015-16 school year! School officials also revealed that the economy is so bad that “nearly 100%” of their Christian students qualify for some type of financial assistance. Woodland Hills School District warned it could shutdown three elementary schools and sell off an administrative building due to DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome), at least a 31% decline over the past ten years! California University is blaming DSS for eliminating 30 jobs. The university lost 3.2% of its student body at the beginning of the new school year. Cheyney University (originally created to target ‘black’ Americans) laid off at least six instructors and will eliminate programs. University administrators blame crashing revenue. Interestingly, the university lists several administrative positions as being available, but adds “Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to your phone calls about vacancies or about the status of a recruitment and your application.”

Tennessee: Union University laid off five staff employees, blaming it on a drop of 270 students from 2013 to 2014! In Kingsport, after 27 years non-profit Rascals Teen Center shutdown: “We just got to where we couldn’t really continue. Things had to change. We tried to work through the change, tried to do some things, but we got to where we couldn’t continue on…..No matter how much we advertised on the radio, the newspaper and Facebook, it’s like we still couldn’t contact everybody….I don’t know what happened.”-Amy McAtee, executive director

Texas: God refused to stop Southern Methodist University (home of the George W. Bush Presidential Library) from cutting programs and killing jobs. The Christian university has spent tens of millions on new dorm buildings despite DSS. Wiley College laid off 16 employees and furloughed others due to DSS and crashing donations. In Dallas/Fort Worth, Anthem College shutting down its campus on Beltline Road, 30 jobs lost. Also, the Texas Education Agency threatened to shutdown the Prime Prep Academy. The school, founded by a former Dallas Cowboys star, is accused of failing to comply with state laws. Across the state, it’s been revealed that 14 charter schools will be shutdown next school year! State administrators claim the schools are not meeting financial or academic standards, however, some school administrators have presented documents challenging the state’s claims.

Vermont: Vermont Technical College warned of layoffs due partly to the loss of 160 students over the past three years. The State College system warned that budget cuts wanted by the governor will result in job losses. The governor wants to cut $1-million in funding. It’s been revealed that in May of 2014, Johnson State College laid off five employees and blamed it on DSS.

Virginia: Buchanan County Public School Board shutdown Russell Prater Elementary School. It’s blamed on $2.1-million in debt.

Washington DC: The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art & Design laid off about 150 employees in August! Apparently the schools will eventually shutdown threatening another 300 jobs! It’s blamed on their merger with National Gallery of Art and the George Washington University.

Wisconsin: ‘Professional’ education service Lorman Education Services killed 42 jobs in October. Company officials blame it on DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome). The privately funded education company has been laying off employees since 2009. Internet based Anthem College shutdown its Brookfield operation in September, 30 jobs lost. After shutting down without notice in June, the Wisconsin International School is now officially bankrupt busted. This means all those parents that paid their child’s tuition in full will not get a refund. Officials with the private school blame their sudden shutdown on an unexpected 30% drop in enrollment (more disappearing students), as well as a 30% drop in cash revenues and skyrocketing expenses due to things like utilities and healthcare cost increases (so much for Obama Care)! At one point the school boasted 800 students, but this year they could attract only 120! Parents are pissed because they were also required to take part in raising money for the school, and they want to know what happened to it: “That’s a big slap in the face to all the efforts we’ve put in! At no time were we ever told ‘Hey, we have a problem’ or that more money needed to be raised. Volunteering at the school was mandatory and parents were invested in the school. If they had said something, I am sure parents and families would have opened their pockets.”-Nicole Donart-Manty

1st six months of 2014!

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 November 2014: “…early retirement, attrition, and termination, whatever it takes.” Chicken shit Ford fires employees using automation! IBM kills off 50-thousand plus jobs!

January 4, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: In Tempe, after almost 60 years restaurant Monti’s La Casa Vieja shutdown. The owner blamed increasing operating costs.

California: Warner Brothers administrators notified state employment administrators that they will kill off 1-thousand movie & TV industry jobs beginning in January 2015! In San Diego, troubled Bridgepoint Education killing 167 jobs, more than the previously announced 91 jobs! This on top of the 117 jobs already killed this year! A local TV news station said the job culling was revealed by employees. In Sacramento, 19 years old non-profit HIV-AIDS testing center Breaking Barriers shutdown. Administrators blame the bad economy: “When the economic downturn happened it hit us hard a lot of grants were scaled back and canceled.”-Sandre’ Nelson

Georgia: The city of Albany warned of more layoffs, on top of the 50 jobs already killed off. The interim city manager seems to be frothing at the mouth to kill jobs: “We gotta reduce some stuff, early retirement, attrition, and termination, whatever it takes. I’ll spend money on technology before I’ll spend money on additional people any day of the week.”-Tom Berry

Illinois: In Geneva, after more than 60 years Giesche Shoes shutdown. It was also revealed that the more than 150 years old McChesney & Miller grocery store shutdown last week. In Roscoe Village, after 17 years the owners of the Hungry Brain said they will shutdown in December. Reports imply it’s part of a trend of many local joints being shutdown by greedy landlords who want more rent money. What automotive industry recovery? In Chicago, it was revealed that 1-hundred Ford employees were fired on Halloween. Ford administrators said they notified the employees via automated ‘robocalls’, yet many employees said they thought the electronic message was somebody’s Halloween joke.

Indiana: Columbus Regional Health announced that ObamaCare was forcing them to eliminate 219 jobs! Administrators say ObamaCare has caused them to loose about $17-million in 2014!

Iowa: Retailer Target announced they’re shutting down their Clinton store in February 2015, about 79 jobs lost. Administrators said the store wasn’t making enough money: “The decision to close the store is based solely on the financials.”-Evan Lapiska

Kansas: In Salina, after 35 years The Quilting Bee fabric store shutdown. After 91 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Jilka Furniture announced it will shutdown in December: “With the many changes taking place in the furniture industry, we felt it was a wise decision to close our store.”-Bud and Loretta Jilka

Missouri: In Springfield, Kroger announced it will shutdown four Dillons grocery stores in January 2015, supposedly they’re being sold off to competitor Price Cutter (an employee owned op like WinCo). However, administrators with Price Cutter were actually upset at the news and said they never made Kroger an offer to buy the Dillons stores, in fact it was Kroger who came begging to Price Cutter. Price Cutter agreed to a lease, not an outright purchase: “Dillions announcement to exit all four Springfield locations in January, 2015 is disappointing news….Dillions approached us of their intent to vacate the Springfield market….Price Cutter has entered into a real estate agreement to lease all four of the Dillions locations.”-Erick Taylor, Price Cutter president

New Jersey: Brookdale Community College (supposedly the Garden State’s top two year degree school) warned of layoffs due to DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome). Administrators say crashing enrollment is causing them to be short $8.5-million for the upcoming 2015-16 school year!

New York: Endicott based IBM (International Business Machines) revealed they are laying off one third of their international workforce, at least doubling previously announced job cuts. Reports say in India alone 50-thousand IBM employees will become jobless! In NYC, The Food Emporium issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their #36-767 in January 2015, about 60 jobs lost. In Avon, Jacobson Warehouse issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in January 2015, about 11 jobs lost. Windmill Distributing issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their beverage distribution ops in Brooklyn and Montgomery in January 2015, at least 736 jobs lost!

North Dakota: Reports that Case-International Harvester is eliminating 40 jobs in Fargo.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based United States Steel (USS) announced it will layoff 56 Canadians at its Hamilton operations. USS administrators say there is a glut of steel on the market which is causing the price to crash, so they’re shutting down production. After only two years Station Street Hot Dogs shutdown. The owners decided not to renew their lease, claiming other projects were getting in the way. Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) revealed its plans to eliminate 450 jobs: “Our transition plans are on schedule and we have made substantial progress developing the plans to achieve at least $155 million in Talen Energy annual run-rate synergies. The full extent of the identified annualized synergies is expected to be realized beginning in mid-2016.”-press release

Texas: Oil rig support services operator Hercules Offshore is eliminating 342 jobs! Company administrators blame declining demand for oil for their loss of $88.6-million during their 3rd quarter 2014! Retailer Target announced they’re shutting down their 16 years old Austin store in January 2015, about 83 jobs lost.

Washington: In Seattle, the owners of Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar announced they will shutdown in January 2015.

Wisconsin: It was revealed that retailer JCPenney sold off its Regency Mall store and it will be shutdown, 80 jobs lost. Administrators said the store wasn’t making enough money.

01-03-November-2014

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Food Crisis, December 2014: “…we’ve hit the end!” No more Coca Cola? Famous burger joints shutdown on Xmas eve! Mystic make-over restaurant gets evicted? No beef in Montana, no thanks to ObamaCare? Even a Jackass (BBQ) says there ain’t no recovery!

January 1, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of December, 2014: 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.

California: In Folsom, after only two years Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill shutdown without explanation. Jamba Juice revealed it will layoff 23 people (including three senior vice presidents) at its Emeryville support center in 2015. Company administrators say the economic situation is forcing them to reduce costs. Only a year after ‘expanding’ Berkeley founded Peet’s Coffee & Tea shutdown all six Ohio shops, plus three in Pennsylvania and two in Michigan, without warning! 70 jobs lost, company administrators said only that those stores “…are not performing to our sales expectations and didn’t have a promising future…” Peet’s also shutdown seven former Caribou Coffee House stores in August, killing off 150 jobs! After eight years award winning restaurant Hatfield’s shutdown. No explanation, but the owners swore they’d be back with a new restaurant. In Rancho Mirage, Acqua Pazza California Bistro at The River shutdown due to not renewing the lease. Jerry Keller, co-owner, pointed out how risky the restaurant business is saying “It’s been a great 10 years and when you think that 90% of restaurants here close in two years, that’s a pretty good run.” In Santa Rosa, after nearly 40 years Arrigoni’s Deli & Cafe shutdown. Safeway announced they will shutdown one of their Vons grocery stores in Hemet by January 2015, at least 55 jobs lost. And in Pleasanton, Safeway HQ will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015, due to the takeover by Cerberus owned Albertsons. Uniform and food service contractor Aramark issued several WARNs saying they are shutting down ops across the Golden State, at least 570 jobs lost!

Georgia: Atlanta based iconic Coca Cola announced it is cutting $100-million AUD from its Australian ops in 2015, killing off at least 250 jobs in the Land Down Under! Coca Cola already killed off at least 157 Australian jobs for 2014! But wait there’s more! Coca Cola is also killing off 2-thousand jobs in the United States, before the end of January 2015! Company administrators say the U.S. economy is so bad they’re forced to cut $3-billion USD by 2019!

Dying food court (The Courtyard), only zombified Orange Julius and Mario’s Pizza left. The obligatory pretzel joint moved to center court. Mrs. Powell’s, Dairy Queen, the corn dog place and others all died.

Idaho: In Chubbuck, Mario’s Pizza and Orange Julius announced they will shutdown their Pine Ridge Mall stores in 2015. Local TV station KPVI said company administrators told them the economy was so bad in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area that it wasn’t worth keeping the decades old pizza joint and juice blender open any longer.

Illinois: In Chicago, anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi laid off an undisclosed number of North America Nutrition (Gatorade, Quaker, Tropicana) employees. Pepsi also extended its cost cutting plan (originally to end in 2014) to 2019, saying it now needs to save $8-billion! A Panera Bread store shutdown. Company administrators said the city’s recent minimum wage hike, to $13 per hour over the next five years, was the final straw that broke their Beverly store’s back. Rumors say the company will simply open a new store just outside city limits. The owner of Beverly’s Original Rainbow Cone warned she is contemplating a similar decision. In Urbana, after only one year a Kroger owned Ruler Foods discount grocery store shutdown without notice. For some reason Kroger built three Ruler Foods stores in Urbana in the space of two years, apparently that was one too many. Company administrators refused to talk to local news media. In Mount Prospect, the owners of Randhurst Village shopping center forced the three years old The Billy Goat Tavern to shutdown. Basically the shopping center owners found a new tenant who’s willing to pay more in rent. In Oregon city, after four years Jackass BBQ shutdown with little notice, the owner is pissed about the lack of any economic recovery, he’s now forced to auction off his personal tools: “Business is slow here in Oregon…Most people from Dixon do not drive here anymore….We will have lots of Craftsman tools and toolboxes, antiques, household items and furniture. We have a welder and oxygen acetylene cutting torches, along with several steel industrial work benches.”-Andy Riegel

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, after nine years Cranky Hank’s pizza joint shutdown.

Michigan: Battle Creek based cereal maker Kellogg was forced by union members to admit they are shutting down two major cereal making factories. It’s blamed on crashing cereal sales. However, company administrators refuse to say which factories will die.

Minnesota: After only nine months Boneyard Kitchen and Bar shutdown, some customers told local news that they were not happy with the menu items.

Missouri: In Kansas City, 65 years old Golden Ox steak restaurant shutdown. News reports said the owner wanted to retire, but could his retirement have been influenced by the skyrocketing prices of beef? In Florissant, after 95 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Yacovelli’s Restaurant to shutdown on New Year’s Day. In Columbia, the Marconi Grill shutdown without notice. A local news source discovered it when they spotted moving vans at the property. Reports said a few months ago it was rumored the restaurant would close, but employees said it was for remodeling. Those loyal employees are now eating crow, as competing restaurants are now being flooded with applications from former Marconi Grill employees.

Montana: The state’s Department of Livestock warned of layoffs and unpaid furloughs due to increased spending on brucellosis testing on cows, and increased employee insurance and retirement funding mandated by Obama Care! To make things worse, state administrators have actually cut overall funding for the Department of Livestock.

New Jersey: Rumors that after 15 years Stanley’s Prime Meat Market shutdown. In Hoboken, after 78 years Helmers’ Restaurant shutdown. Reports say the German themed restaurant has been in trouble ever since a fire in 2006. The property owner has reportedly rented out the space to a new tenant at $15-thousand per month!

New York: In Ithaca, after more than 40 years Manos Diner shutdown. The news was revealed by an employee.

North Carolina: In Willmington, Golden Corral all you can eat at the Monkey Junction shutdown without notice on 29 December. Local news reports said company administrators wouldn’t talk to them, but an employee said sales had crashed. In Fayetteville, after 57 years Vick’s Drive-In restaurant shutdown by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to make way for the rerouting of the nearby Rowan Street bridge.

Ohio: In Waverly, 78 years old Lake White Club restaurant shutdown. After months of spending money on renovations, the bad economy forced the current owners to put the restaurant up for auction in October, but nobody bid on it. Iconic White Castle burger joint shutting down all five restaurants in Cleveland and Akron! To top it off, they’re being shutdown on Xmas eve! Administrators of the family owned burger joint says the economy is so bad in Cleveland and Akron that they can’t afford to continue operating in those cities. In Lakewood, the World of Beer bar shutdown, apparently with no explanation. In Hilliard, after only two years the Auddino’s Bakery & Cafe on Fishinger Boulevard shutdown. The bakery owners say the property owners didn’t promote the business as promised.

Oregon: In Ashland, only one month after getting a Restaurant Impossible TV show make-over Mystic Treats shutdown, without explanation. Prior to the make-over the landlord was in the process of evicting Mystic Treats. In Portland, after 35 years the Hunan Restaurant shutdown “Due to personal health issues”.

Pennsylvania: In Kingston, after more than four years the owners of Vanderlyn’s Restaurant announced that New Year’s Eve is their last day of operations. They said they need more “family time”. In Centre County, after nearly 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) the Mount Nittany Inn shutdown. The restaurant has been for sale for the past three years, but nobody wants to buy. A co-owner blames the lack of ‘recovery’ and evil Too Big to Jail banks: “We tried our best! There just isn’t enough cash flow….”-Nancy Silvis

Tennessee: After 17 years the GollyWhoppers sandwich shop shutdown the day before xmas.

Utah: In Ogden, after 38 years the family owners of Sandy’s Fine Foods restaurant announced they will shutdown by the end of the month. It will end with a yard sale of restaurant memorabilia. The family will focus on their catering business.

Vermont: In Burlington, after five years Das Bierhaus German restaurant shutdown: “Renewal time had come and, as the dust of negotiations and exploring other options settled, I was fortunate enough to have been presented with an offer I could not refuse.”-Nick Karabelas, owner

Virginia: After only seven months Dash Kitchen & Carry restaurant shutdown! The owners admitted they were ignorant of the bad economy saying “…we misjudged the demand for it in that market and failed….Dash will either be sold ….or will be reimagined…” In King George, after 18 years the owner of Howard’s Bakery & Restaurant announced they will shutdown after Xmas. Local news reports said the owner blamed the past three years of suck-ass sales. In Richmond, the co-owner of ‘adult themed’ Tiki Bob’s club announced they will shutdown in February 2015, blaming competition and lazy city administrators: “After 16 years we’ve hit the end! You see all the great food and stuff going on in Richmond. There’s no more room for just a club anymore. I’ve waited a year for the city to get the ballpark. I can’t wait any longer….I don’t know if I want to put another 200-300k in the bottom without the city doing anything down here.”-Erik Brockdorff

Wisconsin: In Madison, after 22 years Jolly Bob’s Caribbean restaurant shutdown. The owner, Tim Erickson, blamed the lack of economic recovery: “The last five years have been really difficult, not that the first 17 years were easy, but especially the last five years have been really tough. And I’m not a young man anymore.”

U.S. Food Crisis, November 2014

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 03 November 2014: “…to stop seeking future work is a result of…changes…in healthcare.” More ObamaCare job destruction! Again, no more Sprint?

December 29, 2014 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: New Obama Care taxes forcing medial device maker Volcano to make even more job cuts; 170 people in Rancho Cordova will become jobless before Xmas! At one time Volcano employed 700 people at the Rancho Cordova factory, but will have less than 100 after 16 December. In San Diego, Ashford University/Bridgepoint Education issued a WARN saying 160 people will become jobless in January 2015! However, local ABC10News said an inside source reported that 167 people were already let go!

Florida: After 33 years Ruben’s Cuban Restaurant being shutdown by the landlord. The landlord claims it’s only for remodeling, but long time customers are so upset that the local news media demanded confirmation from the landlord that the restaurant will be reopening soon. In Miami, Envoy Air issued a WARN saying they will eliminate 478 transportation and warehousing jobs by April 2015!

Illinois: In Chicago, after 82 years Altman’s Shoes announced they will shutdown on 31 December. The family owners still have new shoes from decades ago that were handmade in Italy, and other vintage brand shoes.

Kansas: Overland Park based, but 80% Japan based SoftBank owned, cell phone service provider Sprint increased the number of people who will become jobless, yet again; this time 2-thousand additional employees will be let go due to the company losing $192-million USD and 272-thousand customers in its most recent quarter!

Missouri: Builder of hospitals, HBE Company, has ceased building new hospitals due to Obama Care! Former employees blamed it on the Obama Care funding crash, saying losses accelerated into Death Spiral mode in 2013. Here’s what HBE President and CEO Fred Kummer said: “The reason for the decision to stop seeking future work is a result of the very real changes that the current administration in Washington has brought about in healthcare.”

New Hampshire: What automotive industry recovery? In Newport, after 80 years City Auto RV Superstore announced they will shutdown sometime in 2015. The current owner says she’s going back to being a nurse.

New York: In North Tonawanda, Community First Holdings issued a WARN saying they will cease publication of the Tonawanda News and eliminate 20 newspaper jobs in January 2015. In Brooklyn, The Guild for Exceptional Children issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their preschool in January 2015, at least 81 jobs lost.

North Carolina: The USMC warned of layoffs at its Community Services ops at Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. Between 35 and 50 people could become jobless in 2015. Hours for Community Services will be reduced. Child care services will also see prices go up by 50%. It’s blamed on cuts to federal taxpayer spending.

Pennsylvania: UniTek Global Services now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and is preparing to be taken over by creditors.

Texas: In Houston, Too Big to Jail Capital One announced it will layoff 100 ‘processing’ employees during the 1st quarter of 2015!

30-31-october-2014

Blind Bat News

Tag Archives: close

U.S. Housing & Construction Industry Implosion: Last six months of 2014, “Everybody wants a better outcome, everybody but the landlords.”

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 06 November 2014: Another 2-thousand+ food jobs lost! France & Germany kill U.S. jobs! Job search service kills 100 jobs!

Sears & Kmart closing update, 08 January 2015: Yet another distribution center goes down! Selling fake jewelry?

U.S. clothing store Wet Seal killing off 3-thousand 7-hundred jobs! Employees now rebelling?

Sears & Kmart closing update, 07 January 2015: Kmart center shutdown! Sears admits stock market shenanigans!

Sears & Kmart closing update, 06 January 2015: Appliance center shutdowns!

The Dumbing Down of the United States: Last six months of 2014. Into the New Dark Ages as students ‘disappear’ and Obamacare ‘kills’

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 November 2014: “…early retirement, attrition, and termination, whatever it takes.” Chicken shit Ford fires employees using automation! IBM kills off 50-thousand plus jobs!

U.S. Food Crisis, December 2014: “…we’ve hit the end!” No more Coca Cola? Famous burger joints shutdown on Xmas eve! Mystic make-over restaurant gets evicted? No beef in Montana, no thanks to ObamaCare? Even a Jackass (BBQ) says there ain’t no recovery!

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 03 November 2014: “…to stop seeking future work is a result of…changes…in healthcare.” More ObamaCare job destruction! Again, no more Sprint?

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