Tag Archives: closings

Sears & Kmart closing update, 30 January 2015: More signs the Blythe kmart is shutting down! Kmart threatened with takeover by city with 3rd highest tax rate! Ireland’s Primark taking over? As I’ve reported in the past, Sears to make money renting out property.

January 30, 2015 Hutchins AAron

In Florida, the city described as having the 3rd highest local tax rates in the county, Miami Shores, is about to annex the property where a Kmart sits. Attorney’s for Sears Holdings tried to stop the annexation and now warn the Kmart could be shutdown. However, the taxpayers of Miami Shores said a pending shutdown of the Kmart is the main reason they’re annexing the property: “…to have that Kmart property become part of Miami Shores would be extremely valuable to our piece of mind in terms of what happens to that property if Kmart is not there in two to six months, and allowing the Shores to have some say over what happens with that property is extremely important to the people who are in that isolated section.”-Jenna Rinehart Rassi, lives near the property

Yesterday I wrote how Sears Holdings denied rumors that the Blythe, California, Kmart was shutting down. However, the local Blythe news sources have just pointed out that the shelves in the store are near empty and there is no effort to re-stock them. The editors of the PaloVerdeTimes said nobody at the kmart or Sears Holdings will explain the lack of merchandise in the store. Apparently the Kmart is the only ‘big box’ retailer within a 45 miles radius.

In Pennsylvania a Sears store is abandoning its upper level to the Ireland based clothing store Primark. Sears Holdings has revealed at least seven other deals involving the leasing of Sears locations to Primark: “Today, the company announced that the Willow Grove Park Mall in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, is one of these seven mall-based Sears stores locations included in the lease agreements. The company previously announced that the lease agreement included Sears stores at King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and Staten Island Mall in Staten Island, New York……. The four remaining specific locations and projected store openings will be announced at a later time. All of the space is expected to be delivered to Primark over the next six to 10 months. “

In Maine, Sears Holdings has leased their abandoned Sears AutoCenter to VIP Tires & Service.

update, 29 January 2015: 122 Californians to be unemployed!

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), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings.

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

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

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), recently revealed Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere! 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), Plymouth Kmart (“approximately” 68 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), recently revealed Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost).

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

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now 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), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost).

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: Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), 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), recently revealed Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark.

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), recently revealed the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, recently revealed King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark.

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (# of jobs lost not reported).

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. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 – 12 December 2014: “Everybody wants to know, ‘Is there anything we can do?’ and there is nothing.” Obamacare kills off bus service? Halliburton kills 1-thousand jobs!

January 30, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Sweden based rubber factory Hexpol AP issued a WARN saying it will shutdown its ‘mixing’ ops in January 2015, at least 61 jobs lost.

California: In Cypress, Tuesday Morning merchandiser shutdown, blaming location; a bigger shopping plaza was built in front of the Tuesday Morning location! In Clovis, security camera maker Pelco by Schneider Electric laid off about 45 employees. Reports that iconic San Jose based internet selling venue ebay is killing off 3-thousand jobs beginning right after Xmas: “There will be changes; there will be significant changes.”-Devin Wenig, current ebay president

In San Diego, iconic SeaWorld issued a WARN saying 108 people will be laid off by February 2015! 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.

Florida: The Suwannee Valley Transit Authority warned of massive layoffs due to Obama Care! Bus administrators stated that a large amount of their revenue was coming from Medicaid, but that’s being cut off as Obama Care is forcing many passengers to use different transportation services!

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. Battle Creek based iconic 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. Troy based coupon book publisher Entertainment Publications eliminated an undisclosed number of employees. Employees told local news sources that the layoffs were “signifigant”, at least 50% of employees were laid off! In Monroe, the Gap Outlet clothing store announced it will shutdown in January 2015.

Minnesota: Video game maker NativeX laid off 12 employees at its Sartell HQ.

Missouri: In Kansas City, AT&T announced the elimination of 29 jobs. It’s part of the larger 270 jobs being culled at AT&T ops in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas!

New Jersey: After 61 years Boro Hardware shutdown, the owner blamed property speculators: “In the words of The Godfather, they made me an offer I could not refuse.”-Steve Epstein

New York: Amalgamated Bank issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down Branch 24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31 between March and April 2015. In North Syracuse, Seneca Data Distributors Issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their warehouse in March 2015, at least 65 jobs lost. They are joining the exodus from New York and moving to Arizona. Switzerland based legal drugs pusher Novartis announced it is shutting down its Suffern ops. News reports out of New Jersey say 525 people will become jobless as a result (222 of which live in New Jersey)!

Ohio: 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.

Oregon: The Evergreen Vintage Aircraft museum now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The museum is home to the iconic Spruce Goose.

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

South Carolina: After more than 20 years Hot Wheels Skating Center shutdown, because the new property owners want to tear it down! The skate rink manager Terri Halter said “Everybody wants to know, ‘Is there anything we can do?’ and there is nothing. My mom’s taking it really hard. She’s seen probably three generations of children. It’s rough, especially when you’re that committed to children. You don’t want to leave them without a place of security and fun.”

Tennessee: Union University laid off five staff employees, blaming it on a drop of 270 students from 2013 to 2014!

Texas: 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. Infamous fracking company Halliburton announced it will kill off 1-thousand oil jobs around the World! Ignorant main stream news media blamed crashing oil prices, but guess what? It’s really because of the Obama regime imposed sanctions on Russia, and turmoil in west Africa.

West Virginia: What housing market recovery? Flooring maker Unilin announced that 47 employees at its Holden factory will become jobless after Xmas, blaming “declining market conditions”.

09-10-december-2014: “…too saturated with everyone trying to split a dollar.”

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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 – 10 December 2014: “…too saturated with everyone trying to split a dollar.” World’s biggest chip maker kills off 600 jobs! More clothing store shutdowns! More Obamacare job destruction!

January 29, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: Noranda Aluminum announced laid off at least 38 people, blaming crashing demand. Back in September the company laid off 200 people in Missouri, blaming utility rates and crashing demand for their product.

California: The World’s largest maker of computer chips, San Diego based Qualcomm, issued several WARNs saying they will render 289 people across southern California jobless, as well as 600 people around the World by February 2015! Company administrators say they must get the hell outta the chip business, it’s that bad! Too Big to Jail Bank of America warned of February 2015 layoffs at its Los Angeles operations. The Hacienda Hotel issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their El Segundo hotel in February 2015, at least 96 jobs lost. Switzerland based legal drugs pusher F. Hoffmann-La Roche (aka Roche) has taken over InterMune for $8.3-billion USD. The now former CEO of InterMune walked away with a $36-million severance package, while 170 employees in Brisbane are being laid off in February 2015! “Cloud solutions for government” Granicus issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their San Francisco office in April 2015, at least 47 jobs lost. In Petaluma, SPG Solar shutdown, at least 10 jobs lost. In Santa Clara, Toppan Photomasks issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in March 2015, at least 75 jobs lost. In Foothill Ranch, Genesis Healthcare issued a WARN saying 71 people will be rendered jobless in February 2015. In Herlong, taxsucking government contractor Bowhead Support issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in February 2015, at least 119 jobs lost! In Berkeley, after 42 years the Taiwan Restaurant shutdown, the owners blame the new landlord who wants to tear everything down and put up a new building.

Florida: In Palatka, waste management company Alorica issued a WARN saying they will layoff 96 people in February 2015.

Illinois: 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.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? In Lansing, GM (General Motors) revealed that 450 people at its Grand River Assembly Plant could become jobless in early 2015! It’s blamed on crashing sales of upscale Cadillacs. In Wyandotte, the Axe-n-Ladder Deli shutdown, the owner blamed a sudden increase in competition: “After we opened, six restaurants opened up. Lunch isn’t a destination place. You eat lunch where you’re at, and it just got too saturated with everyone trying to split a dollar.”-Ted Copley

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: Switzerland based legal drugs pusher Novartis announced it will lay off 200 people in The Garden State by February 2015! Obama Care is forcing them to “…position our U.S. General Medicines business for long-term success.”

New York: Clothing store the Gap announced it will shutdown their Salmon Run Mall store in January 2015. In Syracuse, after 50 years MQ Camera shutdown.

North Carolina: Maker of robotic drugs making systems, Parata Systems, announced they will render 110 people jobless! Administrators say Obama Care is forcing them “…to better align with the larger health care market and position us for future growth and new opportunities.”

Ohio: The city of Cleveland announced it will render employees jobless, not fill vacant positions and increase fees charged to the public! City administrators revealed that local tax-fee revenues crashed by $2.5-million per year! In Kettering, the once iconic but now dying Eastman Kodak laid off 15 people.

Pennsylvania: NYC based bratty teenage girl’s clothing chain store dELiA*s sold off their Hanover distribution center, 120 jobs lost!

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

05-08-december-2014: the suck-ass economy is going to kick yours!

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 08 December 2014: More girly clothing store deaths! More proof the suck-ass economy is going to kick yours!

January 29, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

British empire’s British Petroleum (BP) said that crashing oil prices are causing them to “accelerate” their already massive planned layoffs. Those layoffs have been in the works ever since BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.

Gannett owned USA Today announced it is ending publication of its USA Weekend edition, eliminating at least 30 jobs. Back in September USA Today laid off 70 people.

California: In Beverly Hills, 3D movie tech company RealD announced it must cut $16-million in expenses and warned jobs will be lost. After eight years award winning restaurant Hatfield’s shutdown. No explanation, but the owners swore they’d be back with a new restaurant. In Ontario, corporate spy agency IntelliSource issued a WARN saying the will shutdown by February 2015, at least 312 jobs lost! In Santa Monica, La Sandia restaurant issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in February 2015, at least 74 jobs lost. Also in Santa Monica, Zengo restaurant issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in February 2015, at least 74 jobs lost. Freedom Communications revealed (in a late issued WARN) how many people it laid off after halting publication of its LA Register; 88. Earlier reports said only 20 people were let go.

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! Procter & Gamble warned it will shutdown its Augusta factory by 2016, at least 190 jobs lost (40 employees, 150 contractors)! Between 2012 and 2013 Procter & Gamble eliminated 160 jobs at the same factory! Company administrators say the rapidly changing U.S. economy means they must radically change their supply system across the U.S.

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.

Illinois: God refused to stop ‘his’ Benedictine University from ending its undergraduate program and killing as many as 100 jobs! 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

Kentucky: Patriot Coal announced more coal mine shutdowns, this time two mines will be shutdown by January 2015, at least 670 jobs lost!

Mississippi: In Jackson County, bankrupt Mississippi Phosphates announced they’re halting diammonium phosphate production, at least 172 jobs lost!

New York: NYC based bratty teenage girl’s clothing chain store dELiA*s now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and liquidating. The company has been for sale for a long time now, but obviously nobody wants to buy it in this suck-ass economy. Company administrators admitted sales are so bad they haven’t made a profit in five years! In Ithaca, after more than 40 years Manos Diner shutdown. The news was revealed by an employee. In Saratoga county, the company about to takeover Maplewood Manor nursing home, Zenith Healthcare, revealed they plan on eliminating 97 jobs and move other employees to part time only.

Texas: God refused to stop ‘his’ 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 (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome).

Wisconsin: Non-profit WPS Health Insurance (aka Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation) laid off 20 IT (information technology) workers. The company laid off 250 people in 2013! Administrators blame their military Tricare (formerly known as CHAMPUS, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services) and Medicare contracts, as well as blaming Obama Care: “The reality is the competition for these government contracts, along with health care reform, is requiring everyone to look for more efficiencies.”– Ellen Foley

03-04-december-2014: Iconic business that survived 2 major U.S. depressions gets killed off by current “recovery”!

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 03 – 04 December 2014: “Sometimes life throws you a curve ball.” Iconic business that survived 2 major U.S. depressions gets killed off by current “recovery”! Any fool can see the “recovered” economy sucks-ass!!!

January 28, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Korbel, California Redwood issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in February 2015, at least 106 jobs lost! In Burlingame, Mills-Peninsula Health issued a WARN saying they will render 67 employees jobless by February 2015. Ireland based drug maker Actavis took over California based Allergan, then issued a WARN saying 200 people in Corona will become jobless! Freedom Communications halted publication of its five months old Los Angeles Register. Company administrators refused to say how many got laid off, but an unnamed employee said at least 20 people are now jobless. In Auburn, the owners of pet supply store Pet Xing announced they’re shutting down in January 2015. They described the suck-ass economy thusly “Sometimes life throws you a curve ball.”

Colorado: Denver based WOW cable jacked up service rates then eliminated 270 jobs across the country! At least one irate customer in Kansas was happy, posting online “Hopefully that means they are about ready to sell out and leave Lawrence. It would be too good to be true that another company with better service and lower rates were to come into the area. Competition would be good if more than one company were available for customers to choose from.”

Florida: In West Palm Beach, transportation and warehousing company Metro Mobility issued a WARN saying they’ll layoff 286 people in January 2015!

Illinois: 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.

Maine: After 184 years (surviving the Long Depression and the Great [deflationary] Depression, plus numerous recessions) iconic shoe store chain JL Combs now dead! Stores across several New England states to close by January 2015. JL Combs was the oldest shoe store chain in the U.S., company administrators posted this humorous reason why they’re shutting down: “It’s just too damn hard with all this new fangled competition everywhere. And I’m starting to feel a bit tired of working 7 days a week. After all, I’m 184 years old!”

Michigan: After suddenly shutting down all 136 operations in 25 states and Puerto Rico, American Laser Skincare (formerly known as American Laser Centers) now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating. Some employees reported they were threatened by armed security guards that they had less than two hours to get all their gear and vacate the premises! Many customers pre-paid for skincare services worth thousands of dollars, and will not be getting refunds! Southwest Regional Rehabilitation Center shutting down and killing off 96 jobs due to reduced inpatient care caused by Obama Care: “We wish we weren’t writing the final chapter, but the changing healthcare environment has left us no alternative.”-Jim Hettinger, Board of Trustees

The CEO of the Oaklawn Hospital, Ginger Williams, said people should have seen this coming before Obama Care became law, saying it’s “…an unfortunate, but entirely predictable, consequence of health care reform.”

Minnesota: In Rochester, Big Lots is shutting down in January 2015. Local news reports say company administrators refuse to say why. I say Big Lots is a ripoff because I’ve found many of the items I price checked to be much cheaper at first run retailers (at least here in Idaho)! By the way, Big Lots exited the Canadian market in 2013, a portent of things to come for U.S. retailers wanting to do business in the Great White North?

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?

Nevada: Not even one month after re-opening, the Laughlin River Lodge laid off 10% of its employees, blaming the suck-ass economy: “Once we opened up, the gaming was solid but it’s not been solid enough to overcome the shortfalls on the hotel and somewhat on the food and beverage side. We’re just not getting the occupancy we need to make those parts of our division able to pay all that payroll.”-Steve DesChamps, general manager

New York: In NYC, Aéropostale announced they are shutting down 75 stores before the end of 2014! That’s about 25 more than what was originally planned. Administrators blame their crashing-n-burning sales. Also in NYC, restaurant operator RA Herald Square-Patina Restaurant Group issued a WARN saying they will close in February 2015, supposedly for remodeling, 89 jobs affected. For the second time this year State Department of Labor administrators announced they must render their own employees jobless. The number of people being laid off in this latest round of job cuts was not disclosed, but news reports say in the first round 67 people lost their jobs and 215 were pushed to part time work only. State administrators blame “cuts in federal funding”.

North Carolina: British empire United Kingdom based legal drugs pusher GlaxoSmithKline announced 900 job losses at the Research Triangle Park! Morehead Memorial Hospital laid off 22 people, and reduced the work hours for another 160! WFMY News 2 reported that hospital administrators directly blame Obama Care. Sykes Enterprises issued a WARN saying they’re consolidating call centers, 226 jobs lost!

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. In Trotwood, the Hara Arena announced layoffs due to the suck-ass economy. Local news reports say the 50 years old arena now has only 12 employees.

Pennsylvania: After 80 years, female clothing chain store Deb Shops (aka DEB) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Texas: Wiley College laid off 16 employees and furloughed others due to DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome) and crashing donations. The Woodlands based Huntsman Corporation announced it will eliminate 900 jobs! It’s connected to the takeover of competitor Rockwood Holdings.

Virginia: 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.

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.”

01-02-december-2014: …kills off 30-thousand+ jobs joins mass-exodus from obama’s home state…

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 02 December 2014: Jewelry seller kills off 30-thousand+ jobs in U.S. & Canada, & joins the mass exodus from Obama’s ‘home’ state! Puerto Rico bank abandons Lower 48! Drug makers abandon the U.S.?

January 27, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

British empire United Kingdom based legal drugs pusher GlaxoSmithKline announced massive layoffs that will impact hundreds of jobs in the United States! Apparently the bad economy in the U.S. is forcing the British company to cut expenses by $1.56-billion over the next three years. What the company said sounds like their abandoning the U.S. market: “…a new restructuring program to refocus our global pharmaceuticals business and deliver cost savings. The aim of this program is to improve performance by taking unnecessary complexity out of our operations and establish a smaller, more focused organization, operating at lower costs, that supports our future portfolio.”

California: Boeing subsidiary Narus shutdown their Sunnyvale office with little notice to state employment administrators, 35 jobs lost.

Florida: After 25 years the SoBe Thrifty store in Miami Beach announced they will shutdown in January 2015. The operator, healthcare agency Care Resource, blames road construction which has caused a “sharp drop” in business as well as the landlord who jacked up the rent: “This is something we didn’t want to do. The general business decline, mixed with steep rent increases in that area, literally make it impossible to keep the store open.”-Jonathan Welsh

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. UPS (United Parcel Service) issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Addison operations for the next two years, rendering 449 people jobless! In Rosemont, Puerto Rico based Banco Popular killing off 233 jobs! The bank is getting the hell out of the continental United States, and is conducting a massive sell-off of its offices across the Lower 48. Also in Rosemont, Rosewood Restaurant & Banquets issued a WARN saying they will shutdown at the end of December, 104 jobs lost! Sealy Mattress issued a WARN saying 174 people working at their Batavia factory will become unemployed before Xmas! Evil collections agency Ceannate announced they’re shutting down their Rockford office in February 2015, at least 130 jobs lost! Four Chicago area country clubs shutting down by January 2015, at least 288 jobs lost! Also in Chicago, Continental Furniture laying off 63 people in January 2015 as well as GE Zenith Controls laying off 139 people in January 2015! God refuses to stop ‘his’ Benedictine University from laying off an undisclosed number of employees on their Springfield campus, right after Xmas! In Wood Dale, after 28 years direct jewelry seller Lia Sophia announced they will end U.S. and Canadian operations by February 2015, tens of thousands of employees and independent sellers affected! A 2008 news report said Lia Sophia had 27-thousand sellers just in the United States, and currently there are 8-hundred sellers in the state of Illinois! Company administrators blamed the suck-ass economy: “…given the challenging business environment, we made the painful decision to wind down Lia Sophia in the United States and Canada by December 31, and cease operations by the end of February.”

Indiana: The Hollywood Casino laid off an undisclosed number of employees. Local news reports say the casino now has 450 less employees than it did in 2012!

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

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!

Michigan: The Holland Museum laid off six employees and reduced operating hours. Administrators warned if their financial situation doesn’t improve within six months they will shutdown. Apparently the museum gets local tax funding, but tax strapped voters recently voted down funding increases.

Missouri: 20 years old Saint Louis based Access Courier issued a WARN saying they will kill off 74 jobs in December, due to “sale of assets”. South Dakota based Raven Industries issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Earth City ops by August 2015, at least 58 jobs lost. Their Earth City factory makes remote controls for adjustable beds, but sales are apparently so bad that the company will make more money selling off the factory.

New York: In Kirkwood, book publisher Penguin Random House issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in September 2015, layoffs will begin in January 2015, at least 286 jobs will be lost! NYC based sports media management company IMG laying off 100 employees! It the result of being taken over by California based privately held talent agency WME. Once again The New York Times killing off more jobs. Recently the newspaper tried to bribe 100 employees to quit with buyouts, 85 employees took the deal. Now at least 15 people will be laid off outright. And after 95 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) art supply store Sam Flax announced it will shutdown its HQ store on 900 Third Avenue by Xmas! Employees blamed the evil landlord for jacking up the rent!

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: Vermont Technical College warned of layoffs due partly to the loss of 160 students over the past three years.

Washington: Near Pasco, the largest trucking operation in the World Swift Transportation issued a WARN saying they’re killing off 130 jobs in January 2015!

27-30-november-2014: “Everything must go!”

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 27 January 2015: New executives have track record of destruction? Options trading suddenly skyrockets! Majority owner dumps stocks! Sofia Vergara dumps Kmart!

January 27, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Sears Holdings has killed off 115 jobs, 100 of which were at its Hoffman Estates HQ in Illinois!

Sears Holdings also (through Kmart Retail) issued a WARN saying an Indiana Kmart is going down on 12 April 2015, layoffs begin 05 April 2015.

Sears Holdings has a new Senior Director of Asset and Profit Protection, Brian Broadus. He worked for Bed, Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Ross, JCPenney and the Gap. Note that most of those operations are in trouble.

Sears Canada has a new CEO, Ronald D. Boire. His former positions are Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer, and President of Sears and Kmart Formats and Sears Holding Corporation, as well as Executive Vice President at Best Buy, President at Toys R Us, Global Merchandise Manager at Sony and as President and CEO at Brookstone. Note that all those operations are in trouble.

News reports that on 26 January 2015, ‘put options’ trading of Sears Holdings skyrocketed by 518%! Put options are when stockholders set a date and price at which time they will automatically dump their shares of stocks.

On 21 January 2015, majority stock holder Fairholme (owned by Jewish vulture capitalist Bruce R. Berkowitz) dumped 117-thousand shares of Sears Holdings stocks! Fariholme made more than $5-million USD off the dump!

After four years, Sofia Vergara is ending her relationship with Kmart. The actress is taking her clothing line elsewhere and is “looking forward to pursuing new opportunities in the apparel world”.

update, 26 January 2015: Kmart to be split up & sold off?

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.

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).

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).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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), recently revealed Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere! 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), recently revealed Plymouth Kmart (“approximately” 68 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).

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

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).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (# of jobs lost not reported).

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

Aeropostale closing update 27 January 2015: Insider trading revealed!

January 27, 2015 Hutchins AAron

U.S. based Aeropostale administrators revealed to the Securities and Exchange Commission that their director used insider info to make a stock deal back in December.

2015 shutdowns:

Illinois: P.S. from Aeropostale shutdown in the Cherryvale Mall.

Indiana: In Carmel, Aeropostale on Clay Terrace Boulevard shutdown on 27 January 2015. Aeropostale shutting down in the Indiana Mall by the end of January.

Minnesota: P.S. from Aeropostale shutdown in the Crossroads Mall.

New York: Aeropostale shutting down in the Fingerlakes Mall on 29 January 2015. Aeropostale in the dying Rotterdam Square Mall.

Ohio: P.S. from Aeropostale shutdown in the Peachtree Mall.

South Carolina: Aeropostale to shutdown in the Coastal Grand Mall.

Tennessee: Aeropostale shutdown in the Knoxville Center Mall on 27 January 2015.

Virginia: P.S. from Aeropostale shutdown in the Patrick Henry Mall.

2014 shutdowns:

Wisconsin: Bayshore Aeropostale.

Canada: Aeropostale shutdown its last seven stores in Quebec.

2013 shutdowns:

Canada: 27 Aeropostale stores shutdown.

Aeropostale Shutdowns will continue

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 23 – 26 November 2014: “unprecedented financial challenges” California based HP kills 41-thousand+ jobs! More massive healthcare cuts! More foreign companies funded with U.S. taxes killing jobs!

January 25, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Reports revealed that Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard will kill off 41-thousand jobs by the end of 2014!!! As many as 32-thousand people around the World have already been rendered jobless!!! But wait there’s more! Those same reports say evil Meg Whitman is planning on killing off more jobs in 2015, and splitting the company into two smaller operations, which usually means at least one will be sold off! In Mountain View, software company Symantec issued a WARN saying at least 12 people will become unemployed in January 2015. In Monterey, Aramark Sports issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in February 2015, at least 119 people to become jobless!

Florida: In Miami, RBC Wealth Management issued a WARN saying it will render 115 employees jobless between now and August 2015! Also in Miami, healthcare and social assistance company CHARLEE of Dade County issued a WARN saying they will layoff 67 employees between January and February 2015. In Port Saint Lucie, diabetes testing supply company Liberty Medical issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in January 2015, at least 417 jobs lost! In Fort Lauderdale, Senior Healthcare Services issued a WARN saying they will shutdown between January and February 2015, at least 348 jobs lost!

Idaho: School District 25, in Bannock County, warned they could be $1.5-million USD in the hole, with the ending of current levies. But wait, there’s more bull-shit! District 25 administrators want new levies valued at $10-million! This despite decades of levy and bond issues burdening tax payers, as well as decades of lottery payments which school district administrators can’t seem to account for! It’s interesting the school levies and bonds always pass ‘elections’ no matter how many people publicly oppose them.

Illinois: Exelon administrators warned they are considering shutting down three aged nuclear power plants sometime after Summer 2015. They blame little or no growth in electricity demand since 2008 (gee, isn’t that when the ‘recession’ began?).

Kansas: After 91 years (surviving the Great deflationary 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: God refuses to stop layoffs at ‘his’ Lexington Quest Community Church, at least 15 people will be let go due to “unprecedented financial challenges”, never mind that the two head pastors were engaged in “crossing of physical boundaries while stopping short of sexual intercourse.” The two perfect examples of Christian morality are married, but not to each other!

Michigan: In Liberty Township, more than four decades old Yukon Jack Food & Spirits restaurant shutdown. Before it was a restaurant (starting in 1970) it was a grocery store. Local news media said the owners refused to talk.

New York: After only a year neighborhood grocery store Delancey Market shutdown. In Brooklyn, nursing home Shorefront Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Care amended their WARN saying they will shutdown in December due to sale of the business, 482 jobs affected! In NYC, rapid response healthcare provider Rivington House shutdown, 231 jobs lost! Also in NYC, Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a WARN saying they are rendering jobless 95 people by Febraury 2015. Also in NYC, after 44 years Lea’s Dress Shop shutdown. Is it because the monthly rent for the small space is $8-thousand? And fashion designer Ralph Rucci abandoned his snooty upscale fashion house and the new operators laid off at least 15 employees. The new operators say that because of the bad economy (which appears to affect even the pocketbooks of the wanna-be 1%) Ralph Rucci LLC will now focus on “a more accessible designer product assortment for a wider audience.” Holiday Inn issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their operations at the Latham hotel in February 2015, at least 50 jobs lost due to loss of contract. In Troy, city administrators warned they will have to eliminated 18 fire fighter and police jobs. However, fire fighters and cops say the plan would result in lots of overtime pay, so the layoffs don’t make sense. However, they might make sense if you’re looking at trying to reduce the amount of money per employee going to the jacked up Obama Care health insurance and retirement plans (wake up people!).

North Carolina: Switzerland based evil GMO seeds and agrochemicals company Syngenta announced it will kill off 18-hundred jobs between 2015 and 2018 (note they obviously don’t expect any recovery until after 2018)! The job culling will be felt within the United States, like Greensboro where the company is getting a state taxpayer grant of $2.98-million!

Ohio: All 14 Ohio Friendly’s Restaurants shutdown! The francisee blamed the bad economy: “These closings are regrettable, however continuing operation was no longer viable.”-Apex Eagle Hospitality

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, the owners of SturmHaus Beer Market announced it will shutdown in December, blaming the bad economy: “Craft beer share is not enough to sustain our vision for a quaint, downtown on-premise, off-premise gathering place.”

Wisconsin: Water management company Pentair Flow Tech. issued a WARN saying they’re halting a production line at their Delavan operations, 60 jobs lost.

21 – 22 november 2014: “any worker who loses their income will have an impact”

Business/Economics

What U.S. automotive industry recovery? Vehicle manufacturing & sales job destruction for 2014

January 12, 2015 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of publicly revealed U.S. automotive related industry shutdowns and layoff announcements made in the Gregorian year of 2014:

Russian steel company Severstal selling off its factories in Deerborn, Michigan, and in Columbus, Mississippi. At least 25-hundred jobs affected! The company was supplying steel for Ford tough trucks, but the new Ford F-150 will be made of aluminum (cans?).

Alabama: After 60 years Graysville Tire Store shutdown.

California: In Sacramento, Harrold Ford car dealer gave state employment administrators a two days notice of laying off 120 employees! The WARN posting says reason “Not known at this time”. In La Mesa, car dealer Drew Ford issued a WARN saying it was shutting down due to its sale to a competitor, 281 jobs in limbo! In Carson, U.S. Auto Parts Network shutdown their distribution center in August, 78 jobs lost. Car dealer California Superstores shutdown three locations across the Golden State, 203 jobs lost by August! In San Diego, Midway Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram shutdown in August, 96 jobs lost. In San Jose, car dealer Courtesy Chevrolet shutdown in July, 100 jobs lost! In Roseville, caranything.com killed at least 99 jobs. In Chino, automotive parts maker Senior Operations/CAPO killed 131 jobs! Maker of car batteries Exide Technologies killed off 61 jobs at their Los Angeles ops. The battery maker and recycler is also under federal investigation for emissions violations. In San Jose, Capitol Expressway Ford warned they will render 102 people jobless in December!

Florida: It has been confirmed that Bonita Springs based publisher of many automotive magazines (Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Camaro Performers, GM Hi-Tech, Super Chevy, Import Tuner, Honda Tuning, Super Street, etc), Source Interlink, killed more than 5-thousand jobs at the end of May! Those jobs were in California, Florida and Michigan. The parent company, Source Home Entertainment, went chapter 11 bankrupt busted! Officials with the publisher-distributor blame e-books and “the continuing overhang of the economic downturn” creating a “difficult operating environment”. Company officials also admitted that hundreds of each magazine issue has had to be destroyed at additional costs, because nobody is buying them! 20 years ago there were about 400 magazine wholesalers in the U.S., with the demise of Source Interlink there are now only two!

Georgia: In McDonough, the World’s largest maker of small engines Briggs & Stratton shutdown a factory, 270 jobs lost: “We have not been able to get the McDonough plant running at full capacity for several years. That, and market conditions, have made it even more difficult.”-Laura Timm, public affairs

Illinois: In Chicago, it was revealed that 1-hundred Ford employees were fired on Halloween. Ford administrators said they notified the employees via ‘robocall’, yet many employees said they thought the electronic message was somebody’s Halloween joke. Isn’t that kind of chicken shit of Ford, to use a type of messaging service to tell employees they’re fired? Moline based farm vehicle maker Deere (formerly known as John Deere) announced they will kill more than 600 jobs in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas! Some inside reports say it’s more like 1-thousand jobs killed! Company officials blame crashing sales. Peoria based heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar reports their sales crashed by 12% from March through May. It’s all part of the big mining shutdown conspiracy around the World. As a result Caterpillar shutdown four of its Anchor Coupling production and logistics facilities, at least 170 full time jobs lost! Fiat-Chrysler laid off 325 people in Belvidere! It’s blamed on a 37% drop in sales of the new Dodge Dart.

Indiana: In Mishawaka, taxsucker, and maker of the (in)famous Hummer, AM General (formerly part of American Motors Corporation [AMC]) laid off 60 people. However, the company had actually recalled 200 people earlier in the year due to increased demand for the military general utility machine. In Kokomo, General Motors (GM) revealed they laid off an undisclosed number of employees at their computer control module factory. In a surprise announcement, Monaco RV shutdown their towable recreational vehicle factory in Elkhart, 160 jobs lost! It’s blamed on the 2013 takeover by Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV). Officials with ASV say towable campers are no longer money makers. Truck maker Navistar International announced they’re shutting down their Indianapolis foundry by the summer of 2015, at least 180 jobs lost! Company administrators say the suck-ass economy is forcing them to get their parts from a cheap-o-contractor instead of making them in their own foundry!

Iowa: Farm vehicle maker Deere continues job killing, this time 462 people in Waterloo are now jobless! That’s on top of the previously announced Deere layoffs in Illinois.

Kansas: Farm equipment maker AGCO tried to blame their factory shutdown and killing of at least 111 jobs on the embargo against U.S. farm equipment by Russia, however, ag analysts say it’s really the suck-ass economy: “With depressed crop prices, farmers don’t want to spend money, and large equipment dealers like John Deere, like AGCO, are starting to see the effects, and they’re being proactive.”-John Jenkinson, The Ag Network

Massachusetts: Boston based Hill Holiday advertising laid off employees after losing GM’s Cadillac contract.

Michigan: Detroit based General Motors (GM) announced they are cutting back on car production in Russia, due to crashing sales. In Lansing, GM revealed that 450 people at its Grand River Assembly Plant could become jobless in early 2015! It’s blamed on crashing sales of upscale Cadillacs. GM also killing off at least 160 jobs at its Buick and Chevy Orion Assembly Plant by the end of 2015 (they hope production will go up when they introduce the new Camaro)! Five Suski’s used car lots across two counties shutdown! Plastic parts maker for the automotive industry Flint Hills Resources shutting down their Marysville plant by mid-2015, at least 75 jobs lost. Company administrators said that despite their best efforts the factory could not “remain competitive”.

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, Borton Volvo shutdown. They were the last new car dealer in the city. The owner blames city officials for changing zoning laws, now he’s building a mega dealership outside city limits (less tax revenue for the dumb city officials). However, U.S. Volvo dealers might have a hard time getting new cars to sell as Sweden based Volvo said they lost so much money at the end of 2013 that they had to kill 4,400 jobs around the world in 2014! And that’s on top of the previous 2-thousand job cuts announced at the end of 2013! After five years of selling Italian motorcycles, Ducati Motors shutdown in the Lyn-Lake area: “We are closing because we are unable to be profitable.”-Merrill Ferguson

Missouri: In Saint Joseph, car battery maker Johnson Controls laid off 29 employees. They blame “technology advances”.

Nevada: Reports say construction on one of two secret Tesla Motors Gigafactories in Reno was stopped. No reason given, Tesla officials refused coment. The Gigafactories supposedly will make lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.

New Hampshire: 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: Manhattan Ford Lincoln shutdown in September, 245 jobs lost! In several cities across the state Long Island Automotive Group-Land Rover dealers shutdown, 243 jobs lost! General Motors (GM) shutdown their Treasury Operations in September, 46 jobs lost. In Owego, France based automotive electronics maker Asteelflash laid off 34 U.S. employees, blaming the bad economy. In Newburgh, after 65 years Dabrusin Auto Parts shutdown. The owner said the automotive market is so bad that he talked his daughter out of taking over the business!

North Dakota: Reports that Case-International Harvester eliminated 40 farm vehicle making jobs in Fargo.

Ohio: After 118 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) E.T. Paul Tire Company shutdown, ironically by the state Department of Transportation to make way for a new road! Japan based YSK laid off 19 people at its Chillicothe car parts factory. Company administrators were surprised by their crashing sales: “While a difficult decision and an unprecedented one in its 25 year history, YSK’s Management Team felt that it was necessary for the long term health of the company.”

Oklahoma: Auto parts maker Federal Mogul revealed they will shutdown their recently acquired Oklahoma City factory in 2015, at least 165 jobs lost! Federal Mogul took over the factory from Affina Group in June 2014.

Pennsylvania: In Shady Grove, heavy construction vehicle maker Manitowoc Cranes, killed 250 jobs! Company officials blame it on crashing orders, which represent crashing building construction. Only four years after Swedish vehicle maker Volvo set up shop in Shippensburg, Volvo administrators revealed they will shutdown specific heavy construction vehicle production, not only in the U.S. but in Poland and Brazil, killing off at least 1-thousand jobs into 2015!

South Carolina: In Spartanburg County, after only four years France based car parts maker Faurecia shutdown, 150 jobs lost! Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar shutdown its Fountain Inn factory, 510 jobs lost!

Tennessee: Custom transmission company Keisler Engineering went chapter 7 bankrupt busted. Company officials blame competitors for spreading rumors that the company was shutting down, but yet at the same time they confirmed the company is shutting down: “The order cancellations created a cash flow problem for KE, and placed new customer orders at risk. I took the initiative to refund all new order deposits going back to Thursday January 9 2014 once I realized the company was at risk of closure…”-Shafi Keisler

Vermont: Plasan Carbon Composites shutdown their Bennington operations in May, consolidating to Michigan, 143 jobs lost! The company makes carbon parts for the Dodge Viper and Chevy Corvette. However, company officials say they might figure out a way to use the factory to make armor plate made from carbon. White River Junction based turbo engineering company, Concepts NREC, laid off employees across several New England states.

Virginia: Roanoke based Advanced Auto Parts announced the shutdown of 100 stores across the U.S.! And that’s just the beginning, officials calling it their “first round” of store closings! Thousands of jobs will be lost! It’s the result of their takeover of rival Carquest-General Parts in 2013 (company officials say there are just far too many auto parts stores in the U.S., and they need to be culled). But wait, there’s more! Advanced Auto was awarded $17.4-million USD in taxpayer incentives, if they created 600 new jobs in Virginia! One news report said many of those ‘new’ jobs will actually be former Carquest employees simply re-hired by Advanced Auto.

Wisconsin: Tax sucking military truck maker Oshkosh laid off as many as 1,130 people in 2014! Company administrators proudly stated that despite the reduction in sales “We’re still the number one global manufacturer of tactical wheeled vehicles for the military”. Oshkosh killed at least 900 jobs in 2013! In Oshkosh, taxsucking AxleTech laid off 65 people. Company administrators blamed “a sharp decline in demand for military-grade axles and components”.

Blind Bat News

Tag Archives: closings

Sears & Kmart closing update, 30 January 2015: More signs the Blythe kmart is shutting down! Kmart threatened with takeover by city with 3rd highest tax rate! Ireland’s Primark taking over? As I’ve reported in the past, Sears to make money renting out property.

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 – 12 December 2014: “Everybody wants to know, ‘Is there anything we can do?’ and there is nothing.” Obamacare kills off bus service? Halliburton kills 1-thousand jobs!

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 – 10 December 2014: “…too saturated with everyone trying to split a dollar.” World’s biggest chip maker kills off 600 jobs! More clothing store shutdowns! More Obamacare job destruction!

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 08 December 2014: More girly clothing store deaths! More proof the suck-ass economy is going to kick yours!

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 03 – 04 December 2014: “Sometimes life throws you a curve ball.” Iconic business that survived 2 major U.S. depressions gets killed off by current “recovery”! Any fool can see the “recovered” economy sucks-ass!!!

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 02 December 2014: Jewelry seller kills off 30-thousand+ jobs in U.S. & Canada, & joins the mass exodus from Obama’s ‘home’ state! Puerto Rico bank abandons Lower 48! Drug makers abandon the U.S.?

Sears & Kmart closing update, 27 January 2015: New executives have track record of destruction? Options trading suddenly skyrockets! Majority owner dumps stocks! Sofia Vergara dumps Kmart!

Aeropostale closing update 27 January 2015: Insider trading revealed!

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 23 – 26 November 2014: “unprecedented financial challenges” California based HP kills 41-thousand+ jobs! More massive healthcare cuts! More foreign companies funded with U.S. taxes killing jobs!

What U.S. automotive industry recovery? Vehicle manufacturing & sales job destruction for 2014

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