Tag Archives: labor

Business/Economics, Idaho

“This sudden decline in demand was unexpected.” Idaho’s youth get the hell outta Dodge! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 – 06 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

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

California: Illinois based drugs maker Baxalta eliminating 1-hundred jobs in Thousand Oaks by May, due to being taken over by an Irish company.  In Stockton, S-Mart grocery store shutting down mid-month, 50 jobs lost due to lack of profits.

Connecticut:  More proof of Depression; the city of Bridgeport eliminated 24 jobs due to lack of tax revenues.  Administrators warned “There may be more than that.”  And here’s another reason why tax revenues will continue to go down,  battery maker Duracell warns it will move its Bethel HQ to Illinois due to being taken over by job killer Warren Buffett.

Florida: Tomato Land Farmers Market store-restaurant shutting down next month, due to the property being sold-off.  In Tampa’s Ybor City, after 33 years The Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant shutting down on Wednesday. No specific reason was given, but in 2010 the Church of Scientology became the new landlord.

Idaho:  Good news if you hate loan sharks, bad news if that’s how you make your living; according to the state Department of Finance the number of ‘licensed’ payday loan business crashed by 34% in 2015!  More will shutdown as new tougher federal laws go into effect: “What we are hearing and reading nationally is the lenders are saying they cannot afford to stay in the business.”-Mike Larsen, Idaho Dept. of Finance Consumer Finance Bureau

The Idaho Department of Labor admits that many Idahoans born between 1980 and 2000 are fleeing the Right to Work (you over) Gem State, and the biggest reason is the same reason I’ve heard since arriving in 1997, not enough good paying jobs: “People want to stay here, but there aren’t many options or much industry available in Idaho.  We’ve been avoiding this issue for a long time, because our employers don’t like to hear it: We don’t pay well!”-Ken Edmunds, Idaho Department of Labor

Back in 2003 I interviewed several Idaho State University Alumni who graduated in 1973.  They all stated they were making more money back in the 1970s.  One social sciences graduate stated he continued working at his loading dock job because he was making more money than what he would get with his sociology degree, but once Idaho became a Right to Work state (in the 1980s) everything went to hell.  As a dock worker in Pocatello (on Garrett Way) he was making $15.00 per hour in the 1970s, and that’s not adjusting for inflation!  He wasn’t married and his rent, utilities and food was so cheap by today’s costs that he felt like he was living in luxury.  By 2003 most of the distribution/warehouse jobs left the city, and at his age he was lucky to find a job that paid him $7.00 per hour.  He said the only reason why he wasn’t homeless was because he paid-off his cheap mobile home in the late 1970s and was still living in it.  Many of the older Pocatellans I interviewed wondered how young adults were surviving financially.   For decades local and state level politicians promised to bring god paying jobs to the state.  In Pocatello and Chubbuck there is a covert push to make the area a warehousing/distribution hub again, but the average starting wage for such jobs is between $10 and $15 per hour.  When adjusted for inflation that’s way less than what the same jobs paid in the 1970s!

Illinois: In Moline, Ryan’s Steakhouse shutdown without warning, pissing off employees.  The restaurant was shutdown officially for an “asset inventory”, but then, the employees were told they could pick up their final paychecks!  A local TV news report said one employee was told of the layoff after she clocked-out to go home.

Kentucky: An example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), Carmeuse Lime and Stone eliminating 76 jobs in Maysville, blaming it on a customer who suddenly announced it will shutdown a coal fired power plant in Pennsylvania: “FirstEnergy is the largest customer for Carmeuse’s Maysville Operation and the idling of the Bruce Mansfield power generation capacity has caused a significant and abrupt decline in demand for our products. This sudden decline in demand was unexpected.”    

Minnesota: Stillwater School District shutting down three elementary schools. Interestingly administrators blame increasing enrollment!  They claim they’re shifting children out of older schools into new buildings designed to handle more students.

New York: In NYC, after 29 years never ending building remodeling by the landlord killed-off Cardiology gift store: “We lost all the morning business. It’s a struggle every month to make the rent.”-Richard Barbosa

Pennsylvania: FirstEnergy suddenly shutting down its Bruce Mansfield power generation plant, after asking PJM Interconnection to grant a surcharge rate increase to its utility customers, and after claiming it spent $450-million USD on upgrades last year.  The news of the sudden shutdown was revealed by a major supplier in Kentucky.  385 jobs threatened! 

Texas: Aluminum maker Alcoa announce more layoffs, this time a second round of layoffs at their Howmet Castings ops in Wichita Falls.  They already laid off 60 people back in January, no numbers given for this section round of job culling.

Virginia: In South Richmond, after less than six months White Horse Tavern shutdown due to lack of dinner sales.  News reports say yet another restauranteur is about to take a whack at opening an eatery in the same location.

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

03-04 March 2016: “unsustainable”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

Potential Presidential candidate kills 1,000 jobs! 2016 kills big sales for Kroger! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 03 – 04 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Saddleback Memorial Medical Center shutting down in May.  Administrators say ObamaCare has driven away so many patients that it’s now “unsustainable”.  Japan based video game maker SEGA (SEGA was created in the U.S. territory of Hawaii in 1940, where it made slot machines) revealed they eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs from their San Francisco SEGA Networks ops.

Colorado: Russia based steel oil pipe maker EVRAZ expanding their job destruction to Pueblo, 70 jobs lost to low oil and steel prices.  This is on top of the 230 jobs in Oregon.

Connecticut: In Stamford, after 50 years Pat’s Hubba Hubba restaurant shutting down by the end of the month.

Illinois: In Lake Zurich the Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by the end of April.  John A. Logan College eliminating 55 jobs claiming to be short $7-million USD.  Protesting students pointed out that certain departments are not suffering job losses and that school executives refused to say why.   Computer Systems Institute shutting down campuses across the state, eliminating 172 jobs between now and September!  In Chicago, Computershare issued a layoff WARN, 56 jobs lost by the end of April.  Food giant Tyson issued a shutdown WARN, 170 frozen food jobs eliminated between April and August!  In Elk Grove Village, food service company Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN, 54 jobs lost by the end of April.  Also in Elk Grove Village, Arrow Plastics shutting down after being sold-off, 165 jobs lost by mid-April! In Westmont, IlliCare Health shutting down due to loss of contract, 68 jobs lost by the end of this month.  In Bensenville, Tek-Cast issued a shutdown WARN, 119 jobs lost by mid-April! Deer Run Mine issued a layoff WARN, 84 jobs lost between March this year and January 2017 (blamed on a “natural disaster”).  Joliet Generating Station eliminating 94 jobs between April and October.  Bankrupt Sports Authority shutting down their Romeoville store in April, 66 jobs lost (for a list of all the Sports Authority stores being shutdown as part of the bankruptcy, click here).  TDC Filter shutting down their Bolingbrook factory, 91 jobs gone by the the end of this month. In Rochelle, Ryder truck rentals issued a shutdown WARN, 2-hundred jobs lost by the end of April!  The Kewanee child prison being consolidated with other prison ops, 203 jobs lost by July!

Maryland: In Amherst, beef eatery White Hut shutting down by the end of the month.  The family owners say sales have only been “modest” and not enough to justify renewing the lease.  They hope their flagship Great Depression era restaurant in West Springfield doesn’t meet the same fate.

Massachusetts: Framingham based, Mitt Romney (yep, the very same Mormon guy who’s threatening to run against Donald Trump) co-founded Staples announced it is shutting down an additional 50 stores.  Mitt Romney’s Staples has shutdown 242 North American stores in the past two years, and eliminated 1-thousand jobs between November 2015 and January 2016!

Minnesota: Dow shutting down their warehousing ops at their GMO seed factory in Olivia, 25 jobs lost.  However, GMO “Research and Development (R&D) activities will continue at the site.” 

New York: Solar equipment supplier Direct Energy shutting down their Henrietta operations, 53 jobs lost in May.  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs eliminating 43 jobs in May, they accuse the employees of being “under-performers”!   Berkley Publishing Group revealed they eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs last week, blaming crashing paperback book sales.  News reports say the book publisher has been eliminating jobs since Summer 2015.

Ohio: Grocery store giant Kroger warning investors that same store sales crashed in the last three months of their fiscal 2015 (for the entire year their sales were still up)!  Kroger owns stores that sell more than just food, but administrators warn that across the board sales will be down for 2016, which breaks Kroger’s record of more than 12 straight years of sales increases!  Kroger administrators blame competition, and deflation which will kill profit margins.

Oregon: The Kroger owned  Fred Meyer distribution center in Clackamas is threatening 2-hundred jobs, as Kroger decided to find a new contractor to provide the labor!

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

Utah: British empire United Kingdom based Rio Tinto eliminating about 2-hundred jobs at their Kennecott mine, blaming low prices for metals!

Vermont: Entergy eliminating 97 jobs at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant due to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission eliminating the ten mile emergency evacuation zone.

Virginia: After 89 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) clothier Young Men’s Shop shutting down.  The owner said that despite most of his clothing being made in the U.S. more and more people buy off internet.

Washington: Seattle based retailer Nordstrom’s revealed they eliminated ten IT jobs, last week.  This is despite the fact that Nordstrom’s internet sales have gone up.

Wisconsin: OEM Fabricators laying off 34 people in Baldwin as the company shuts down in April.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

02 March 2016: “We have to remove ourselves from what once was.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Fukushima

Five Years Later: 3,400 dead! 349,000 domestic refugees! No more fat kids?

05 March 2016 (11:45 UTC-07 Tango 01) 15 Esfand 1394/25 Jumada al-Ula 1437/27 Xin Mao 4714

Five years after the March 2011 quake-tsunami-nuclear disaster the Japanese Reconstruction Agency revealed that more than 3-thousand 4-hundred “survivors” have died.  Not surprising, 56% of those deaths took place in the nuclear disaster reactor prefecture of Fukushima!

Other data proving the failure of Japan’s response to the 2011 disasters; by mid-February this year more than 174-thousand people are still in temporary housing.  I should point out that back in 2011 government officials were expecting the ‘temporary’ housing to be used for no more than six months!  Many administrators were not prepared for the radiation levels that, in some areas, are still preventing people from returning to their homes.  Another 156,234 survivors are living in homes/apartments that are being rented by local governments.  18,237 survivors are living with relatives.  All together about 349-thousand people are living as refugees in their own country!

43,139 survivors of the initial 2011 disaster from Fukushima are still living outside the prefecture, however, the ongoing nuclear disaster is blamed for an exodus of 115-thousand residents since then!

For more proof that living as a refugee, even in your own country, is worse than staying put NHK  (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) surveyed more than 5-hundred survivors: 42% said their standard of living has not improved. 37%  said their situation is worse. 11% said they are struggling.

In a sign of some improvement, children in Fukushima are no longer fat?  After fours years of gaining weight school aged children in the nuclear disaster are suddenly losing it.  That’s according to the Ministry of Education.  It’s assumed that reason why school kids got fat was because they were not allowed to play outside due to the radiation contamination.  In the past year the ban on playing out side was lifted, and education administrators think that’s why the kids have suddenly lost weight.  It must be pointed out that being fat in Japan does not mean you’re actually fat, it’s based on the government standard for being overweight.  The government has somehow determined how much a person should weigh, and if you’re 20% or more over that limit you’re a fatty!

But don’t credit declining radiation contamination for the lifting of the outside play ban, the real reason is that the number of parents keeping their kids out of Fukushima schools has jumped; 1-thousand 785 children were kept out of school in 2015, that’s 2-hundred more than before the March 2011 disaster!

Confirmed: Population death spiral for Japan!

Japan admits Fukushima workers dying of cancer!

Business/Economics

“We have to remove ourselves from what once was.” No help for those who work for God? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 02 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

What housing market recovery? “…under the new federal real estate settlement procedures that took effect late last year, an unexpected problem is taking shape: Many lenders and title companies are refusing to provide copies of the final closing documents to real estate agents representing home buyers. That, in turn, is threatening to jeopardize one of the traditional services agents perform for their clients: scrutinizing closing statements for inaccuracies that could cost them money or delay the settlement unnecessarily.”-The Washington Post

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Palo Alto based ‘cloud’ computing company SurveyMonkey eliminating 1-hundred jobs, saying “The products and solutions in place were not going to generate long-term value for SurveyMonkey.”  

Colorado: Just a few days after Blind Bat News was told by an unnamed Kmart employee of pending shutdown, Sears Holdings confirmed they will shut down the Fort Collins Kmart, 33 jobs lost in May.    Englewood based Sports Authority now officially chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Last month I wrote that they were shutting down 140 stores, on top of the shutdowns already conducted.

Illinois: Troubled drugs maker Abbott Laboratories about to fire U.S. workers and replace them with migrants from India: “-You have given 180 U.S. employees 60-days notice, and their last day of employment at Abbott Labs will be April 22, 2016.

-To add insult to injury, the Abbott Labs IT staff who will be laid off will first be forced to train their replacements.

–You have awarded Wipro Ltd, a large Indian outsourcing firm, with a contract to take over the jobs of these American workers.

-You are offering the U.S. workers severance of a week’s pay for each year they spent at the company, but in order to receive this severance you are requiring these employees to sign away their right to sue or disparage the company. The severance packet you gave your workers contains a full-page ad listing jobs at Wipro.

-The people you are laying off have stellar experience, credentials, and performance reviews, and some have been with your company for 15-20 years.”-Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator

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

Maryland: After 58 years Harbin Farms shutting down due to A-Hole zoning rules which will impose at least $375-thousand USD of property upgrades upon the family owners: “We’re probably going to move. We have to remove ourselves from what once was.”-Kim Taylor

Minnesota: Ferrara Candy shutting down their Winona factory and consolidating to its factory in Illinois, more than 120 Minnesota jobs lost!  

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

New York: New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott hotel coming under new management, 191 jobs threatened by the end of May!  Japanese company Canon Solutions lost their contract with New York Life, 38 jobs lost by the end of May. In Saratoga Springs, after only seven months restaurant Spa City Trifecta shutting down tomorrow “Due to the fact that the restaurant is no longer permitted to use its smoker on the premises…”  Germany based Siemens Dresser-Rand eliminating jobs at their Wellsville factory, so far they won’t say how many.  

Reports that Armonk based IBM began eliminating more jobs, just a month after reducing their six month severance plan down to just one month.

Oregon: Pinnacle Workforce Logistics issued a WARN, they’re eliminating 190 jobs in Clackamas by April!

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh-Post Gazette warned unionized employees of mass layoffs, apparently due to efforts to bribe (voluntary buyouts) more than a hundred people to quit have failed.

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

Washington: Apollo Education-University of Phoenix shutting down their Seattle operations, 46 jobs lost by the end of April.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

01 March 2016: “Our outlook for 2016 reflects the weakening in the industrial economy that began broadly impacting our businesses late last summer.” 

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

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

Business/Economics

Mo layoffs with no final pay! Mo oil industry BS! GEICo Gecko shafts you with Green Weenie! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 01 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Delaware: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; software company SevOne revealed that it eliminated about 50 jobs last week.

Florida: In Fort Lauderdale, “notorious” Tropicana Motel shutting down after 60 years.  It’s being replaced with a giant expensive hotel.

Georgia: In Albany, after five years Christian owned (Flint River Presbytery) non-profit Bare Bulb Coffee shop shutting down due to road construction that killed customer traffic.

Illinois: Chicago Public Schools laid off 62 people on Monday.  The village of University Park eliminating 50 jobs due to “Mismanagement of funds, borrowing and never paying it back. Now we have a poor rating, and we can’t borrow money.”

Indiana: Texas based Trinity Containers shutting down their Quincy ops starting in May.  72 jobs lost due to a sudden decline in demand for their propane tanks.  It should be noted that Trinity reported a record 4th quarter 2015 profit of $200-million USD!  However, administrators said despite the 2015 profit “Our outlook for 2016 reflects the weakening in the industrial economy that began broadly impacting our businesses late last summer.”

Maryland: Plastic container maker Graham Packaging shutting down its Baltimore operation,  79 jobs lost by the end of Summer.

Massachusetts: 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shuts down in May.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; software company Avid Technology eliminating $68-million USD in jobs and services, blaming bad management decisions such as failing to keep up with new technological developments!

Mississippi: In Quitman (yep, that’s the city’s name), Solvay Biomass Energy revealed it laid off 32 people last week.  They can’t compete with cheap oil prices.

Nebraska: Omaha based job killer ‘christian’ Warren Buffett says vehicle insurance rates are going up due to increased accidents.  He should know, the insurance industry is his forte.  Buffett got his start with GEICo, which stands for Government Employees Insurance Company, in a ’round-a-bout way making his first fortune off taxpayers.

New York: In NYC, Iowa based marketing company Meredith Corporation revealed they laid off 29 people last Friday.  EmblemHealth Services shutting down their Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 82 jobs lost beginning at the end of May.   It’s blamed on a lost contract.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Manifest Digital shutting down its Saratoga Springs office, as a result of its merger with McMurry/TMG.

Ohio: 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutting down in May. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Appliance & Hardware shuts down this Friday.

Oklahoma: D&L Oil Tools laid off 78 people, blaming low oil prices.

Pennsylvania: After suddenly laying off ambulance technicians in New York, with no final paychecks, TransCare suddenly shutdown their Monroeville facility, 120 people out of work and with no paychecks!  Local TV news reports reveal even more bad news for employees. 

Rhode Island: Memorial Hospital announced it must eliminate an undisclosed number of employees, and shutdown a birthing center, a surgical department and intensive care unit.

South Carolina: 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutting down by May.

Texas:  Investor’s Business Dailey issued a WARN saying at least 14 people in Plano will become jobless by the end of April.  Luminant Mining Company issued multiple WARNs, 80 jobs lost by the end of April.  Denmark based Maersk Drilling laid off 35 people in Houston. Also in Houston, Boeing plans to layoff at least 15 people by the end of April.  Grapevine based oil field service company Green Hunter Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Virginia: In Radford, after 17 years Wade’s Foods shutting down, the owner blames skyrocketing costs and competition with big corporate stores, more than 50 jobs lost.  Local news says plans to shutdown were made last year.

Washington DC:  U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) reporting that despite the tens of thousand of U.S. oil industry layoffs and hundreds of rig shutdowns, U.S. oil production in the Gulf of Mexico will hit record levels in 2017.  The EIA expects Gulf of Mexico production to hit 1.9mbd (million barrels per day), and that’s separate from the Obama regime’s plan to authorize a 45 million acre expansion of oil operations in the Gulf!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

28 -29 February 2016: “took a knife and cut my heart out”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 02 March 2016 : More closings, blame it on the demise of the Middle Class!

“They just can’t compete. Department stores are the worst segment in retailing. The sector is not a good sector….  …People are watching their pennies. The customer is trading down, and people in the extreme value business are booming.”-Howard Davidowitz, retail analyst explaining what happens when your exalted leaders destroy the Middle Class

A Kmart employee in California notified Blind Bat News that Sears Holdings plans on shutting down another Kmart in Colorado, as well as another Kmart in California (not confirmed).  Sears Holdings is shifting most full time employees to part time, and consolidating district and regional management jobs across the country, saying it’s necessary to “proactively transform” the dying business!

27 February 2016: While sales crash, customers steal work clothes & stores are literally given away, Sears exec spends millions on new home! 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011, new closing revelations in BOLD:

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

Alabama: Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

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

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

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

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

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

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

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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

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

Illinois: Eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

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

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

Kansas: North Topeka Kmart shutting down in 2016, 49 jobs lost. Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

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

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

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

Massachusetts: 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shuts down in May 2016.  North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

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

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

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

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

New York: Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford (Sangertown Mall) Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown. Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

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

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

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

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

Pennsylvania: Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

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

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

International

Syrian ‘Ceasefire’ False Flag calm before U.S. invasion Storm! NATO Turkey strikes Syrian Christians? Iran is ready for War!

01 March 2016 (07:13 UTC-07 Tango 01) 11 Esfand 1394/21 Jumada al-Ula 1437/23 Xin Mao 4714

“It was discussed two weeks ago in Brussels…   …Once this is organized, and decided how many troops and how they will go and where they will go, we will participate in that.”-Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia discussing U.S. led NATO invasion plans for Syria

It’s not just generals of U.S. ally Kingdom of Saudi Arabia admitting to a done-deal-U.S.-NATO invasion of Syria, but Iran’s war office says the whole Russian/U.S. imposed ‘ceasefire’ is a pretext to get rid of the elected Syrian government, and warns of all out regional war: “The Americans’ objective in supporting ceasefire in Syria is not benign, and their main aim is to change the legitimate government in the country. The Americans failed to remove Bashar Assad through the war waged by their proxies. They have now taken the issue to the UN Security Council and decided that Assad must not remain in power and a hand-picked American regime is installed. The Islamic Republic of Iran is absolutely opposed to the Americans’ plan.”-Ali-Akbar Velayati, adviser to Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Ayatollah is the Commander in Chief of Iran’s military

The Russian’s accuse the Obama regime’s so called “Plan B” as being nothing more than False Flag ops to violate the ceasefire to justify U.S.-NATO intervention: “As for Plan B, we know that our American colleagues and especially their security agencies would devise various scenarios in case of this or that development……to disrupt the [ceasefire] process that has begun.”-Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister

Russian news media covering the war in northern Syria/Rojava reporting new artillery strikes coming from NATO member Turkey.  About eight artillery rounds impacted near the town of Kessab (Kesseb), Latakia Province.  Kessab has a large Armenian Orthodox Christian   population, who have strong connections to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Syrian military says the artillery was being fired by U.S., U.K., Israeli, Saudi created Al-Nusra Front from the Turkish side of the border.  There are reports that journalists from Bulgaria, Canada and China are among the wounded.

Reporters noted that the area targeted by the artillery in Turkey not only had Syrian military forces, but Russian military advisors.  Latakia Province is also home to a Russian Navy port, as well as the air base used by the Russian Air Force.  Only civilians and journalists were hit: “We spoke to local residents, they spoke about their hopes for peace, and it all changed in the blink of an eye, we heard what could be artillery fire, or maybe they were grenades. Everybody fell to the floor.”-Boris Kuznetsov, reporter

It should be questioned why an area with a largely Armenian Christian population, with connections to Russia, is constantly being targeted by insurgents coming from NATO-Turkey (and don’t forget Turkish genocide against Armenians 101 years ago, which Turkey still denies).

Yemeni Mujahideen with a French made Leclerc tank, which they captured from invading Saudi forces.

NATO Turkey reveals plan to annex northern Syria, Rojava!

Fukushima

Mysterious reactor shutdown in Japan! Corporate cronyism blamed for Fukushima disaster!

29 February 2016 /21:29 UTC-07 Tango 01 (11 Esfand 1394/21 Jumada al-Ula 1437/23 Geng Yin 4714)

Only three days after re-start a nuclear reactor in Japan suddenly shutdown, automatically.

Kansai Electric Power Company restarted reactor 4 at their Takahama facility on Friday, then on Monday it shut itself down.  Administrators say an alarm went off when technicians were connecting the reactor to the consumer power grid, the computers sensed ‘abnormal currents’  and automatically shutdown the reactor.  Administrators don’t know what caused the problem.  (just a week prior the same nuke plant leaked contaminated water)

France based OECD Nuclear Energy Agency concluded its investigations into the ongoing nuclear disaster at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi.

One finding is that Japan’s ‘tradition’ of involving corporations in the government regulation of industries is a major factor for the failure of proper response to the disaster that began on 11 March 2011.  In other words, the government nuclear regulation is a farce because it allows the nuclear industry corporations to essentially self-regulate.

It’s not just Japan, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency criticized several countries of doing the same thing: “The principle of regulatory independence, in particular the effective separation between the functions of the regulatory body and those of any other body or organisation concerned with the promotion or use of nuclear energy, is fundamental and requires vigilance to ensure it is maintained.  Some member countries have reviewed, and other member countries are in the process of reviewing, their regulatory frameworks and are making changes as appropriate to update their legislation so as to reflect lessons learnt from the Fukushima Daiichi accident.”–FIVE YEARS AFTER THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI ACCIDENT: Nuclear Safety Improvements and Lessons Learnt

U.S.

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

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

Alabama:  In Birmingham, Cosi Restaurant announced it would not renew its lease.  After 30 years Cosmo’s Pizza shutdown,  the stressed out co-owner Leisa Bunn blames money troubles: “…I’ve worked here for over half my life, and it’s killing me to give it up, but I have no choice.”

Arizona: In Yuma, a local business is blaming currency wars for its demise. After two years restaurant Carnivores of Yuma shutting down due to lack of Snow Birds from Canada. The Canadian dollar has dropped in value against the U.S. dollar, making it too expensive for many Canadians to travel within the United States. I lived in hot-as-hell Yuma for almost two years and I can tell you that Snow Birds from the north, during winter, are a major source of revenue for local mom-n-pops. The rest of the year revenues come from taxpayer funded Yuma Marine Corps Air Station and Yuma Army Proving Grounds.

Arkansas: Boulevard Bread shutting down their River Market kiosk.

California:  In Oxnard, after 27 years frozen veggie food maker Coastal Green Vegetable shutting down, 137 jobs lost by March! The owners blamed currency wars, crashing sales and gave out a list of increasing costs; water, regulations, wages and ObamaCare healthcare.   Bon Appetit Management issued a shutdown WARN for their San Francisco ops, 79 jobs lost by April.  Albertsons-Safeway eliminating another 24 jobs from the old Safeway HQ in Pleasanton, by April.   In Berkeley,  after two years the Off the Grid food truck giving up and shutting down its Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) location.  Prior to this the Off the Grid food truck was chased out of its original location in the Gourmet Ghetto by city A-Hole administrators, when brick-n-mortar restaurants complained.  Warren Buffett owned Kraft-Heinz issued a shutdown WARN for their San Leandro food factory, 117 jobs lost by mid-April! Pacific Harvest issued a layoff WARN for their Guadalupe food ops, 75 jobs lost by mid-April. Valley Fine Foods suddenly shutdown their Benicia 22 years old production ops, 94 jobs gone. The company moved their production, sanitation, shipping and receiving and maintenance operation to North Carolina, loyal employees had no warning: “They were shocked and surprised. A few have been here a while, 17 years. Those were the hardest impacted. They appeared…..in shock, like phases of any loss, it’s shock and denial first.”-Adriana Nunez, HR manager

Colorado: CB & Pott’s shutting down their 42 years old West Campus restaurant.  The operators claim they will open a new restaurant in a new location “to be closer to our core guests.”   Yet another Denver restaurant shutdown. After 12 years popular Gypsy House Cafe shutting down mid-March due to the greedy property owners selling out without warning the operators of the Cafe.  In Fort Collins, after 30 years restaurant South China shutting down due to a significant increase in rent. The Vail Cascade resort issued a layoff WARN, 2-hundred jobs being eliminated!   Sky Hotel 39 Degrees issued a shutdown WARN, 91 jobs lost.

Connecticut:   In Wallingford, after 56 years banquet host Villa Capri shutting down in July.  The family owners are in the process of selling the property, they need to focus on their other business ops.

Florida:  Troubled Aramark issued a shutdown WARN for its Florida Gulf Coast University ops, 288 jobs lost by May! In Maitland, after nearly 30 years RanGetsu Japanese Restaurant and Bar shutting down in March, no reason given. Local news reports say at one time the owners were trying to open five restaurants, now they’ll be down to just their restaurant back in Japan.  Wholesale soup maker Chef Creations is no more, they’ve sold out to a Massachusetts corporation resulting in 110 Chef Creations HQ employees, in Orlando, becoming jobless between April and July! Local news media made the sale sound like a surprise as Chef Creations had recently won new local tax breaks, and gotten approval for major financing, for expansion of their soup making operations.  Lee Roy Selmon’s shutting down their 10 years old Saint Petersburg restaurant. The corporate owners said it needed extensive remodeling, and it wasn’t worth it. They also blamed lack of parking and increased competition.  Tampa based Bloomin’ Brands confirmed it will shutdown 14 Bonefish Grill restaurants by the end of the year, due to crashing sales.  In Miami Beach, Shore Club Hotel issued a mass layoff WARN, 218 food service workers to be laid off in April!  In Lake Buena Vista, Fulton’s Crab House issued a shutdown WARN, 214 food service jobs gone by mid-April!   In Bradenton, after almost five years Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar shutdown because of an evil landlord: “Our landlord has chosen not to renew our lease. Why? He states we are not successful. We have always paid our rent and a percentage of our sales to him on time, which has equated to almost $1.1 million in five years, and our initial investment of over $800,000 to build Tarpon Pointe.”-Facebook posting

Georgia: The city of LaGrange shutdown a second homeless ‘overnight warming’ shelter in as many months, using the excuse they are not safe.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant shutdown due to the landlord suddenly demanding the keys to the store. The landlord is one of my former evil employers, GGP (General Growth Properties). A rep for the operator of the restaurant said there were three years left on the lease.

Idaho:  Albertsons-Safeway is doing it again, taking over and killing off an independently owned grocery store chain, this time on the west side of The Gem State.  Paul’s Market has sold out to the evil corporate giant (who caused the demise of Washington’s Haggen grocery chain last year, killing off thousands of jobs!).  It sounds like three Paul’s Markets will be shutdown and four will be rebranded as Albertsons stores.  Idaho’s Department of Labor has yet to publish any required WARN regarding the shutdowns.  The city of Boise could be sued by some of the tenants at the Boise International Airport. Tenants also suing the New York based food service management contractor hired by the city, Delaware North. Owners of airport eateries accuse Delaware North, and the city, of running them into the ground, primarily by substituting their original products with lower quality items and providing terrible customer service, resulting in decreased sales. Boise area news sources say Delaware North refuses to responded to their questions.   A former manager at Aberdeen’s Idaho Select potato processing plant has been sentenced for his crime of ripping off the company. He admitted to using company money to buy cars, homes, go on vacations, send his daughters to college and even pay his daily bills. He must now repay $1.7-million USD within seven years, as well as spend time in prison. Embezzlement crimes are very common here in the ‘christian’ dominated Idaho (2010 U.S. Census Bureau data says at least 80% claim to be Christians).  For more food fraud: Idaho farmer caught selling modified seeds as ‘organic’!

Illinois: Local news media revealed that two Carbondale/Route 13 area restaurants shutdown in January; KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Show Me’s Restaurant.  Three Joe Caputo & Sons grocery stores shutdown, and more could follow!  The grocery store operator is being sued by its supplier who says they haven’t paid for any food delivered since June 2015!!!  Moline based farm equipment maker Deere (aka John Deere) revised its 2016 profit expectations downward. Originally administrators thought 2016 sales would drop by 7%, but now they say things are so bad they expect a 10% drop in sales.  In Prospect Heights after only two years and $13-million in renovations, the Ultra Foods grocery store shutdown due to lack of sales, 98 jobs lost by mid-April.

Indiana: In South Bend, after 20 years Top Notch Restaurant & Bakery shutdown. News reports say it will be replaced with a grocery store. But don’t get excited, the new grocery store is actually an old grocery store moving to a new location, so it’s a net loss of jobs.  In South Bend, 88 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Dainty Maid Bake Shop shutdown due to the death of the owner. The popular shop is for sale and the employees hope any potential buyer will re-open it.   In New Albany, after 30 years Mom & Pop’s Cone Corner is no more. The current owners bought the ice cream joint last year, they gave no reason for the shutdown.

Kansas: In Topeka, the Dillions grocery store on Huntoon Street shutdown. City administrators are fearful of increased food insecurity based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data that says residents in the area around the Dillions are now living in a “food desert”.

Louisiana: In Lafayette, the Winn-Dixie grocery store, on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, shutting down. 61 jobs lost by March.  Also in Lafayette, after seven years Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro shutdown.  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shutting down their Shreveport donut shop on Youree Drive. In a ’round-a-bout way administrators said the store was losing money.

Maine: In Sanford, after 31 years Fi Wood restaurant shutdown.

Maryland: C&S Wholesale Grocers shutting down their distribution ops on Lums Road, about 2-hundred jobs lost by April! A county administrator said she was surprised because C&S was recently advertising to hire more employees! C&S administrators told county officials they could not stop the shutdown due to the sudden loss of a major contract.

Massachusetts: In Somerville, after five years Sabertooth Vegan Bakery shutting down so the owner can get the hell outta Boston Weak Massachusetts and go on “permanent vacation”: “…things here just haven’t been working out. It’s always been my dream to live in California and work on an animal sanctuary and I was offered an amazing opportunity to do that.”-Evie Noël

Michigan:  It’s been revealed that Southfield based Bagger Dave’s burger joint shutdown 11 restaurants across Michigan and Indiana in 2015.  One of those restaurants was only ten months old. Bagger Dave’s is controlled by Diversified Restaurant Holdings.  After 45 years Bacchus Wine & Spirits shutdown: “We were given an offer to buy the license, the building and the land that was enough to make it worth it.”-Dean Caplan

Minnesota: Egan based Ovation Brands suddenly shutdown 74 restaurants! Apparently the only warning was given back in August when company administrators warned they were about to begin shutting down ‘underperforming’ restaurants (August is also when Ovation Brands was taken over by Food Management Partners). The shutdown restaurants include Home Town Buffet (three just in the San Francisco area of California), Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s, Fire Mountain and Country Buffet.  Price Chopper shutdown the New Adams grocery store, 57 jobs lost. Administrators basically said it wasn’t worth it to keep the food store open.

Mississippi:  In Oxford, after nine years Holli’s Sweet Tooth shutting down in April, the owner blames non-stop increasing costs of operation that now exceed sales.

Missouri: Yet another Saint Louis restaurant gone.  After ten years bistro Soulard shutdown.  In Florissant, local news reports are questioning why restaurant Deaver’s suddenly shutdown after 13 years.  No explanation was given.

Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra shutting down a frozen food production line in Council Bluffs, administrators claim this time they won’t layoff any employees.   Douglas County must have a suicide wish as they’re shutting down 160 food joints, for operating without a license! Administrators with the county Health Department claim they do it every year, however, the interim prosecutor for the city of Omaha says as far as he knows such an operation has never been “enforced”. Chris Janicek, the owner of Cupcake Omaha and Cake Box, exclaimed “This agency has run amok!” 

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, the Satellite Coffee shop consolidated with a restaurant across the street. It should be noted that the restaurant across the street, Flying Star, is currently chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

New York:   In New Hartford, after six years the Sav-A-Lot grocery store shutdown, the only notice was a sign taped to the front door. Allied Frozen Storage issued a shutdown WARN for its West Seneca frozen food warehouse, 64 jobs lost by the end of July.  In NYC the owner of the 28 years old Cafe Lalo told  Community Board 7’s Business and Consumer Issues Committee “business is terrible and he may have to close”.   After 80 years, reports say iconic Fairway market is in so much financial trouble it can’t pay its debts, and will default. The news comes from credit rating company Moody’s.  After 33 years in Times Square Sushi Zen shutdown without warning. Local news reports said the owners had originally stated they would be moving to a new location, not shutting down.   In Brooklyn, the owners of Bark Hot Dogs shutdown their Park Slope eatery saying “…economics just weren’t working out.”  Brach’s Supermarket issued a shutdown WARN for their Lawrence grocery store, 127 jobs lost by the first of May! Administrators blame the bad economy.   Despite a grand opening send-off by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Constantino’s Market in Rochester’s College Town shutdown after less than one year in business! It’s blamed on lack of sales: “Unfortunately, Constantino’s was ultimately not supported at a level that allowed them to be profitable.”-Randy Ruttenberg, Fairmount Properties

The restaurant known for having its walls plastered with autographed dollar bills, 69 Bayard Restaurant, shutdown with no explanation. Local news said the restaurant has a history of changing owners frequently. Near Star Lake, the Padgett’s Hometown IGA shutting down after 35 years of grocery sales: “Sales keep going down, expenses keep going up and I’m having a hard time just paying my bills, so it’s just time.”-Mark Padgett

North Carolina: In Durham, after 12 years restaurant City Beverage shutdown.  Local news reports say the owners have failed to pay $1-million USD in state & federal taxes!

Ohio: In Cheviot, Vitor’s Bistro shutdown, the owner blames low sales on a bad location. The Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort and Seafood Buffet & Grill shutdown after a long history of violating local health codes, which resulted in several customers getting sick. In West Chester, after 68 years bakery supplies maker Bakery Crafts shutting down, 119 jobs lost starting in April! Columbus based Bravo Brio Restaurant Group is warning it must shutdown Bravo Cucina Italiana and Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants after a third straight year of revenue losses!  And in Columbus, eateries Till Dynamic Fare and Izzy & Mo’s Luncheonette both shutting down. The owners said they’re leaving the area.  Anti-gun laws failed to stop a man from attacking customers at the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli, with a machette! Four people were wounded. The restaurant has shutdown for an undetermined amount of time: “We need more time to regroup and heal as a team.”-Facebook post

In Cleveland, decades old iconic the DINER on clifton shutdown due to the greedy landlord: “We’re being thrown out on the street! Next to my parents dying this is the most stressful time of my life! …..This feels personal when it’s something that’s been such a huge part of my life.”-Perry Drosos, operator

The landlord claims the eviction was coming for at least a year, primarily due to planned radical remodeling of the building.

Oklahoma: In OKC, Texas based Spaghetti Warehouse suddenly shutdown, with no explanation why: “After more than 30 years in the community, we have made the difficult business decision to suspend operations and announce the closure of the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant in Oklahoma City. The closure is effective on Tuesday, February 2nd. ….we are hopeful that in the near future we can reopen Spaghetti Warehouse….” (I did find a lot of internet postings by customers that hated the place, and were even surprised it was still open, many claimed it shutdown years ago)

Oregon: After 36 years Sewick’s Dive Bar shutting down, to be replaced by a 46 unit apartment building.

Pennsylvania: Texas based upChuck Cheese, I mean Chuck E. Cheese pizza joint shutting down in the Clearview Mall by the end of March. Food maker Mondelez eliminating 509 jobs in two locations, between March and May!  After six years Pittsburgh Public Market shutting down by the end of March.  The eatery owner blames lack of customer traffic due to the recent shutdown of Marty’s Market, and the Firehouse farmer’s market.  In Allentown, Tony Luke’s shutdown their Hamilton Street sandwich shop.  Local news reports say it’s the 5th business inside the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone to shutdown within the past three months!  Penn State University warned all 1-thousand 1-hundred Ag Ex employees of mass layoffs, due to the state ‘lawmakers’ failing to pay the 2015-16 agricultural extension subsidies!

Rhode Island:  In Cranston, Ted’s Montana Grill shutdown blaming the landlord for wanting to jack up the rent.

Texas: In Austin, restaurant Arro shutdown suddenly, apparently it’s being turned into a bar.  In Dallas, after less than a year restaurant Hickory & Fry shutdown. Apparently residents of Dallas-Fort worth can’t handle the concept of a tapas bar.  Houston base food distribution giant Sysco says they have to kill more jobs, this time 1-thousand 2-hundred employees will become unemployed over the next 15 months! Administrators say the economic environment is forcing them to find ways to increase profits without relying on sales (because sales suck).

Virginia: In Virginia Beach, after 70 years popular Charlie’s Seafood Restaurant shutdown, local news reports blame the bad economy.  Urban Farmhouse shutdown their three years old Church Hill restaurant.  Sounds like they couldn’t afford the rent as they claim they’re looking for a new location.

Washington: After creating booze selling ‘privatization’ rules which jacked up the cost (including taxes) of your favorite hard drink by 15%, new data shows that the idiot ‘lawmakers’ of The Evergreen State actually drove booze buyers into neighboring Oregon and Idaho. The Idaho State Liquor Division credits at least 7% of its state run store sales to buyers from Washington. For Oregon the jump in hard drink sales was even bigger, with ten border booze stores reporting between 17% and 67% increase in sales to Washingtonians since 2011!

Washington DC: Crane & Turtle announced they’re shutting down in April, after less than two years of serving eats. Both the lead chef and the lead baker decided to move to New York.  The owners of the restaurant decided it wasn’t worth it to find replacements.   The U.S. Army announced it must shutdown, or reduce in size, one out of every three chow halls due to “changing soldier demographics, satisfy soldier desire for selection/taste or nutritional requirements … or meet commander mission requirements”.

Wisconsin: In Sheboygan, after five years restaurant Weimann’s Sports Center shutdown despite being voted best sports bar. The owners blame constant road construction projects among other issues: “We fought a battle we just couldn’t win and ultimately felt it would be a lot less stressful for our family to not be in business. It’s a tough business.” 

500 years of German Beer Purity flushed by Monsanto!

Deflation will cause 1 in 5 dairy farms to fail!

Honey Bee Colony Collapse caused by Human Globalization! 

U.S. Food Crisis January 2016: “We were not ready to close 10 years ago, but we’re ready now.” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics

Global Depression as China kills 1.8 million jobs & begins monetary easing! Blame ‘western’ led G20!

29 February 2016 (12:36 UTC-07 Tango 01) 10 Esfand 1394/20 Jumada al-Ula 1437/22 Geng Yin 4714

“…the G20 recognized that while the global recovery continues, it remains too weak and uneven–and falls short of our collective ambition for strong, sustainable and balanced growth. To confront this challenge, we need action now.”-Christine Lagarde, IMF

If Walmart is the canary in the coal mine for the U.S. economy, then China is the same for the entire world economy.  China’s Ministry of Human Resources says factory orders are so low there is no justification to keep 1.8-million steel and coal workers employed!  They gave no date for when the massive layoffs will begin.  Ministry of Human Resources calls the layoffs “resettlement”.

The announcement came after Premier Li Keqiang revealed that the equivilant of $15.27-million USD is being set aside for expected mass unemployment!

On top of that, the People’s Bank of China is dropping the amount of cash commercial banks must keep in the vaults, for the 5th time since February 2015!  Analysts say this 5th drop in the reserve ratio is meant to inject the equivilant of $100-billion USD into the Chinese economy.    This comes after members of the G20 revealed the global economy is actually crashing, not recovering.

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the U.S. based International Monetary Fund (IMF), blamed the lack of global recovery on the lack of implementation of past G20 agreements: “…bold multilateral actions. This requires following through on past G20 commitments and, in particular, renewed momentum this year to deliver on the goal of achieving 2 percent additional growth by 2018.”