Tag Archives: idaho

Business/Economics

Cerberus sells-off California & Idaho based grocery stores! 146 stores affected, shutdowns already announced!

27 January 2015 (19:48 UTC-07 Tango 26 January 2015)/06 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/07 Bahman 1393/08 Yi-Chou (12th month) 4712

In 2014 evil Cerberus Capital concluded a hostile $9.2-billion USD takeover of California based Safeway.  The hostile takeover, which was challenged in court, was done through Idaho based Albertsons.  Safeway was the second largest grocery store owner in the U.S., the Safeway family of grocery stores include California’s iconic Vons, and Mexico’s Casa Ley.  It should be noted that part of the hostile takeover agreement is that Cerberus must sell off Safeway owned grocery store chains.   Now Cerberus has sold off dozens of Vons.

In January 2013 evil Cerberus Capital Management became sole owner of Idaho based Albertsons. 14 stores were shut down in 2013,  another 26 Albertsons were shutdown by the end of February 2014.  Now, Cerberus has sold off dozens more Albertsons stores, as a result of the takeover of Safeway.

Cerberus has sold 146 Vons and Albertsons stores to a Washington based company called Haggen.  The affected stores are located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.  Already WARNs (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications) have been issued in California announcing the shutdown of several grocery stores.

This is interesting because at the beginning of January a Haggen spokeswoman said this: “The stores will remain open during the conversions and there are no plans to close any stores. In California, I would expect to see conversions more toward July.”-Deborah Pleva

Oregon: Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, due to the takeover by Cerberus owned Albertsons. 91 jobs lost by March.

California WARN list:

Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore, shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost!

The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost.  Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus.

Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown on 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost.

Pleasanton Safeway headquarters will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015.

San Diego Albertsons, shutdown on 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.

Albertsons shutting down?

Pocatello’s Old Fred Meyer & Albertsons…did not close down in the 1990s

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 – 30 November 2014: “everything must go!” Iconic eastern Idaho hobbie shop up for sale!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California:  In Stockton, food processor Hormel announced they will shutdown their 65 years old chili and Dinty Moore beef stew factory in February 2015, at least 110 jobs lost! Company administrators blame the record level prices of beef for causing a 21% drop in profits!

Hawaii: After 93 years of name changes family owned “Cheap, cheap, cheap, plenty, plenty, plenty!” Pinky’s convenience store shutdown.   The owner says she has “other plans”.

Click pics to make bigger

Idaho: After 66 years Blackfoot Appliance & Furniture announced they will shutdown by the end of January 2015, “everything must go!” In Chubbuck, after 23 years the iconic local Dapco Hobbies now up for sale.  The current owner (not the friendly family owners that moved the shop to Chubbuck, Corey & Melia) is selling everything off and wants out of the hobby business.   Dapco Hobbies was originally located on Garrett Way in Pocatello (according to the BBB that was beginning in 1991), then, after Corey & Melia took over Dapco relocated to Chubbuck around 2007-08.  For a very brief time Dapco Hobbies had a shop in Ammon then Idaho Falls (apparently they left about the same time the ‘big box’ Hobby Town left Idaho Falls), and they even had an internet website.  They started out focused on trains, then shifted to RC when that got big.  I went there for the plastic model kits (and I still do although it’s looking empty, hope there’s somebody who can buy it and keep running it as a hobby shop).

Missouri: In Hannibal, after 34 years the owners of Artique Frame Palette announced they will shutdown in December.

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.

Texas:  In College Station, after 14 years La Bodega taco bar shutdown. The owner said they had to vacate the old decrepit building, and hopes to find a new location.

Washington: After 63 years A&J Meats and Seafood shutdown.

Wisconsin: After more than 25 years the owners of Golden Karat Jewelers in Rhinelander announced they will shutdown in January 2015.

23-26-november-2014: HP kills 41-thousand jobs!

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, 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!

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”

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, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 – 22 November 2014: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!” Obamacare kills off government jobs in California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alpha Natural Resources announced at least 62 people laid off at their coal mine ops in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Arkansas: Little Rock based Windstream Communications announced another 350 layoffs, on top of the 400 layoffs earlier this year!  The company is undergoing radical change due to the suck-ass economy, including trying to become an evil REIT (real estate investment trust).

California: In Walnut Creek, Valley Waste Management issued a WARN saying 66 employees will be laid off in February 2015.  Boeing issued more WARNs saying another 181 employees across southern California will be laid off by January 2015!  In Van Nuys, Keaster Products issued a WARN saying they will shutdown at the end of December.  San Francisco based video game maker Double Fine laid off at least 12 employees, and cancelled work on its latest video game.  In Sacramento, the Golden State senate immediately laid off 39 of its own upper house employees.  Another 50 employees will be laid off through attrition.  Also, state employees will see at least a $30 per month increase in their health insurance payments, no thanks to Obama Care!

Connecticut: In Torrington, after more than 60 years the owner of children’s items store Reibman’s said she might shutdown in December.  The owner of the store also owns the building, and is jumping on the property development train.  She’s been trying to sell the building with no luck, so maybe she can rent it out?

Georgia: God refuses to stop Saint Francis Hospital from laying off 65 healthcare workers, suddenly. Administrators implied that reduced funding caused by Obama Care forced them to re-examine their ‘books’, during which they discovered they were $30-million USD short! Administrators admitted to employees that they “overestimated” expected payments.

Idaho: The mayor of American Falls reported that the local ALCO store was shutting down, he was alerted when he saw employees putting up the going out of business signs.  It’s one of five Idaho ALCO stores being shutdown (see Texas below). The American Falls mayor says his small city can’t afford more job losses: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!”-Marc Beitia

Illinois: In Geneva, after 18 years women’s clothing store Sandra Webster shutdown.

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 33 years Gavi’s Restaurant shutdown.

Michigan: In Owosso, Planned Parenthood shutting down in December due to crashing federal funding.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop ‘his’ 60 years old Christian Book and Gift Store in Rochester from shutting down right after Xmas!

Ohio: In Mansfield, after 47 years Grantie’s Grinders (sub style sandwiches) shutdown, 11 jobs lost. The owners blame competition from a ‘big box’ sandwich shop that recently moved into the neighborhood.

Pennsylvania: 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!    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.  In Muhlenburg, God refuses to stop’his’ Salvation Army Thrift Store from shutting down.  Administrators with the Queen of England controlled Salvation Army says the store has been losing money for years.

Tennessee: In West Knoxville Sonny’s BBQ shutdown.

Texas: After 113 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Coppell based ALCO (formerly known as Duckwall-ALCO) announced they will shutdown all 198 stores across the United States!

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

Washington: Too Big to Jail Union Bank announced they will shutdown 20 offices by March 2015.  Those offices once belonged to Frontier Bank (which failed).

West Virginia: Patriot Coal announced another 130 coal mining jobs lost!

20 november 2014: armed guards used to layoff employees!

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, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 17 – 19 November 2014: “I can’t believe I’m turning into one of your sad stories…” Cargill & Walmart join exodus from Canada? More call centers go down!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: Bentonville based Walmart revealed it eliminated 210 jobs at its Ontario, Canada, office!  The latest round of layoffs are on top of 750 revealed earlier this Spring!

California: In Auberry, the Wish-I-Ah Healthcare & Wellness Center ordered shutdown by state health administrators who declared the nursing home to be posing “immediate and serious risks” to the paitents, at least 95 jobs lost.  Sears Holdings announced they will shutdown the Yuba City Kmart in December, 63 jobs lost.  In Auburn, after 38 years Lou La Bonite’s restaurant shutdown. In San Diego, Science Application International issued a WARN saying they will eliminate 63 jobs by February 2015.   San Diego based Pizzeria Mozza shutdown their new Seaport District restaurant, and canceled all upcoming pizza making classes: “Sadly, the gospel of Mozza pizza did not adequately spread to the people of San Diego. We regret that we will not be able to continue to serve the community there…”-company statement

Colorado: In Leadville, after 135 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) God refuses to stop the shutdown of Christian founded Saint Vincent Hospital. Perhaps because of reduced payments caused by Obama Care, the administrators say they cannot afford to fix the broken heating system.

Idaho: In Boise, after 73 years Molenaar Jewelers announced a going out of business sale, the owner was unable to find a buyer for the business which will shutdown in Janaury 2015.  Also in Boise, a year after taking over Boise Paper (aka Boise Inc) for $1.27-billion USD, Packaging Corporation of America issued a WARN saying they will shutdown the Boise location by March 2015, at least 152 jobs lost!

Florida:  Orlando based Darden Restaurants killed 85 jobs (60 filled, 25 vacant positions) at its HQ. Darden operates Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse. Company administrators say the skyrocketing price of food (like beef) is forcing them to cut $20-million USD from their 2014-15 budget!  In Palm Beach Gardens, Morrison Healthcare issued a WARN saying they will render 71 employees jobless in January 2015.

Minnesota: After announcing plans in April to expand ops in Canada, Minnetonka based food processor Cargill actually expanded their job killing! Cargill sold off a Winnipeg feed mill and shutdown a Manitoba mill, as well as shutdown a Manitoba granary. News reports gave various reasons from saying the mills needed upgrades that were too expensive to pay for, to Cargill needing to become more efficient in the Canadian livestock feed industry. No details reported on how many Great White North jobs will be lost.

Missouri: CenturyLink announced they will shutdown their Columbia dispatch center in January 2015, at least 40 jobs lost.

Nebraska: God refuses to stop Kearny based CHI (Catholic Health Initiatives) Health Good Samaritan from killing “…1,500 administrative and support positions across the country by Jan. 30, 2015.”, despite recently getting a $3.3-million grant.  Administrators blame Obama Care for driving away customers.

New York: In Auburn, AC maker Daikin Applied issued a WARN announcing a 3rd round of layoffs.  The company is shutting down by December 2015, affecting a total of 310 jobs!   In Geneva, after months of rumors 54 years old Madia’s Big M grocery store shutdown. The Madia family basically said it wasn’t worth it operating a grocery store anymore and will focus on their other business ops. In Saranac Lake, the non-profit science research Trudeau Institute continues to layoff employees, despite getting new state funding.  This time five people to become unemployed by the end of 2014.  In West Village, after 15 years Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks shutting down in January 2015, the owner says the landlord suddenly refused to renew the lease: “I can’t believe I’m turning into one of your sad stories, but I’ve just lost my lease…..My landlord doesn’t want me here….It doesn’t matter if he hears from 10-thousand people. He didn’t even offer me a different rent, he just said, ‘no!’.”

Pennsylvania: The Ephrata Library killed off 11 jobs due to funding cuts.

Ohio:  MAGY Staffing issued a WARN saying they will shutdown call centers and offices in Toledo and Holland, 225 people to become jobless by January 2015!   In Stryker, A. Schulman announced it will shutdown its color concentrates and additives factory in April 2015, 70 jobs lost.  Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to “right size”.

Rhode Island: After 70 years Damon’s Hardware shutdown.

Texas: In Houston, Hollywood Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine shutdown.  Oil industry companies Halliburton and Baker Hughes warned of massive layoffs saying they need to cut expenses by $2-billion!

Vermont: In Rutland, owners of Sal’s Downtown Restaurant announced they will shutdown in December. Apparently the landlord refused to renew the lease.

Virginia: Medical testing lab Health Diagnostic Laboratory revealed they laid off 132 employees! However, the company has been accused of paying (bribing) health care providers to use their service.

14-16 november 2014: “like watching people get executed”

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, Idaho, U.S.

Occupy your Failed State! The less money you make the more taxes you pay! New study shows state & local taxes overwhelmingly favor the 1%!

18 January 2015 (03:20 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Rab al’Awwal 1436/28 Dey 1393/28 Yi-Chou 4712

A new study shows that even in U.S. states with no official state level income tax the less money you make the higher the percentage of taxes you pay: “Combining all state and local income, property, sales and excise taxes that Americans pay, the nationwide average effective state and local tax rates by income group are 10.9 percent for the poorest 20 percent of individuals and families, 9.4 percent for the middle 20 percent and 5.4 percent for the top 1 percent.“-Who Pays: A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All Fifty States (fifth edition)

In fact, the U.S. state of Washington (which has no state level income tax) kisses the asses of the 1% the most: Lowest 20% pay 16.8% in various forms of taxes.  The middle 20% pay 10.1%, the top 1% pay only 2.4%.

Many police state New England states are very similar to Washington in their effective combined tax rates.  The top 1% pay very little as a percentage of their incomes compared to the bottom 20%.

Back out west, state and local governments in Idaho charge their lowest 20% of income earners a combined 8.5% for the ‘privilege’ of living in the Gem State.  The middle 20% pay 7.6% and the top 1% pay 6.4%.  Also, Idaho does not allow poor people to get a state level ‘earned income tax credit’ rebate such as states like California.  If an individual’s personal income is less than $10,500 USD the state will not accept a tax refund filing request from them (even though the state’s own tax refund charts show they should be able to get a refund, and that the unfair state income taxes were already taken out of their paychecks).

California is considered the most ‘fair’ with its plethora of state and local taxes, but the poor are still charged more than the rich.  The bottom 20% of income earners pay 10.5% for the ‘privilege’ of living in the Golden State.  The middle 20% pay 8.2% and the top 1% pay 8.7%.

To read more and weep (unless your the top 1%, then rejoice) click here for more. The study does not include federal level taxes.

As far as sales tax only, the TaxFoundation accuses Tennessee of having the highest state and local sales taxes, while Delaware,  Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no sales tax (as of 2014).  Some states, like Idaho, actually have a ‘sales’ tax law (called a Use Tax in Idaho) requiring you to pay taxes on any products you buy outside of the state!

In 2010, Bankrate.com rated Hawaii and Oregon as the states with the highest individual income tax rates, followed by California, Oregon, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Maine and Washington DC.

The Retirement Living Information Center provides state level tax info for each U.S. state (but not local level taxes).  However, they don’t rate which state is the best for least amount of taxes paid.

Do the taxes you pay justify the lack of governmental services you get in return?  Even with Obama Care the United States still does not have a true ‘socialized’ healthcare system (it’s just a profit making scheme for the insurance industry)!

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 11 November 2014: “…it’s hard to fail.”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Connecticut: Norwalk based iconic Xerox warned that more layoffs are in the works, on top of the 13-hundred already taking place!  Administrators say demand for high-tech stuff is crashing, after reporting their 10th straight quarter of losses!

Florida: The Island Breeze Casino cruse ship now bankrupt busted, 250 employees laid off!  Administrators blame it on an engine fire that cost at least $1-million USD to fix.  In Saint Petersburg, British empire United Kingdom based medical products maker Smith & Nephew warned it will shutdown in 2015, eliminating 108 U.S. jobs!  Administrators say they must consolidate ops to Texas.

Idaho: In Challis, Colorado based Thompson Creek Mining (aka Thompson Creek Metals) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 160 people and shutdown their molybdenum mine in December.  The mining company also warned Canadian employment administrators that they will shutdown their Endako molybdenum mine, also in December.  Administrators blame the crashing price of moly-B.

Illinois: In Evanston, after 34 years Next Theater Company shutdown without notice.  Reports say subscribers will not get refunds!  Administrators blame a “sudden” crash in ticket buying and even donations, and they admitted their money management skills might not have been the best.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 68 years Freeman Jewelers shutdown.  The family owners blamed the high cost of precious metals and gems, and high unemployment, for impacting their sales.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul from killing an undisclosed number jobs.  It’s blamed on their craving for sex with children, as they recently paid out a huge (undisclosed) amount of money to settle yet another sex abuse lawsuit!  In Minneapolis, printer Cenveo revealed they will shutdown and render jobless 112 people between December 2014 and March 2015!

Nebraska: It was announced that the only Schweser’s women’s clothing store in Ohama will shutdown in January 2015.  Company administrators blamed “economic reasons”.

North Carolina: Baxano Surgical now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Ohio: In Springboro, a 56 years old IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) grocery store shutdown. The owner blames competition from ‘big box’ stores: “We’ve got third, fourth generation shoppers. I’ve seen the kids in their baby carriers, to them bringing in their own kids. It’s hard to see what this is, when you watch your inventory dwindle down trying to make excuses to the customers is just, it’s hard to fail.”-Doug Preston

South Carolina: In Conway, after six years the Eggs Up Grill shutdown, 20 jobs lost. The owners said they’re being evicted due to not being able to pay their bills. Co-owner Christine Bonar says “There’s no value to put on what we’re losing financially. It will be the value of the friendships that we’ve made and the staff that we worked with. We’re all breaking up. We’re breaking up our family!” Manager Jeanne Sudowski is worried about the employees: “Obviously losing your job right before Thanksgiving and Christmas time is very rough…..some of them I don’t know if they can collect unemployment because they’ve only been here since July.”

07-09 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, Idaho

Shopko opens new Idaho store, while news reports reveal the closing of 14 others! Landlord preps for evictions?

15 January 2015 (10:16 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Rab al’Awwal 1436/25 Dey 1393/25 Yi-Chou 4712

Wisconsin based Shopko boasted about the opening of its new Salmon (Idaho) store, and about giving away $1.1-million USD to charities, but isn’t saying a word about reports of their planned shutdown of at least 14 stores across the United States.

The Salmon store is actually a new down sized version of Shopko called Shopko Hometown.  Apparently this is the type of store Shopko administrators have been switching to as they shutdown their bigger operations, blaming the bad economy.

Administrators have also begun a new marketing policy called JustEnough, intended to “reduce marketing costs”.

1st Quarter 2015 shutdowns (revealed so far):

In Kentucky, the Hodgenville Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

In Missouri, the Tarkio Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

In Ohio, Shopko to shutdown its Greenfield, Archbold, Montpelier and Newton Falls stores by April, at least 70 jobs will be affected.

In South Dakota, the Avera FastCare health clinic located inside the Aberdeen Shopko shutdown.  Local news reports said there are currently no plans to replace it.

In Utah, employees spreading the word that the Provo Shopko will shutdown by 15 April 2015.  Also, reports that the Bountiful (apparently actually located in West Bountiful even though the address is in Bountiful?) Shopko will shutdown in April.

In Wisconsin, Shopko will shutdown its Ashland Hometown store by April,  at least 29 jobs lost.

Also of importance, a major retail landlord just modified its lease agreement with Shopko.  The deal makes it easier for Spirit Realty Capital to evict Shopko in favor of new tenants (Shopko also got paid $18.8-million for the inconvenience of being kicked out).  The retail landlord said it wanted to reduce its reliance on Shopko for revenue!  

Related: Shopko backtracks on new Hometown store in Indiana as tax deal halted

Shopko kicks back $500 for Christian run volleyball in Iowa

2014 shutdowns (that I’ve found so far):

In Wisconsin, ShopKo killed off 40 jobs at its Ashwaubenon corporate HQ. Company administrators blame the bad economy for their “reorganization”.  A Madison store was shutdown, 66 jobs lost.

In Ohio, Shopko shutdown their store in Georgetown.

In Indiana, Shopko issued a WARN in November saying it will shutdown a distribution center.  The shutdown will be completed by September 2015, at least 95 jobs lost.   A Loogootee Shopko was shutdown, at least 14 jobs lost.  The Petersburg and Bloomfield Shopkos were also shutdown.

It should be noted that Shopko has been quietly and slowly shutting down stores since 2001.

 

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!

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.